middle ages

Inside The Dancing Plague Of 1518, History’s Strangest Epidemic

In the summer of 1518, the dancing plague in the Holy Roman city of Strasbourg saw some 400 people dance uncontrollably for weeks on end — leaving as many as 100 of them dead.

By Natasha Ishak • Jun 11, 2022

Inside The Dancing Plague Of 1518, History’s Strangest Epidemic

In the summer of 1518, the dancing plague in the Holy Roman city of Strasbourg saw some 400 people dance uncontrollably for weeks on end — leaving as many as 100 of them dead.

By Natasha Ishak • June 11, 2022

The Rise And Fall Of The Janissaries, The Ottoman Empire’s Elite Military Force

Beginning in the Late Middle Ages, Ottoman soldiers abducted children from Christian families and forced them into the Janissaries, one of the fiercest armies in history.

By Natasha Ishak • Jun 10, 2022

The Rise And Fall Of The Janissaries, The Ottoman Empire’s Elite Military Force

Beginning in the Late Middle Ages, Ottoman soldiers abducted children from Christian families and forced them into the Janissaries, one of the fiercest armies in history.

By Natasha Ishak • June 10, 2022

This Week In History News, Apr. 24 – 30

Crusades-era hand grenades discovered, protohuman hominids of Indonesia reportedly sighted, ancient Roman sandal unearthed.

By All That's Interesting • Apr 29, 2022

News

This Week In History News, Apr. 24 – 30

Crusades-era hand grenades discovered, protohuman hominids of Indonesia reportedly sighted, ancient Roman sandal unearthed.

By All That's Interesting • April 29, 2022

The Story Of Olga Of Kiev, The Viking Ruler Who Brutally Avenged Her Husband’s Murder — And Became A Saint

Saint Olga of Kiev was the 10th-century princess of Kievan Rus who enacted bloodthirsty revenge on the tribe that killed her husband, the Grand Prince Igor I.

By Genevieve Carlton • Apr 15, 2022

The Story Of Olga Of Kiev, The Viking Ruler Who Brutally Avenged Her Husband’s Murder — And Became A Saint

Saint Olga of Kiev was the 10th-century princess of Kievan Rus who enacted bloodthirsty revenge on the tribe that killed her husband, the Grand Prince Igor I.

By Genevieve Carlton • April 15, 2022

Meet Mehmed II, The Ottoman Ruler Who Conquered Constantinople And The Last Vestige Of The Roman Empire

Known as Mehmed the Conqueror, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II was just 21 years old when he took control of Constantinople and defeated the Byzantine Empire in 1453.

By Sienna Vittoria Asselin • Mar 21, 2022

Meet Mehmed II, The Ottoman Ruler Who Conquered Constantinople And The Last Vestige Of The Roman Empire

Known as Mehmed the Conqueror, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II was just 21 years old when he took control of Constantinople and defeated the Byzantine Empire in 1453.

By Sienna Vittoria Asselin • March 21, 2022

The Varangian Guard, The Bloodthirsty Viking Warriors Who Served As The Byzantine Emperor’s Personal Army

For centuries, Vikings traveled from throughout Scandinavia to join the elite Varangian Guard that protected the Eastern Roman Emperor and the city of Constantinople.

By Kaleena Fraga • Mar 18, 2022

The Varangian Guard, The Bloodthirsty Viking Warriors Who Served As The Byzantine Emperor’s Personal Army

For centuries, Vikings traveled from throughout Scandinavia to join the elite Varangian Guard that protected the Eastern Roman Emperor and the city of Constantinople.

By Kaleena Fraga • March 18, 2022

How Did Joan Of Arc Die? Inside Her Grisly Demise While Being Burned At The Stake

After leading France from the brink of defeat during the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc was captured and put on trial for heresy by the English — then burned at the stake.

By James Burch • Mar 10, 2022

How Did Joan Of Arc Die? Inside Her Grisly Demise While Being Burned At The Stake

After leading France from the brink of defeat during the Hundred Years' War, Joan of Arc was captured and put on trial for heresy by the English — then burned at the stake.

By James Burch • March 10, 2022

Who Invented The Toilet? Inside The Surprisingly Complicated History

While Thomas Crapper gets most of the credit due to his 19th-century innovations, the real story of who invented the first flush toilet is much more controversial than most people realize.

By Marco Margaritoff • Mar 7, 2022

Who Invented The Toilet? Inside The Surprisingly Complicated History

While Thomas Crapper gets most of the credit due to his 19th-century innovations, the real story of who invented the first flush toilet is much more controversial than most people realize.

By Marco Margaritoff • March 7, 2022

English Metal Detectorist Finds Rare 14th-Century Leopard Coin Set To Auction For $187,000

Andy Carter spent the last 20 years scanning British soil for treasure. And on a cloudy October day in 2019, he quite literally struck gold — and found one of only five leopard coins known to exist.

By Marco Margaritoff • Mar 4, 2022

News

English Metal Detectorist Finds Rare 14th-Century Leopard Coin Set To Auction For $187,000

Andy Carter spent the last 20 years scanning British soil for treasure. And on a cloudy October day in 2019, he quite literally struck gold — and found one of only five leopard coins known to exist.

By Marco Margaritoff • March 4, 2022

New Study Suggests That The Black Death Wasn’t Nearly As Devastating As Originally Thought

Scientists analyzed samples of fossil pollen from across Europe to estimate the death toll of the Black Plague and found evidence of a dramatic population decline in only seven of the 21 regions studied.

By Kaleena Fraga • Mar 2, 2022

Science News

New Study Suggests That The Black Death Wasn’t Nearly As Devastating As Originally Thought

Scientists analyzed samples of fossil pollen from across Europe to estimate the death toll of the Black Plague and found evidence of a dramatic population decline in only seven of the 21 regions studied.

By Kaleena Fraga • March 2, 2022

Meet Emma Of Normandy, The Formidable Queen Who Steered England Through The Viking Age

Queen Emma of Normandy navigated both political instability and Viking usurpers on her way to becoming the richest and most powerful woman in England.

By Marco Margaritoff • Feb 23, 2022

Meet Emma Of Normandy, The Formidable Queen Who Steered England Through The Viking Age

Queen Emma of Normandy navigated both political instability and Viking usurpers on her way to becoming the richest and most powerful woman in England.

By Marco Margaritoff • February 23, 2022

The Blood-Soaked Saga Of Harald Hardrada, The King Of Norway Whose Death Ended The Viking Age

King Harald III Sigurdsson of Norway, better known as Harald Hardrada, traveled as far as Iraq and Sicily before becoming the last Viking king to attempt to seize the English throne in 1066.

By Marco Margaritoff • Feb 21, 2022

The Blood-Soaked Saga Of Harald Hardrada, The King Of Norway Whose Death Ended The Viking Age

King Harald III Sigurdsson of Norway, better known as Harald Hardrada, traveled as far as Iraq and Sicily before becoming the last Viking king to attempt to seize the English throne in 1066.

By Marco Margaritoff • February 21, 2022