Why Were Medieval Knights Always Fighting Snails?

There are many illustrations in the margins of Medieval manuscripts showing an armored knight fighting a snail.  Usually they appear in books that are religious in nature such as prayer books.  Typically, the pictures have nothing to do with what the writing is about.  Why did so many scribes include pictures of knights fighting snails? 

To answer this question and complete your assignment follow these steps. 

1.  Read this article at Smithsonian.com.  

2. Take at look at the pictures in this article from the British Library.

3. In your history spiral answer these questions in  complete sentences:

• What are some theories about why there are so many drawings of knights fighting snails in Medieval manuscripts?
• What do you think the reason  is for so many drawings.

4.  Draw a quick sketch of a knight fighting a snail.