Trivialities of Dead Worlds

Many languages today contain a form of formal address as well as a casual/informal form of address. Modern English, however, does not. But it was not always so. In fact, in the Middle Ages, addressing […]

In the Icelandic Sagas, any time a character wears a black (or dark blue) cape, expect violence. Whether it represents an authentic practice or is merely a literary convention, it is the go-to garment for […]

Giving the “dog’s advice” is a 12th century turn of phase for giving self-serving advice. It’s origin is from a once well-known proverb in which a husband and wife are debating which piece of meat […]

To the ancient Assyrians, who ruled over a vast empire spanning Mesopotamia, the idea of being ruled over by a queen was unthinkable. Until it happened. In the 9th Century BC, the Assyrian empire was […]

In the 14th century, Margrete Valdemarsdatter managed to become the ruler of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and the Northern Isles uniting all of Scandinavia into a political (if not legal) union for the first […]

In the medieval mind, swords stood above all other weapons. Knives, axes, bows, and spears were all adapted from tools for hunting or foraging. Swords stood alone because their sole purpose was fighting and killing […]

The Mongols were primarily a nomadic people, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t like strong drink. The problem is that creating any kind of fortified spirits normally requires a complicated still setup to concentrate the […]

For the longest of time, the shield was an essential component of any warrior’s attire. From the Spartan Hoplite, to the Viking raider, to the Assyrian spearman, everyone could agree on shields. The shield protected […]

Ninon de Lenclos was as sinful a woman as 17th century France could imagine. After quitting her life as a nun, she proclaimed her atheism and swore to remain forever unmarried and independent. Her charm […]

Edward the First of England, aka Longshanks, aka the Hammer of the Scots, was not a mild-mannered man. Hard charging, ruthless, and keenly focused on expanding the power of England, his heavy-handed approach earned him […]