The Rurik dynasty (or Rurikids) went on to rule the Kievan Rus’, and ultimately the Tsardom of...
Middle Ages
The earliest humans had and passed on knowledge about plants and animals to increase their chances of...
The needs of the times have always influenced office space – whether for the colonial empire or...
Most Cistercian abbeys and churches were built in remote valleys far from cities and populated areas. Introduction...
Ysengrimus is usually held to be an allegory for the corrupt monks of the Roman Catholic Church....
Athens has been inhabited from Neolithic times, possibly from the end of the fourth millennium BCE, or...
The origins of the theory are rooted in the medieval idea that God had bestowed earthly power...
Christianity had developed as a religious idea in Roman Palestine and slowly spread throughout the Empire. By...
Societies and cultures that seem ossified and entrenched were suddenly open to conquest, innovation, and social change....
A bestiary, or “book of beasts”, was an attempt to describe the world as it was known...
Looking at legal institutions as complex systems of rules, players and symbols interacting with society. Introduction Legal...
These deluxe bindings are known as treasure bindings, because of their lavish and high-quality materials and craftsmanship....
The very concept of “woman” changed in a number of ways during the Middle Ages. Introduction Women...
Bologna remained a preeminent center for legal study and training for many centuries. Introduction The origins of...
All Imperial Estates enjoyed immediacy and, therefore, they had no authority above them besides the Holy Roman...
During the sede vacante in 1241, Frederick II blocked the arrival of some cardinal electors known to...
This hoax has resulted in the arrest and killing of Jews throughout history. Introduction Blood libel or...
Pluck. Crush. Cork. Medieval calendars remind us that September is the month for making wine. If planting...
Medieval people called it “the blue sickness”, “La pest” (the pestilence), and “the Great Mortality”. NOTE: Hover...
In medieval times natural phenomena, such as comets and eclipses, were regarded as portents of natural disasters,...
Not until the 1800s did such masks become valued for themselves. Introduction A death mask is a...
The Confederation was an imposition from the outside onto the Baltic people. Introduction The Livonian Confederation was...
The institution of slavery had long antecedents in Scandinavia, probably going back thousands of years before the...
The Annals of St. Bertin refer to a group of Vikings, who called themselves Rhos (qi se,...
What is probably the first man-made armor for any animal appeared as early as 2600–2500 BCE. Introduction...
Exploring some changes in European life that led to the Renaissance. Introduction Much of the power in...
Exploring trade and commerce, homes and households, disease and medicine, crime and punishment, and leisure and entertainment....
Some misconceptions are due to lack of education and experience, and some are utter nonsense and historically...
The relative inexpensiveness of the infantryman, combined with a shortage of manpower, provided incentives for expanding their...
Exploring the influence of the Roman Catholic Church in Europe during the High Middle Ages, from about...