The SCA for beginners

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is a non-profit educational organization devoted to the study of the Middle Ages and Renaissance (covering the time period from 600-1600 A.D.). The dress, music, literature, sports, and, above all, the chivalric ideals of the landed nobility of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, serve to unify the events and activities. The SCA sponsors such events as tournaments, revels, and university sessions where members dress according to medieval and Renaissance styles, and participate in activities based on the civil and martial laws of the period.

There are a number of other historical re-enactment societies in America, focusing on the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, or some other period of history. The SCA differs from these groups in that it covers a large time period and geographic region. Therefore, no one specific time is ever recreated. Alongside a 14th-century German knight and his lady, for example, you might see a visitor from Moorish Spain, or the Holy Land, or the Far East. Or even an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon or an Elizabethan courtier.	Wide coverage

While authenticity is a crucial part of the Society's purpose, we don't make as big a fuss about it as do some re-enactment groups (for example, some groups insist that all costumes be sewn by hand or in other period manner). While many "living history" groups are concerned with outward appearances, with how they look, the Society distinguishes itself by showing greater interest in recreating the ideals and the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, or how people felt. We learn about the Middle Ages and Renaissance by doing various activities and trying to create an environment similar to that idealized in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.	Authenticity & Ideals

One of the most spectacular, and certainly the noisiest, of SCA activities is a form of combat based on tournaments of the High Middle Ages. Participants wear armor and use weapons made of rattan. These weapons have the balance, weight and handling - but not the lethal effect - of the originals. The combatants fight on foot, following a system of rules which permit a realistic sport while retaining a very high safety record (rarely are there any injuries worse than a few bruises). Each fighter is honor-bound to report when a blow is "good", or has sufficient force to kill or injure.	Combat

Besides armoring and combat, the Society promotes any art, craft, or science that was pursued in the Middle Ages. All participants at events must wear pre-seventeenth century western style clothing (sometimes called "garb"), so making clothing (costuming) is another important activity. Other medieval-style activities include: cooking, playing games, calligraphy, dancing, music, jewelry making, brewing, spinning and weaving, woodwork, and bookbinding. Many members also pursue historical research. In addition to these activities, there are a variety of technical and social skills which help establish the ambience of life at a period court.	Arts & Sciences

Members of the SCA choose a name of someone who could have (but didn't) exist in the Middle Ages. This is the basis for a persona, which can provide a time period and region as a focus for one's research, costuming, and activities.	Persona

Society events are open to the public, but - in keeping with the emphasis on re-creation rather than on dramatic performance - all attendees are expected to make an attempt to preserve the atmosphere and fit in with the SCA's standards of dress and behavior.	Events

The Society for Creative Anachronism began on May 1, 1966, at a medieval-theme party in Berkeley, California. The event proved to be enough fun for a follow-up tourney a few months later. Interest in the group steadily grew, and it was incorporated by 1968. There are now over a dozen kingdoms, covering several countries (including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden and many U.S. armed forces bases) on 4 continents. There are now over 12,000 members and nearly 550 local and regional branches. Although a few activities are coordinated at the national level, much of what we do is planned locally.	Origins

The SCA divides its Known World - that is, the territory where its members live - into regions called kingdoms. Each kingdom has a king and a queen, selected by tournament combat, wherein each entrant seeks the crown both for him/herself and his/her chosen consort (since both men and women may fight, either a man or a woman could win Crown Tournament). The king and the queen recognize the efforts of members of the Society in the fields of fighting, arts & sciences, and service by giving awards.	Known World

The kingdoms are responsible for the smaller branches based in individual cities. While the monarchs hold executive authority, ongoing administration at various levels is entrusted to a civil service of appointed officers, such as seneschals (legal representatives and general overseers), marshals (combat officials), and ministers of arts & sciences.	Organization

We are located in the Kingdom of Calontir, which covers all of Iowa (except near the Quad Cities), Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and a small portion of northwest Arkansas. The term Calontir comes from a Welsh phrase for "Heartlands". The local branch in Iowa City, the Shire of Shadowdale, formed in November of 1979 after an earlier chapter, Dumnonia, had folded.	Calontir

Teachers and others planning programs related to the Middles Ages and Renaissance are welcome to contact Lord Ciaran o'eHeilghe of the Shire of Shadowdale. Various useful publications are available, either free or for a nominal fee, and Shadowdale members may set up demonstrations of combat, dance, heraldry, or other themes.	Contact us!

Disclaimer: This is the recognized Web Site for the Shire of Shadowdale of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and is maintained by Aimee Hanson. This site may contain electronic versions of the groups governing documents. Any discrepancies between the electronic version of any information on this site and the printed version that is available from the originating office will be decided in favor of the printed version. It is not a corporate publication of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and does not delineate SCA policies.

Copyright © 2008 Shire of Shadowdale. Last updated on: 02/18/08 Space for the web site is generously provided by the University of Iowa For information on using photographs, articles and artwork from this website, please contact the web minister at frog8pineapple@yahoo.com. They will assist you in contacting the original creator of the piece. Please respect the legal rights of our contributers.