[oisdk]

> extremely elastic view of “like medieval Europe”.

No. Westeros is based on medieval Europe, culturally, politically, and historically. Obviously it's fiction, well done on spotting that, but it's a fictionalised version of medieval Europe.

> Undeniably? Based on...what evidence?

I'm sorry, do I have to provide you with evidence that media impacts people's perception of things?

[dragonwriter]

> Westeros is based on medieval Europe

Inspired rather loosely by remixing elements of that with other historical sources (e.g., Palestine—modern Palestine, specifically, IIRC—is explicitly identified by GRRM as part of the inspiration for Dorne.) Then leavened with a hefty dose of fantasy (part of the “realism” reputation the series has is that the fantasy elements aren’t bolt-ons that don’t fundamentally effect the rest of the setting.)

> I’m sorry, do I have to provide you with evidence that media impacts people’s perception of things?

There’s a pretty big difference between these claims:

(1) media impacts people’s perception of things

vs.

(2) AGoT undeniably has a massive impact on people’s perception of medieval Europe

[oisdk]

Game of Thrones is medieval fantasy, and as the second-biggest medieval fantasy series of all time it will have a significant impact on people's perception of the medieval time period.

I think that claim is pretty uncontroversial, which is why I didn't provide "evidence" for it, and also I get the sense that I'd be wasting my time in arguing with you about it when you throw out silly pedantries like "oh well dorne is based on palestine".