Medieval Porridge or Frumenty
Porridge, a centuries old staple food, was originally the only way to obtain nutrition from grain, but with the arrival of bread, it...
The Medieval Manor
A medieval manor was an estate owned by a Lord of the Manor, granted to him by the monarch.
The Lord of the Manor...
Life in a Peasant Household in Medieval Times
The medieval peasant is often believed to have led an idyllic existence, with a healthy country lifestyle, hearty food, and his own house and...
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...
Pope Innocent III
The time of Pope Innocent III is a struggle between secular and religious powers. Through his reign, the Roman Catholic Church came to dominate...
Reasons for the Medieval Executions of Animals
Animal trials and executions were debated even in the Middle Ages so what were the arguments behind their long public acceptance?
Superstition and pragmatism exist...
Chinggis Khan and the Supernatural
Like many of history's conquerors, Chinggis Khan supplicated to the gods petitioning for favor in battle. His total authority was sanctified by direct...
Peeping Tom, Upper Crust and Other Sayings
Who hasn’t referred to the ‘real McCoy” or called someone nosy a ‘Peeping Tom’. Not surprisingly, all these saying have a historical background –...
Medieval Animal Trials
Medieval law tried bug swarms and entire classes of animals in serious church courts they failed to attend, before sentencing them to biblical...
The Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was held in high regard and her cult regarded across Europe. To the medieval...