Monasteries, priories, convents, and nunneries were a ubiquitous part of life in medieval Europe. No matter where one went in Western or Central Europe, they probably weren’t far from a religious house. Male religious orders such as the Benedictines, Dominicans, and Franciscans are the most well-known. But, curiously enough, some scholars estimate that the number of […]
What Was Life Like For A Medieval Nun? Read More »
In the medieval period, the Roman Catholic Church was one of Europe’s central pillars of society. There was no part of life that the church didn’t extend. Unlike today, where an increasingly small number of people attend their local church, everyone would attend on Sunday. Moreover, all farmers, who made up the bulk of most
What Was a Priest’s Role During the Middle Ages? Read More »
At the monastery of Jasna Gora in Częstochowa in Poland today, there is a revered icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It has been housed there for some time, but its history is shrouded in legend. The image is of Mary holding Jesus. It is believed, at least in Christian lore, to have been originally
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The world we live in today is largely governed through democracy and ensures constitutional rights to its citizens. The kings and queens we hear of hold little more than symbolic power. But, that wasn’t always the case. The European world, often lauded as a bastion of democracy today, was once ruled by absolute monarchies. This
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As we all know, the Vikings were a fearsome people. But many don’t know that their history is full of amazing stories and fascinating facts. If you want to learn more about these legendary warriors, check out one of our top ten best Viking history books. The Sea Wolves: A History of the Vikings Paperback
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If you’re looking for a way to learn more about Mexican history, look no further than these ten books. Spanning everything from the Aztecs to the Mexican Revolution, these books offer a comprehensive view of Mexico’s past. So if you want to know more about this fascinating country, check out these ten best Mexican history
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Books about Native American history offer a unique and important perspective on the past. They can provide insights into the cultures and customs of indigenous people, as well as the challenges they have faced over the years. Here are ten of the best books on Native American history. Empire of the Summer Moon by S.
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In 1807 the Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, might be said to have reached the pinnacle of his power. He had just defeated the two great nations of Central Europe, Austria and Prussia. Then, with the Treaty of Tilsit with Tsarist Russia, France became the dominant power in Europe. The borders of the French Empire
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If a Native American from the interior region of North America, say from the Great Lakes, had traveled eastwards to what we now call New England in 1610, they would have traversed an area that was little different from how it had been 200 years earlier. The local Algonquian Indians dominated the region in their villages,
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There is no shortage of symbolism around black cats in the modern world. They are everywhere in popular culture as sidekicks or even malevolent beings which surround witches and other agents of the occult. For example, in the first Matrix movie, when Neo has a moment of Déjà vu, an occurrence which means the sinister controllers of the
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