History: Amazons through the Ages

The first session, unlike the others, is about practical matters: can women fight effectively? A look at basic biology, and what we can learn from re-enactment. Then we move through the ages, looking at groups of female warriors and individual fighters and commanders, plus some ladies who are often reported as being “Amazons” but really weren’t. Specific periods to examine will include the original Amazons (Skythian horse nomads), various enemies of Rome, the Vikings, the medieval period (when almost everyone was called either Matilda or Jeanne), the American Civil War, and WW2. Themes less tied to one period will include female pirates, and duellists, and there will also be some individuals who stand alone. For all of these, we will try to look at the evidence from all sides, acknowledging bias in both directions where it exists. This includes archaeological, written, and graphical sources, and a look at what the general opinion of female warriors was at the time the evidence was produced and examined.