Religion in Medieval EuropeChristianity did not immediately win the hearts and minds of the people of Europe. Introduction Religion in...
Middle Ages
The Early Christianization of ArmeniaSaint Gregory the Illuminator or Enlightener established Christianity as the official religion of ancient Armenia. By Mark...
Exploring the Architecture of Greek World Heritage SitesGreece, the ‘cradle of western civilization’, is home to a large number of spectacular sites from the...
The Umayyad Dynasty of the Middle East, 661-749 CEThe glory of the Umayyads was not to last. Introduction The Dome of the Rock. The Great...
A Brief Biography of William the ConquerorAn accomplished diplomat, gifted military commander, and ruthless overlord. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction William the Conqueror (c....
Why Medieval Weapons Are Popular Among American CollectorsThe medieval period is often described as the “time of ignorance and superstition”. The king, his knights,...
The Medieval Garden of the Humble Administrator in Suzhou, ChinaDesigned at human scale, Chinese gardens are meant to be comfortable, intriguing, and pleasing at every turn....
Temujin: The Reign of Genghis Khan, 1206-1227Genghis Khan built the foundations of an empire which would ultimately control one-fifth of the globe. By...
The Rashtrakuta Dynasty of Medieval South IndiaBy Saurav Ranjan Datta Introduction The Rashtrakuta Dynasty ruled parts of South India from the 8th to the 10th century CE....
The Temple-Building Gurjara-Pratihara Empire of Medieval IndiaThe Pratiharas were known chiefly for their patronage of art, sculpture, and temple-building. By Dr. Avantika LalHistorian,...
The History of the Emergence of Ancient UniversitiesEver wondered about the origin of universities? If so, this article is going to be of interest...
Martial Arts in Medieval JapanSeveral of the martial arts which became popular in medieval Japan were introduced from China. By Mark...
Feudalism in Medieval JapanFeudalism (hoken seido) began to be widespread in Japan from the beginning of the Kamakura Period (1185-1333...
Asylum in Ancient and Medieval RomeAncient Rome and its empire had the concept of asylum at its heart. Its legacy provided inspiration...
Yakushiji and Ryoanji: A History of Two Japanese Buddhist TemplesBuddhism in Japan has been practiced since its official introduction by monks in 552 CE. By Mark...
African Traditional Religions in Art: Religion and the Spiritual RealmMost traditional religions in Africa have developed at the local level and are unique to a particular...
The Pushyabhuti Dynasty of Early Medieval IndiaThe most notable ruler of this dynasty was its last ruler, Emperor Harshavardhana (or Harsha). Introduction The...
The Gold Trade of Ancient and Medieval West AfricaThe trade of gold in West Africa goes back to antiquity. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction West Africa...
The Earth and the Heavens in Ancient and Medieval MapsExploring how British Library maps chart the evolution of man’s understanding of the earth and cosmos. Introduction...
The English Reformation: Tradition and ChangeOriginally published by Newberry Digital Collections for the Classroom, 09.26.2017, Newberry Library, republished with permission for educational,...
The Crusades: Consequences and EffectsMany exaggerated claims have been made concerning the effects and consequences of the crusades on life in...
The Crusades: Causes and GoalsWhat were the motivating factors for crusaders, from the Pope to the humblest warrior? By Mark CartwrightHistorian...
Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Medieval Japanese UnificationHis restructuring of the state would establish the social and political norms which endured in Japan until...
Medieval Japan, 1185 to 1603 CEThe was a busy period of development and population growth. By Mark CartwrightHistorian Introduction The medieval period...
Religious Change and the Ottoman Empire, 1450-1750How did the Ottomans shape the political and religious history of early modern Europe? Originally published by...
Six Great Heresies of the Middle AgesSo-called heresies offered the opportunity for religious expression outside of the narrowly defined and self-serving precepts of...
‘Donation of Constantine’: A Medieval Forgery for AuthorityThe Donation of Constantine was most likely written, and almost certainly used, to coerce Pepin the Short...
The Varangian Guard: The Byzantine Emperor’s Secret ServiceThe Varangians were probably as shocking a sight to Byzantine enemies as tanks would have been to...
The Legacy of the Middle Ages in the Renaissance and BeyondThe European Middle Ages were a time of tremendous creativity and innovation, setting the stage for what...
Religious Change and Print Culture in the ReformationThe period of the Reformation (roughly 1500-1700) witnessed an unprecedented wave of changes in religion, thought, society,...