The Dark, Dirty, and Dangerous Reality of Early Medieval Europe
Life in early medieval Europe was, for most people, a daily struggle against hunger, disease,…
The Knights Hospitallers: From Jerusalem To Acre, Cyprus, Rhodes Then Finally Malta
The year 1113 marked a pivotal moment in medieval history when Pope Paschal II officially…
The Death and Rebirth of the Language of the Roman Empire
By the end of the 5th century AD, Latin – the language used for the…
From Viking to Crusader
Sigurd I Magnusson holds a unique place in history as the first European king to…
The Plague of Justinian: The First Pandemic
In the mid-6th century, a devastating pandemic swept across Europe and the Mediterranean, leaving death…
The Great Countess, Defender of Popes
Matilda of Tuscany, also known as La Gran Contessa (The Great Countess), was one of…
12th Century King Accidentally Creates Legal System Used by Half the World
Before Henry II’s reign, justice in England was a patchwork affair. In the middle of…
The Empire That Stretched from India to Spain
The rise of the Umayyad Empire and its expansion across North Africa into Spain and…
How Medieval Merchants Built a Trading Empire
The Hanseatic League, often referred to as die Hanse, was the most influential medieval commercial…
Scholasticism: Bringing Reason to Religion
Scholasticism, a philosophical and theological movement that flourished in medieval Europe, reached its zenith with…
Pope vs. Antipope: the Violent Papal Schism of 1130-1138
The papal schism between Antipope Anacletus II and Pope Innocent II, lasting from 1130 to…
The General Who Outsmarted the Crusaders: Saladin’s Epic Story!
Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, commonly known as Saladin, was a towering figure in medieval…
The Fifth Crusade: A Tale of Ambition and Missed Opportunity
The Fifth Crusade, which took place from 1217 to 1221 CE, stands as a pivotal…
The Fourth Crusade: An Unholy and Brutal Detour
The Fourth Crusade, which took place from 1202 to 1204 CE, stands as one of…
The Church’s Darkest Hour: The Horrors of the Papal Inquisition
The Papal Inquisition, established in the 13th century, marked a significant turning point in the…