A zombie apocalypse is definitely on top of our list of things to avoid in our lifetime. The myriad stories and movies centered around walking corpses who can multiply in the blink of an eye sound scary enough. Coupled with a single bite and turning on their loved ones with little to no clue what […]
Jiangshi: The Reanimated Corpses from Chinese Folklore Read More »
Marco Polo was one of the most famous explorers of all time; he chronicled his travels to China and other parts of Asia in a book many still read today. What about his wife, Donata Badoer? Who was she, and what role did she play in Marco Polo’s life? Let’s explore the life of Donata Badoer
Who was Donata Badoer, The Wife of Marco Polo? Read More »
Baldwin IV of Jerusalem was one of the most interesting and tragic figures of the 12th century. Born in 1161 and diagnosed with Leprosy at age nine, Baldwin IV became king of Jerusalem at thirteen when his father, Almaric, passed suddenly of dysentery. Although he was a child, Baldwin was a brave and determined ruler
The Life of Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, the Leper King Read More »
In the National Archives of the United Kingdom in London, there are two volumes of a work produced in medieval England at the end of the thirteenth and start of the fourteenth centuries. Known as the Liber Feodorum or Book of Fees, this text records feudal landholdings in England or lands effectively held by individuals directly from the
The Strange Story of the Court Jester, Roland the Farter Read More »
In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil was the tree that connected the nine worlds. It was a massive ash tree sacred to the gods but simultaneously made of the fabric of reality. Yggdrasil was so important that it even had its god, Odin, responsible in some way for the creation of the nine realms. Yggdrasil somehow connected
Yggdrasil And The Nine Worlds of Viking Mythology Read More »
Monasteries, priories, convents, and nunneries were a ubiquitous part of life in medieval Europe. No matter where one went in Western or Central Europe, they probably weren’t far from a religious house. Male religious orders such as the Benedictines, Dominicans, and Franciscans are the most well-known. But, curiously enough, some scholars estimate that the number of
What Was Life Like For A Medieval Nun? Read More »
In the medieval period, the Roman Catholic Church was one of Europe’s central pillars of society. There was no part of life that the church didn’t extend. Unlike today, where an increasingly small number of people attend their local church, everyone would attend on Sunday. Moreover, all farmers, who made up the bulk of most
What Was a Priest’s Role During the Middle Ages? Read More »
At the monastery of Jasna Gora in Częstochowa in Poland today, there is a revered icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It has been housed there for some time, but its history is shrouded in legend. The image is of Mary holding Jesus. It is believed, at least in Christian lore, to have been originally
The Strange History of the Black Madonna Read More »
The world we live in today is largely governed through democracy and ensures constitutional rights to its citizens. The kings and queens we hear of hold little more than symbolic power. But, that wasn’t always the case. The European world, often lauded as a bastion of democracy today, was once ruled by absolute monarchies. This
Absolute Monarchies in Europe Read More »
As we all know, the Vikings were a fearsome people. But many don’t know that their history is full of amazing stories and fascinating facts. If you want to learn more about these legendary warriors, check out one of our top ten best Viking history books. The Sea Wolves: A History of the Vikings Paperback
10 Of The Best Viking History Books Read More »
