middle ages

Most Medieval European Women Could Either Marry A Man Or Become A Nun. Then They Found A Third Option

Beguines didn't take formal religious vows, but they lived together in communities called beguinages and devoted their lives to prayer and service.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 10, 2026

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Most Medieval European Women Could Either Marry A Man Or Become A Nun. Then They Found A Third Option

Beguines didn't take formal religious vows, but they lived together in communities called beguinages and devoted their lives to prayer and service.

By Braden Bjella • July 10, 2026

‘I Have This Sleep Schedule Now And It’s The Best’: Woman Says Our Ancestors Didn’t Used To Sleep Through The Night. Then She Explains Why

Historians have found references to "first sleep" and "second sleep" in historical documents as well as evidence that activities like chores and socialization took place in the middle of the night between these two blocks.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 8, 2026

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‘I Have This Sleep Schedule Now And It’s The Best’: Woman Says Our Ancestors Didn’t Used To Sleep Through The Night. Then She Explains Why

Historians have found references to "first sleep" and "second sleep" in historical documents as well as evidence that activities like chores and socialization took place in the middle of the night between these two blocks.

By Braden Bjella • July 8, 2026

The Mongol Empire Was So Vast That It Once Encompassed One-Fifth Of The Total Land Area Of Planet Earth

At 9 million square miles encompassing one-fifth of the Earth's total land mass, the Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world.

By Cara Johnson • Jun 30, 2026

The Mongol Empire Was So Vast That It Once Encompassed One-Fifth Of The Total Land Area Of Planet Earth

At 9 million square miles encompassing one-fifth of the Earth's total land mass, the Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world.

By Cara Johnson • June 30, 2026

The Eerie History Of Houska Castle, The Gothic Fortress Built To Seal A ‘Gateway To Hell’

Constructed near Prague in the 13th century, Houska Castle has housed mad scientists, Nazis, and perhaps even demons.

By Marco Margaritoff • Jun 26, 2026

The Eerie History Of Houska Castle, The Gothic Fortress Built To Seal A ‘Gateway To Hell’

Constructed near Prague in the 13th century, Houska Castle has housed mad scientists, Nazis, and perhaps even demons.

By Marco Margaritoff • June 26, 2026

Mysteriously Macabre Burials Found At A Spanish Monastery Include A Medieval Queen And A Ponytail That’s Still Intact After 700 Years

Researchers examined eight 14th-century tombs at Barcelona's Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes, including the graves of monastery founder Queen Elisenda, two medieval abbesses, and a woman whose unborn child was still inside her mummified torso.

By Cara Johnson • Jun 2, 2026

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Mysteriously Macabre Burials Found At A Spanish Monastery Include A Medieval Queen And A Ponytail That’s Still Intact After 700 Years

Researchers examined eight 14th-century tombs at Barcelona's Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes, including the graves of monastery founder Queen Elisenda, two medieval abbesses, and a woman whose unborn child was still inside her mummified torso.

By Cara Johnson • June 2, 2026

Archaeologists In Saudi Arabia Just Unearthed An Expertly Crafted Collection Of More Than 100 Pieces Of Gold Jewelry That Date Back 1,100 Years

Found at the Diriyah archaeological site in Saudi Arabia’s Al–Qassim region, this enormous collection features expertly crafted pendants, discs, and beads adorned with floral patterns and multicolored stones.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 27, 2026

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Archaeologists In Saudi Arabia Just Unearthed An Expertly Crafted Collection Of More Than 100 Pieces Of Gold Jewelry That Date Back 1,100 Years

Found at the Diriyah archaeological site in Saudi Arabia’s Al–Qassim region, this enormous collection features expertly crafted pendants, discs, and beads adorned with floral patterns and multicolored stones.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 27, 2026

Archaeologists In Russia Just Unearthed An Exceptionally Long Medieval Sword Once Wielded By An Unusually Large Warrior

Found at a burial ground in the Astrakhan region, this sabre measures almost four feet long and dates back to the second half of the 13th century.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 18, 2026

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Archaeologists In Russia Just Unearthed An Exceptionally Long Medieval Sword Once Wielded By An Unusually Large Warrior

Found at a burial ground in the Astrakhan region, this sabre measures almost four feet long and dates back to the second half of the 13th century.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 18, 2026

Archaeologists In Germany Just Found A Completely Intact Notebook From The Middle Ages Among The Ruins Of A Latrine

Researchers haven't yet been able to decipher its ten pages' worth of cursive script written in Latin, but they suspect that the book may have once belonged to a merchant who could have simply dropped it in the latrine by accident.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 13, 2026

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Archaeologists In Germany Just Found A Completely Intact Notebook From The Middle Ages Among The Ruins Of A Latrine

Researchers haven't yet been able to decipher its ten pages' worth of cursive script written in Latin, but they suspect that the book may have once belonged to a merchant who could have simply dropped it in the latrine by accident.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 13, 2026

The Head-Scratching Mystery Behind The Green Children Of Woolpit

In at least two historical accounts, children with green skin appeared in the English village of Woolpit in the 12th century. But to this day, this strange tale continues to leave historians baffled.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 13, 2026

The Head-Scratching Mystery Behind The Green Children Of Woolpit

In at least two historical accounts, children with green skin appeared in the English village of Woolpit in the 12th century. But to this day, this strange tale continues to leave historians baffled.

By Kaleena Fraga • May 13, 2026

The Surprising Story Of The Iron Maiden, Said To Be The Most Brutal Torture Device Of The Medieval Era

The Iron Maiden remains one of the most notorious torture contraptions of all time, but contrary to popular belief, it was never actually used in the Middle Ages at all.

By Austin Harvey • May 1, 2026

The Surprising Story Of The Iron Maiden, Said To Be The Most Brutal Torture Device Of The Medieval Era

The Iron Maiden remains one of the most notorious torture contraptions of all time, but contrary to popular belief, it was never actually used in the Middle Ages at all.

By Austin Harvey • May 1, 2026

‘The Detectors Never Stopped Beeping!’: Archaeologists In Norway Unearth The Largest Hoard Of Viking Coins Ever Found

So far, archaeologists have discovered 2,970 silver coins dating to between the 980s and 1040s that were minted under famous European rulers like Knut the Great, Æthelred the Unready, and Harald Hardrada.

By Cara Johnson • Apr 30, 2026

News

‘The Detectors Never Stopped Beeping!’: Archaeologists In Norway Unearth The Largest Hoard Of Viking Coins Ever Found

So far, archaeologists have discovered 2,970 silver coins dating to between the 980s and 1040s that were minted under famous European rulers like Knut the Great, Æthelred the Unready, and Harald Hardrada.

By Cara Johnson • April 30, 2026

Why Braveheart Has Been Called One Of Hollywood’s Most Historically Inaccurate Films

Mel Gibson's 1995 film follows the story of 13th-century figure William Wallace and his fight for Scottish independence, but everything from the costumes to its portrayal of the battle that secured Wallace's spot in history books has faced criticism.

By Marco Margaritoff • Apr 23, 2026

Why Braveheart Has Been Called One Of Hollywood’s Most Historically Inaccurate Films

Mel Gibson's 1995 film follows the story of 13th-century figure William Wallace and his fight for Scottish independence, but everything from the costumes to its portrayal of the battle that secured Wallace's spot in history books has faced criticism.

By Marco Margaritoff • April 23, 2026