Friday, March 29, 2024

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.

Fugitives in Medieval England

As an outlaw in the medieval period there were few options available to maintain your freedom. Men and women in medieval England who were accused...

Commoners of Medieval Europe

The lowest members of society, the medieval commoners of Europe were broken down into two classes each with individual ranks and titles. The medieval...

Noble Medieval Class Structure

For nobles of medieval Europe, a title would be rewarded to a person who performed some service to the monarch and would usually...

Poisoned Pen Manuscripts and Red Ink

Monks who copied Bibles and other classical literature during the Dark Ages may have died of mercury poisoning. Colorful inks from various mineral...

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 Sport of Jousting and Medieval Tournaments

Jousting is often depicted in film as quite a romantic sport, with the lady gracing her champions lance with her scarf. In reality it...

Music in Medieval Times

The songs, musical instruments and performers who entertained all classes of society, from drinkers in alehouses, through to aristocracy in the royal courts. In...

Sources of Income for the Medieval Monastery

A medieval monastery is traditionally seen as a place of solitude and spirituality. Despite the individual poverty of monks, a monastery could be...

Ordeals in Medieval Europe

Medieval people struggled with lies and truth, as do modern people, but in their courts they could always stoke the fire, fill the cauldron-and...

Animal Executions of the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages animals were tried in local courts for crimes ranging from theft and vandalism, to homicide and sexual perversion: after which...