middle ages

The Gruesome History Of Rat Torture, From Medieval London To 20th-Century South America

Rats have been used to torture prisoners and political enemies in many ways over the centuries — but some methods are more horrific than others.

By Wyatt Redd • Apr 23, 2023

The Gruesome History Of Rat Torture, From Medieval London To 20th-Century South America

Rats have been used to torture prisoners and political enemies in many ways over the centuries — but some methods are more horrific than others.

By Wyatt Redd • April 23, 2023

Scold’s Bridle, The Torture Device Used To Silence Women In The Middle Ages

From the 16th until the 19th century, women accused of being scolds, shrews, or having "loose morals" were often fitted masks known as Scold's Bridles that held their tongues with an iron gag.

By Kaleena Fraga • Apr 22, 2023

Scold’s Bridle, The Torture Device Used To Silence Women In The Middle Ages

From the 16th until the 19th century, women accused of being scolds, shrews, or having "loose morals" were often fitted masks known as Scold's Bridles that held their tongues with an iron gag.

By Kaleena Fraga • April 22, 2023

Who Was Mary Boleyn, The Scandalous Sister Of Anne Boleyn?

While her sister Anne was married to King Henry VIII of England, Mary Boleyn not only had an affair with him, she may have also bore him two children.

By Katie Serena • Apr 22, 2023

Who Was Mary Boleyn, The Scandalous Sister Of Anne Boleyn?

While her sister Anne was married to King Henry VIII of England, Mary Boleyn not only had an affair with him, she may have also bore him two children.

By Katie Serena • April 22, 2023

The Agonizing History Of The Breaking Wheel, One Of History’s Cruelest Execution Methods

Also known as the Catherine wheel, or simply the wheel, the breaking wheel crushed the limbs and bones of the condemned, sometimes over the course of several days.

By Austin Harvey • Apr 13, 2023

The Agonizing History Of The Breaking Wheel, One Of History’s Cruelest Execution Methods

Also known as the Catherine wheel, or simply the wheel, the breaking wheel crushed the limbs and bones of the condemned, sometimes over the course of several days.

By Austin Harvey • April 13, 2023

Inside The Brutal Legacy Of Vlad The Impaler, The Real-Life Inspiration For Dracula

Vlad III, also called Vlad the Impaler, was a prince of Wallachia infamous for his brutality in battle and the gruesome punishments he inflicted on his enemies.

By Natasha Ishak • Apr 9, 2023

Inside The Brutal Legacy Of Vlad The Impaler, The Real-Life Inspiration For Dracula

Vlad III, also called Vlad the Impaler, was a prince of Wallachia infamous for his brutality in battle and the gruesome punishments he inflicted on his enemies.

By Natasha Ishak • April 9, 2023

The Story Of Edinburgh Castle, The Scottish Fortress That’s Stood Since The Middle Ages

For 900 years, Edinburgh Castle has stood high atop volcanic rock overlooking Scotland's capital city, bearing witness to a history rife with upheaval and violence.

By Austin Harvey • Mar 30, 2023

The Story Of Edinburgh Castle, The Scottish Fortress That’s Stood Since The Middle Ages

For 900 years, Edinburgh Castle has stood high atop volcanic rock overlooking Scotland's capital city, bearing witness to a history rife with upheaval and violence.

By Austin Harvey • March 30, 2023

The Dark History Of The Cucking Stool, A Medieval Humiliation Device For ‘Scolds’

Cucking stools were used in medieval Europe to punish and silence people — mostly women — who were accused of crimes like gossiping or talking too loudly.

By Erin Kelly • Mar 14, 2023

The Dark History Of The Cucking Stool, A Medieval Humiliation Device For ‘Scolds’

Cucking stools were used in medieval Europe to punish and silence people — mostly women — who were accused of crimes like gossiping or talking too loudly.

By Erin Kelly • March 14, 2023

This Week In History News, Feb. 26 – Mar. 4

Medieval crypt found beneath English vape shop, centuries-old mummy uncovered in Peruvian man's cooler bag, unknown early human groups discovered via prehistoric DNA.

By All That's Interesting • Mar 3, 2023

News

This Week In History News, Feb. 26 – Mar. 4

Medieval crypt found beneath English vape shop, centuries-old mummy uncovered in Peruvian man's cooler bag, unknown early human groups discovered via prehistoric DNA.

By All That's Interesting • March 3, 2023

This Week In History News, Feb. 12 – 18

Medieval synagogue unearthed in Spain, Leonardo da Vinci's gravity sketches discovered, 500-year-old spice trove found.

By All That's Interesting • Feb 17, 2023

News

This Week In History News, Feb. 12 – 18

Medieval synagogue unearthed in Spain, Leonardo da Vinci's gravity sketches discovered, 500-year-old spice trove found.

By All That's Interesting • February 17, 2023

Forgotten Sketches By Leonardo Da Vinci Suggest That He Understood Gravity Decades Before Newton

A new study examining some of Leonardo da Vinci's sketches in the Codex Arundel reveals the artist calculated the earth's gravitational constant at a 97% accuracy rate.

By Amber Morgan • Feb 15, 2023

News

Forgotten Sketches By Leonardo Da Vinci Suggest That He Understood Gravity Decades Before Newton

A new study examining some of Leonardo da Vinci's sketches in the Codex Arundel reveals the artist calculated the earth's gravitational constant at a 97% accuracy rate.

By Amber Morgan • February 15, 2023