Exploring how British Library maps chart the evolution of man’s understanding of the earth and cosmos. Introduction...
Middle Ages
The Donation of Constantine was most likely written, and almost certainly used, to coerce Pepin the Short...
The medieval Church developed and retained its power by encouraging the innate human fear of death and...
The Third Crusade failed to put Jerusalem back in Christian hands. Introduction In 1187 Outremer (the collective...
The message in medieval manuscripts is clear: The rich are good, the poor are trouble. Gluttony—overindulging in...
Language about Jews in the medieval Good Friday liturgy often carried over into physical violence toward local...
The medieval period saw Jews experience intense antisemitism. Introduction The roots of antisemitism can be found in...
Faith, science, and stargazing influenced everyday decisions in the Middle Ages. Introduction Humankind has always looked to...
The Rus are first mentioned in the Annals of Saint-Bertin. Introduction Kievan Rus (862-1242 CE) was a...
Jews living in Europe were easy, early targets for Crusaders while life was comparatively tranquil in Islamic...
The Westerners managed to maintain a political presence in the region until 1291 CE but were constantly...
Double page opening: Provinces Bringing Tribute (f.23v.) and Ruler Portrait of Otto III (f.24) Gospels of Otto III,...
Saint Trophime, Arles, 12th – 15th century (photo: Elliot Brown, CC BY 2.0) By Christine M. Bolli / 08.08.2015 PhD...
Church of Sainte‐Foy, Conques, France, c. 1050–1130 (photo: jean françois bonachera, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) By Dr. Elisa Foster...
During the devil’s last apogee in early modern Europe, demonic afflictions were taken seriously by both priests...
Goryeo (Koryo) ruled ancient Korea from 918 CE to 1392 CE. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction Goryeo (Koryo)...
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, urban settlements in Italy generally enjoyed a greater continuity...
Communes are first recorded in the late 11th and early 12th centuries. Introduction Medieval communes in the European Middle Ages had...
Saint Matthew, folio 15 recto of the Coronation Gospels (Gospel Book of Charlemagne), from Aachen, Germany, c. 800-810, ink...
The full range of consumer goods of the period was set out to tempt the shopper and...
What tools would an alchemist use in the quest to transmute other elements into gold? David Teniers...
Sforza was an early scientist who experimented with chemistry and medicine. By Amy Lifson Caterina Sforza, the...
South-side portal (detail), Church of Ste. Pierre, 1115-1130, Moissac, France (photo: Simon, Creative Commons) By Dr. Shannon Pritchard...
Cloister, Fontenay Abbey, 12th century By Christine M. Bolli / 08.08.2015 PhD Candidate in Art History University of California,...
Heraldry began on the mid-12th century CE battlefield as an easy means to identify medieval royalty and...
Early Vikings wouldn’t understand nationalism – the secret to their success was to embrace other cultures. The...
Even in a male-dominated society, Viking women were far from powerless. By Emma GroeneveldHistorian Introduction Although women in the Viking Age...
An unlikely combination of artists, medieval historians, philosophers and scientists have converged to create an exhibition of...
The Kingdom of Jerusalem did, in fact, make its own important cultural contributions. On 15 July 1099,...
As Islamic activists assumed power across the Arab and Muslim world, they drifted toward autocracy and repression....