Showing titles in Medieval

The medieval period has to be one of the most fascinating periods of history. With it comes the images of castles, knights, conquests, and, of course, kingdoms and empires. Every European empire and kingdom during this age is filled with exciting tales, shrewd plots for revenge or power, creation of a national identity enduring to the present day, and inventions with lasting influence.

"Den sorte vikining - en saga" begynder i Rogaland i år 846 efter Kristus. Her fødtes en dag en helt speciel kongesøn. Han skulle blive "Den sorte viking" - regnet for en af de største vikinger og den mægtigste landnamsmand i Island. Denne mørklødede høvding stod i spidsen for en international fangstøkonomi hovedsagelig baseret på hvalrosfangst. Han havde hundredvis af slaver under sig. Kristne slaver fra Skotland og Irland. Men vi ved næsten ingenting om den sorte viking, Geirmund Helskind. Der findes ingen saga om ham, og eftertiden har forsøgt at glemme ham.

Over the centuries, the West has become fascinated by the Vikings, one of the most mysterious and interesting European civilizations. In addition to being perceived as a remarkably unique culture among its European counterparts, what’s known and not known about the Vikings’ accomplishments has added an intriguing aura to the historical narrative. Were they fierce and fearsome warriors? Were they the first Europeans to visit North America? It seems some of the legends are true, and some are just that, legend.

Every year, millions visit a stunning circuit board city starring gorgeous collections of interconnected rectangular buildings and charming houses in shades of beige, sandy-brown, and other earthy tones. Zoom in a little closer, and one can see the Renaissance-style exterior of its buildings and the exquisite detail captured in the statues mounted on the tops of its palaces and cathedrals.

Venture back to the golden age of Vikings and experience Norse Myths retold as they were, by warriors and raiders of the era, on a bold journey to secure a Danegeld unmatched by any seen before. This is Norse Mythology and Viking history intertwined into an adventure not to miss.

Throughout history, both ancient and near modern, the lack of an heir and the sudden death of a beloved monarch always meant trouble. In the history of Medieval England, such episodes were many. Usurpers who oust kings and heirs, pretenders with long-forgotten dynastic claims—many once fought for the lucrative throne of the English Kingdom. However, by far the most important of all these historic episodes lasted from 1455 to 1487—32 long years of struggle and bloodshed in England. And that episode was known as the Wars of the Roses.

This brief and lively pamphlet on the history of the medieval church is a concise and entertaining introduction to an extremely complex subject. Covering the period between the seventh century and 1500, the author provides succinct summaries of major developments like the Crusades, the growth of scholastic and mystical theology, the removal of the Papacy to Avignon, and the great councils convened to resolve the papal schism.

Nowadays, the pope is synonymous with unparalleled piety, compassion, and benevolence. To many, the pope is the embodiment of godly love in its purest form. This is a far cry from how things were just a few centuries ago. Back in the day, the most notorious of popes were nothing more than power-hungry dictators and cutthroat political experts. Indeed, by the late 14th century, tensions within the Church reached a breaking point, resulting in the infamous split of the Catholic Church, one that saw multiple popes fighting to knock the others off their thrones.

In prose as crystalline as his view to the Pyrenees on a clear day, Allman animates Lauzerte and its surrounding communities—Cahors, Moissac, Montauban—all ever in thrall to the magnetic impulse of Paris. Witness to so many dramas over the centuries, his house comes alive as a historical protagonist in its own right, from its wine-cellar cave to the roof where he wages futile battle with pigeons, to the life lessons it conveys. “The onward march of history, my House keeps demonstrating, never takes a rest,” he observes, pulling us vividly into his world.

Following the fall of Rome in 476 CE, the entire dynamic of Europe underwent a complete shift in power and culture. The Dark Ages was an interesting period of about six centuries. During it, Europe was still trying to figure out what it was and how it would survive the chaos that followed the fall of Rome.

This book is published by University of Notre Dame Press.

This work presents a composite view of medieval English university life. The author offers detailed insights into the social and economic conditions of the lives of students, their teaching masters and fellows. The experiences of college benefactors, women and university servants are also examined, demonstrating the vibrancy they brought to university life.

The Fourth Crusade from 1202-1204 is significant in medieval history because it was the first time a crusade was directed against another Christian group. It was also significant since it encompassed two of the four major sieges of Constantinople, and it also sparked a third in 1235 (an unsuccessful attempt to reverse the Latin gains in 1204).

"Età oscura" e "millennio della superstizione" sono solo due delle tante definizioni date, nel tempo, al Medioevo. Ma questo periodo storico fu davvero "buio" come si è ormai cristallizzato nell'immaginario collettivo? In realtà, la maggior parte degli studiosi del Nuovo Millennio afferma che quel periodo della storia dell'umanità contenga già, in embrione, molti degli aspetti determinanti dell'Europa moderna.

An illuminating guide to the scientific and technological achievements of the Middle Ages through the life of a crusading astronomer-monk.

Stanley Edward Lane-Poole (1854 - 1931) was a British orientalist and archaeologist. The Moors in Spain is a comprehensive history about the Moorish conquest and rule of the Iberian Peninsula, until the Spanish took back the land. It includes chapters on the last Visigothic kingdom, El Cid, and the fall of Granada.

Escondida en la cima de la colina Al-Sabika en Granada, región de Andalucía, España, al lado de la rumorosa corriente del río Darro, hay una estructura majestuosa con vista a la encantadora ciudad y a los místicos prados de La Vega. Esta fortaleza palaciega y la fabulosa Alhambra son la misma cosa. Para los que la vieron en todo su esplendor, esto fue el cielo en la tierra.

The Mamluks of Egypt, a group of warriors, slaves, and kings. Hailing from the Eurasian steppes, the Mamluks were not Arab, but ethnically Turkish, enslaved at a young age, and sold into military service in Egypt, where they underwent intense military training in Cairo.The Mamluks held a tight grip on political and military power, and this system of recruitment from abroad and social isolation created an elite army loyal to the state and succeeded in barring the ruled people, even the sons of the Mamluks, from entering the ruling classes.

Thomas of London, the rebellious Archbishop of Canterbury, has made peace with Henry II, after six long years in exile. Henry and Thomas are both prepared to put past differences aside, but there is little trust left between the two former close friends and allies. A single ill-judged word or action could spark a conflict between the two men - and church and state. When news that Thomas has excommunicated royal supporters soon reaches the King, it is the last straw. With no hope of a lasting peace between the King and Archbishop, there can be only one, bloody conclusion.

Before the Mongols rode across the steppes of Asia and Eastern Europe, the Cumans were a major military and cultural force that monarchs from China to Hungary and from Russia to the Byzantine Empire faced, often losing armies and cities in the process. The Cumans were a tribe of Turkic nomads who rode the steppes looking for plunder and riches, but they rarely stayed long after they got what they wanted. From the late 9th century until the arrival of the Mongols in 1223, there was virtually nothing that could be done to stop the Cumans.