Middle Ages
12 of History’s Most Bizarre Rulers
From King Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia who collected giants to staff his favorite regiment the way little girls collected dolls,…
The Age of Discovery: 12 Adventurers Who Explored North America
The North American continent provided opportunity for the curious. The continent had been inhabited by native peoples, but it was…
A Closer Look at 10 of History’s Most Pervasive Myths
If there's a line dividing history from mythology, it's so fine that it's practically invisible. No matter how widely read…
Burning Ambition in Renaissance Florence: The Life and Death of Girolamo Savonarola
Visit Florence today, and you'll see a city of extraordinary beauty, breathtaking architecture and unrivaled artistic heritage. But for all…
A Plague in the Middle Ages Caused People to Dance Themselves to Death
In the 16th century, some of the citizens of Strasbourg began to act very strangely. They clasped hands and danced,…
Philosopher Prince to Islamic Prophet: 9 Surprising Legends About Alexander the Great
Most people are familiar with the historical exploits of Alexander the Great. After unifying Greece, he set about defeating the…
The Devil is in the Details: Medieval Devil’s Bible Contains Portrait of Satan Himself
A great deal of time in the life of a medieval monk was spent in contemplation. Within the abbey and…
14th Century Mongols Spread Death and Terror through Biological Warfare
Biological warfare is hardly a recent invention. Although today we have the technology and knowledge to create devastating biological weapons…
Columbus’ Scandalous Treatment of Native Peoples Reaped Wrath of Spain
The King and Queen of Spain removed Christopher Columbus from his governorship in 1500. Since his first voyage, Christopher Columbus…
Treason! 12 of History’s Most Notorious Traitors From Ancient Times to the 20th Century
"Traitor" is a heavy word laden with ugly connotations of deception and dishonesty - the kind of disreputable and disgusting…