MEDIEVAL MISCONCEPTIONS: torches and candles

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Fire torches and candles of the medieval period are very misunderstood and the true versions of these lights are very different to what is portrayed in pop-culture and fantasy.

[mikegrossberg]

Glass, even the kind available in the Middle Ages, was EXPENSIVE and SCARCE. More often than not, lanterns would have panels of flattened and scraped- thin HORN instead. Also, although not as frequently, thin panels of mica would be used. As well, sheets of rawhide, which also was used to cover windows

[michaelburke]

"Torches last 10-30 minutes, not hours."

Nonsense. Indiana Jones could open a temple sealed for hundreds of years and the torches were still going.

[duchi]

*Oh! Look at these conveniently lit dungeon*
that is supposed to be lifeless and abandoned
_I wonder who lit it up_

[Rafael-oowh]

Teacher: we're going to be learning about medieval battles!


Me: History is so boring.


Shad: We're going to be learning about really old candles.


Me: Fascinating.

[Skip]

Wait, so you're telling me that torches were used mainly like flashlights. . . or in British English . . .a torch

[RenzXVI]

Shad: Torches don't last forever
Skyrim Adventurer: Finds a lit torch inside a wooden chest at the bottom of a lake

[MoltenMouseMetal]

Torches don't hold a candle compared to lanterns.

[AHEM]

Leatherworker: I made some armor from this leather, and put studs on it!

Shad: >:O

Leatherworker: It's called a brigandine. The studs are rivets that hold the metal plates together.

Shad: :D

[deedlessdeity]

And this is why we only use bio-luminescent mushrooms, or in some cases cyrstals, for generic dungeon lighting.

[scott]

"What nerd wants to watch a 16 minute video on torches?" -Me 15 minutes ago

[ecojosh]

According to the game Neverwinter Nights, torches automatically light up when you hold them, go out when you put them in your backpack, and last forever.

[Rune_Scholar]

This is also where the phrase, "burning the candle at both ends, " came from to refer to staying up late. The cord of the rush light could technically be lit on both ends to cast more light. Good for if you were up late working on something. (scribes, craftsman with a deadline, so on)

[SchwarzieKun]

Minecraft: Imma just make a tiny torch, that can last till the end of time

[MrHaunter]

At first I was going to crack a joke; "Stay tuned for Shads medieval interior design, how to decorate your medieval home like a pro". And then it hit me that it would acctually be an interesting topic for a video. How did you decorate your medieval home? Did only nobles do it or could you see the humble peasent decorate his hovel somehow?

[bill]

I live in a medieval house, a grade 2 listed wealden hall. Listing states late medieval. The very notion of someone using an open flame in a house like mine, entirely build of wood is frankly scary.

[Thunderbolt-Racing]

5:50 : "You can get fat very easily." Can't fault Shad for his factual accuracy.

[holdemagroin]

The hero of Dragon's Dogma actually uses a lantern instead of a torch. I'm mentioning it, because Shad once praised the game for doing medieval fantasy mostly right. The lanterns are just another example, that they did their research.

[wonderingwanderer]

Shad are you secretly holding your editor as a prisoner and feeding him only red bulls. 3:42

[stevegaston]

Torches normally go out before the linen burns. This is a provable fact. What generally happens is the oil will burn, leaving the linen in near perfect condition; slightly charcoaled. Ready for redip and soak.

[armaanrampersad]

You finally asked the *burning* question.

This was really interesting well done as always.