Chapter 12, Student Web Activities, Glencoe World History: The Human Experience: The Early Ages, Glencoe, 2003

Social Studies, Glencoe World History: The Human Experience: The Early Ages

Chapter 12: The Rise of Medieval Europe
"Heraldry"

Introduction
You have learned that in battle and in tournaments knights wore suits of armor in an effort to protect all parts of their bodies. To identify themselves, knights had individual designs painted on their shields and tunics. These designs became known as the knight's coat of arms.

Destination Title: Heraldry Web site

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Directions
Start at the Heraldry Web site.

>Scroll down the Web page, reading and analyzing the information about coats of arms.
Answer the following questions.

1. Beginning in the fifteenth century, why were knights no longer free to choose their own designs for coats of arms?

2. What was the Herald's College?

3. What was impaling?

4. Based on what you read, do you think it is appropriate for American families to use coats of arms originally granted in other countries? Should Americans be able to develop their own coats of arms? Why or why not?