EP 30: So You Think You Can Fence?

History Spelunkers

Welcome back to part two of this special episode of History Spelunkers. In this one we continue talking about the origins of the sport of fencing, with a special focus on how western culture transitioned to stabbing people with swords for honor to instead doing it for points!

Shownotes:

• Episode art is "Säbelmensur" by Georg Mühlberg c. 1900
• Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/through-the-clouds
• By the Sword: A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions by Richard Cohen
• Julie d'Aubigny: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_d%27Aubigny
• Helene Mayer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helene_Mayer
• Example of a Mensur Scar: Dr. Thomas Krüger, Bonn, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_Pieper_(2002).jpg
• https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-long-history-behind-fencers-hitdetecting-electrified-gear#:~:text=It%20wasn't%2C%20in%20fact,been%20practiced%20since%20time%20immemorial.
• https://www.academia.edu/25105787/Fencing_sport_weapon_handles_grips_the_short_chronology_and_history
• http://museumofamericanfencing.com/wp/category/fencing-history/
• https://www.britannica.com/sports/fencing
• https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/25/sports/in-fencing-a-new-day-for-women.html
• https://olympics.com/en/news/the-sabre-the-only-weapon-to-have-been-at-every-games-since-1896