The Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages and Medieval Era, started with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE and ran until about 1450 CE when the Renaissance kicked into gear.
Explore this insane time period, when Europe was kind of a mess. The Black Plague killed 30-50% of the European population, Vikings raided and pillaged England daily, and Gothic churches took over a century to build. Meanwhile, China thrived under the Ming Dynasty, and Islamic scholars made scientific achievements and saved important texts from antiquity. At least the whole world wasn’t a dumpster fire in this era.
Grab your Indiana Jones fedora hat and whip, we’re going on a last crusade!
The Ancient Spanish Monastery: A Medieval Treasure in Miami
Ah, Miami, the ideal spot to soak up the sun, chill on the beach, and…visit a medieval cloister? Yes, that’s…
WTF is a Cloister?
A cloister is a covered walkway enclosing a courtyard in a monastery or church. Cloisters are quadrilateral, meaning they have…
WTF are Illuminated Manuscripts?
Illuminated manuscripts are handwritten books decked out with rich ornamentation in gold, silver, or vibrant colors. The word “manuscript” derives…
WTF is a Psalter?
A psalter is a book containing the Book of Psalms, a collection of 150 sacred Hebrew songs, poems, and prayers…
WTF is a Book of Hours?
A Book of Hours is a prayer book for private devotion from the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Widely…
WTF is a Palimpsest?
A palimpsest is a manuscript with re-used pages that were scraped or washed to erase existing text. The word comes…
WTF is Vellum?
Vellum is a type of parchment made from calfskin. Known for its fine quality, it was the luxe writing surface…
WTF is Parchment?
Parchment is a writing surface made from untanned animal skins, primarily sheep, goat, and calf. The best quality parchment, called…
Getting Weird with Medieval Cats: A Book Review
This book is a hilariously weird compendium of cats from medieval manuscripts and artworks. Unsurprisingly, cats in the Middle Ages…