Chris Wickham, one of the most influential historians of medieval Europe, has passed away. His research transformed how ...

Beth Skwarecki is Lifehacker’s Senior Health Editor, and holds certifications as a personal trainer and weightlifting coach. She has been writing about health for over 10 years. What was life like in ...

In medieval and Renaissance society and culture, celestial events were not mere spectacles in the sky. Rather, they were omens, predictors of the future, and windows into the workings of the universe.

Explore the often misunderstood hygiene practices of the Middle Ages. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone was ...

Historian and host of the Gone Medieval podcast Matt Lewis ranks the most famous helmets from the medieval period. From the Great Helm to Sutton Hoo, Matt scores each helmet on protection, comfort, ...

Labeling 10 centuries of history as “dark” is an assessment that fails to appreciate the complexity and diversity of medieval society My fate is to live among varied and confusing storms. But for you ...

Picture a scene of medieval times in your mind, and chances are you might picture a knight on horseback in a full suit of shining armor, a grand king or queen sat on their throne, or a motleyed jester ...

Jorge Luis Borges’s essay “Beatrice’s Last Smile” opens with a daring assertion: “My intention is to comment on the most moving lines literature has achieved.” In the “Paradiso,” the third part of his ...

Modern men, at least according to a recent TikTok meme, spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about the ancient Roman Empire. Far fewer, however, stop to consider the Holy Roman Empire, the vast ...

Cats had a bad reputation in the middle ages. Their presumed links with paganism and witchcraft meant they were often treated with suspicion. But despite their association with the supernatural, ...