Ipswich - or somewhere else: 1348

[thomas.berubeg]

Hi. I'm Involved with IRSAM ( International Relations Students' Association of McGill: Mcgill's Model UN team) and am currently working on a proposal for a Crisis* for the Secondary School Model UN Symposium (SSUNS.) My idea so far is beyond vague: An English town in 1348, before the plague hits. (I hit on Ipswich just because the name is amusing to me, but any town works.)

Basically, the Committee itself would consist of 15 (Distinct) delegates who would represent the town council. I have not thought of anything specific, (as I don't know exactly how a medieval English town would be organized, governmentally) but obviously various Guild/trade leaders, the Church, Royal Delegate, Magistrate, etc.

The Crisis would cover issues that I find in historical documents (and improvised stuff, once it gets into AH enough, which it invariably does.)

Basically, what I'm asking you all is whether any of you have links to relevant documents? or any suggestions at all, honestly. Like I said, it's still vague, and any help/ideas are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Thomas

*Crisis: Committee where the delegates respond to crisises given to them by a "crisis staff," which then responds to the decisions made by the committee. For example, I was involved with the McMUN Mexican Drug War Crisis, where the delegates were the mexican government, and had to deal with issues as diverse as civil war, bribery, and foreign involvement.

 

[BCLG100]

I would probably pick a different place, Ipswich was never a big town and therefore obtaining documentation on it would be quite difficult. If you want to stay around that area then from memory Norwich was Englands second city for many years. Though of course both pale in comparison to London. Norwich had a royal charter at somepoint.

London would obviously be an option as well but this *may* be too big to fit under the umbrella term of a town.

 

[thomas.berubeg]

Anywhere in Britain: doesn't matter, really. whatever would be the easiest to work with.
(but yeah, London is too big)

 

[Taliesin]

Check out a book called The King's Towns, by Lorraine Attreed. I'm pretty sure McLennan has a copy-- I read a chapter of it for a history course and found it very useful. Info on how and why charters were issued, how town government worked, etc.

 

[BCLG100]

Anywhere in Britain: doesn't matter, really. whatever would be the easiest to work with.
(but yeah, London is too big)

Then for sure ease of obtaining documents i would go with Norwich.

 

[Naskra]

Read Montaillou, a uniquely sourced book about a French town, same time period. Very good on contemporary life.

 

[Taliesin]

Montaillou is a village, not a town, and it doesn't tell us much about town government-- it's more about family loyalties and daily village life. Not to say it wouldn't be interesting (it's fascinating!) but there's a world of difference between a prosperous English market town and a tiny village in the Pyrenees, especially since in this period the corporate structure of English towns was unique to England (as far as I know). I'd almost suggest that the Canterbury Tales would be a more relevant document, if you're interested in that kind of detail.

 

[thomas.berubeg]

I've skimmed the canterbury tales/ read some of it in High School. does it have information such as that i'm looking for.

Also, I've decided norwich works well, as, in the 1300s, it was divided into 4 sections, each controlled by a bailiff, so, that's already 4 characters.

 

[Taliesin]

I've skimmed the canterbury tales/ read some of it in High School. does it have information such as that i'm looking for.

No, I don't think it would be particularly useful, just more relevant than Montaillou if you're looking for social history info.

The Attreed book is the best recommendation I can make.

 

[BananaLee]

Have you got access to local and county archives?