where history comes alive
The Shadow in the Tapestry: Unveiling Africa’s Presence in Medieval Europe The year is 690 AD. In the windswept fens of East Anglia, near the village of Loveden, a peculiar burial takes place. Among the typical Anglo-Saxon graves, archaeologists in the late 20th century unearthed something unexpected: the skeletal remains of an individual whose physical … Read more
The year is 1347. Imagine a world teetering on the brink of despair. Across the vast, interconnected trade routes of the medieval world, a silent, invisible enemy was on the march. It began, most historians believe, in the dusty plains of Central Asia, carried by the fleas that clung to the fur of rats, which … Read more
The grand tapestry of Roman history is woven with threads of conquest, law, and engineering marvels. But beneath the veneer of legionary might and senatorial debate lay a more intimate, yet equally crucial, struggle: the succession of power. For centuries, the Roman Empire navigated this treacherous landscape, often relying on a practice that seems alien … Read more
In the mid-14th century, a shadow fell across Europe, a pestilence so devastating it would forever be known as the Black Death. This bubonic plague, believed to have originated in Central Asia, swept westward with horrifying speed, decimating populations and leaving a trail of fear and despair in its wake. While its grip tightened on … Read more
Let us envision: Strasbourg, July 1518. The sun beats down on cobblestone streets, but the usual sounds of a bustling medieval city are replaced by a chilling, rhythmic thudding. A lone woman, later known as Frau Troffea, is in the throes of an uncontrollable dance. Her arms flail, her body twists, and her feet pound … Read more