MEDIEVAL HISTORY
Why the Oldest Operating Street in Cairo Is a Secret Historical Gem
Al-Muizz Street has the largest collection of medieval architecture in the Islamic world, but most people don’t know it exists.
The Confucian Scholar Who Tamed Genghis Khan
This 13th-century adviser faced down a brutal tyrant and helped shape modern Chinese government.
What the Ancients Can Teach Us About How to Remember
Ancient mnemonic techniques once shaped the world and how people learned.
How the World Nearly Lost Its Real-Life King’s Landing
This Serbian attack almost destroyed King’s Landing, aka Dubrovnik, decades before Game of Thrones.
Why the Devil Plays the Fiddle
According to medieval legend, Satan selected the violin as an unholy weapon for enticing people to dance … straight into hell.
When Romania's Ruler Went Medieval on the Ottomans
Bloodthirsty warlord, Romanian national hero or vampire, Vlad III cuts an enduring figure in legend and popular culture.
The Hidden History of Scandinavia's Love of Cardamom
Northern Europe may have an obscure monk to thank for its favorite holiday food.
The Islamic Pirate Queen
When Christians turfed Muslims out of Spain, they gave rise to a badass Islamic queen.
The Story of Europe's First Muslim Ruler
The 800-year Muslim rule of Spain and Portugal shows that Europe is no stranger to Islam.
Jesuits, the World's First Diplomats
International relations got a heavenly push from well-educated Jesuits.
The Food That Built America
The Food that Built America tells the unbelievable true stories behind the industry titans like Henry Heinz, Milton Hershey, the Kellogg brothers and Ray Kroc, who revolutionized food, and transformed American life and culture forever in the process.
Mass Psychogenic Illness: From Dancing Plagues to Meowing Nuns
This bizarre psychological phenomenon explains historical cases of supposed devil possession and much more.
Genghis Khan — The Father of Globalization?
His Mongol armies are usually portrayed as murderous conquerors.
