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Medieval History

The Middle Ages covers an enormous period ranging from the Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity in 313 C.E., through the early medieval period known as the Dark Ages, to Martin Luther’s launching of the Protestant Reformation in 1517.
Battles and tournaments, feasts and festivals are all here, making up an exciting picture of the era we know as the Middle Ages.

The Peoples of Britain: The Vikings of Scandinavia

On June 8, 793AD, the Vikings announced themselves with typical ferocity when they suddenly appeared off the Isle of Lindisfarne in the North Sea,...

The Avignon Papacy: Babylonian Captivity of the Church 1309 – 1377

The Avignon papacy, sometimes called the “Babylonian Captivity of the Church,” lasted from 1309 to 1377. This period reflected a growing loss of power...

The Destruction of the Knights Templar: The Guilty French King and the Scapegoat Pope

The destruction of the Knights Templar came as a result of greed on the part of the French king, Philip IV, and not at...

Food in Medieval Times: What People Ate in the Middle Ages

The staple diet of medieval man was bread, meat and fish. What was eaten and how it was served varied considerably depending on social...

Hospitality in the Medieval Monastery

The guest house of a medieval monastery offered similar hospitality to a modern-day hotel, with both rich and poor people entitled to food and...

English Battle Tactics in the Middle Ages: Massed Archery and Defensive Deployment Led to...

From the 1290s onward, the armies of England began to use new military tactics which revolved around massed archery, defensive deployment, and dismounting their...

Archery in the Middle Ages

The training of the medieval archer and the use of the longbow and crossbow in medieval European warfare. The archer was a valued soldier in...

The Buildings That Made up a Medieval Monastery

A medieval monastery was viewed as a place of quiet contemplation, but was often home to dozens of men working in various capacities. Whilst the...

Aethelflaed Lady of the Mercians

Aethelflaed was a high-status Anglo-Saxon woman who lived at a time when few women held power or influence. She was a military leader and...

The Vatican Library – A History

The Vatican Library in Rome is a collection of Roman Catholic manuscripts which was shrouded in secrecy for centuries. The oldest texts date back...