Many a parent has at one point or another had to impart the sage advice to their impatient children that “Rome was not built in a day”. While that might be stating the obvious, it does raise the question, “how long did it take to build Rome?”. Marvels such as the Roman aqueducts and the…

When you think of art depicting cats, the first thing that probably comes to mind is ancient Egyptian art. Although cats have been popular subjects of painting for thousands of years, it is interesting to note how popular they were during the medieval period (c. 476 AD – c. 1450), also known as the Middle…

While castles are a big part of middle age fantasy media, they are actually a significant part of human history as well. Castles have provided people with a secure place to rest and regroup during times of war, providing cover to soldiers and civilians alike. Castles exist all over the world, serving as strongholds during…

Mesopotamian art and architecture originated in the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, home to the Sumerian, Assyrian, and Babylonian civilizations. This region would become incredibly important as a cradle of human urban development, and the many Mesopotamian artifacts and buildings would go on to influence many cultures that followed. So, read on to…

The Battle of Bannockburn was one of the most significant military clashes fought between the Kingdoms of Scotland and England. Occurring between the 23rd and 24th of June 1314, it was the battle to culminate the First War of Scotland Independence. The war had begun 18 years prior when King Edward I of England invaded…

Given the numerous conflicts that characterized the Medieval era in England, it is notable that the Battle of Towton is often considered one of the country’s most significant battles. Fought on March 29th 1461, the battle saw the English Houses of Lancaster and York pitted against each other in a brutal feud over the crown…

On the 14th of October 1066, one of the most significant battles in English history would occur, the outcome of which would forever reshape the socio-political landscape of Medieval England. Fought between the Anglo-Saxon army of King Harold of England and the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy, the Battle of Hastings sought…

The Battle of Crécy was one of the most pivotal clashes to have occurred during the Hundred Years’ War. This was the discontinuous conflict fought between the English and their French neighbors for little over a full century. Lasting from 1337 AD to 1453 AD, the war was fought on both military and political lines,…

During the medieval period, spanning between 1337 AD – 1453 AD, feudal England and neighboring France were locked in the long discontinuous conflict we now know as the Hundred Years’ War. One particularly decisive victory to have occurred during this time was claimed by the English; fought on muddy French soil near the town of…

Virtually every country around the world has a landmark that attracts visitors from far and wide. Some are particularly lucky to possess what has come to be known as wonders of the world, ancient structures, and locations that have left those that view them in awe for centuries. One of the most well-known of these…