Royal Medieval Class Structure
Not even the royal families of Europe, the most powerful people of their time, could escape from being broken down into feudal class...
The Importance of the Horse in Medieval French Farming
The horse, at least in medieval times, was seen first and foremost as a military tool, it wasn’t until the eleventh or twelfth centuries...
Saint Boniface and the Heretics: Heresy in the 8th century
During the synod of 25 October 745, Pope Zacharias received a letter from Saint Boniface, discussing two heretics he had discovered in Germany, and...
Book Review of Anglo-Saxon England by Sally Crawford
Many studies of England’s history concentrate on the Roman occupation and Viking attacks, with little information on the Anglo-Saxon period. This book uses archaeological...
Dracula: The Black Death And The Origins Of The Vampire Legend
Vampires and vampire wannabes, as they are portrayed in contemporary culture and literature, are elegant creatures. They have it all: nice dental implants, great...
Fashion and Dress in the Middle Ages
Sumptuary laws established in the middle ages restricted clothing expenditures to maintain class structure.
English laws governing fashion and dress were first recorded in...
Chaucer and the Scientific Method
The Middle Ages are traditionally considered to be a time of intellectual stagnation, especially in regard to developments in science. Many thinkers in the...
Medieval Church Corruption
Cycles of Medieval church corruption coincided with the growth of strong secular rulers and were only tempered by the appearance of reformist popes and...
Swords, Kings, Knights and Warriors
Weapons with metal blades first came about as part of the "cutting edge technology" of the Bronze Age.
Throughout Europe and Asia, men found...
Ethical Notions and Conceptions of Chivalry
Feudal chivalry depended on certain ideal and preconceived characteristics, including fighting abilities, trustworthiness as well as a generous attitude.
The formation of ideal characteristics of...