Medieval society needed workers, but not every role earned dignity. Certain jobs were unavoidable, but still left people socially shunned and physically stained. Others placed people in danger or left ...

Medieval Europe’s diverse regional cultures were balanced by a conscious attempt to create a unified view of the world that embraced religious and social ideals, Latin and vernacular literature, and ...

The geopolitical impact of the Arab states on the trajectory of Asian history was enormous: it swept away old states and tribes, and brought to power new ones. This piece is part of a series of ...

A medieval person would find modern life deeply unsettling rather than impressive. Personal freedom, gender equality, and individual choice directly contradicted medieval social order. Obedience to ...

Archaeologists have unearthed the largest-ever medieval “super ship” dating back to the 1400s, a discovery that prompts a rethink of the scale of medieval trade across northern Europe. The ship, named ...

Two heavily armored knights glowered through barred visors. Then loud clacks rang out as their swords and shields collided, as both combatants aimed for victory via a fatal blow to the chest, back or ...

On sunny Friday afternoons at Northwestern, foam swords clash against shields and other weapons as fighters duel each other on Deering Meadow. The fighters are part of the Belegarth Medieval Combat ...

Geography, demographics, religion, technology, and a state’s institutions determined why certain states exercised power and how different regions developed the way that they did. This piece is the ...