The Terrifying History of the Oubliette
The Middle Ages is known for many things: Vikings, the life and death of Mansa Musa, and tragedies like the great famine and the Black …
Medival
Onna-Bugeisha: Japan’s Female Samurai Warriors
Mythical groups of warrior women in largely patriarchal societies are not unique. Greek mythology had the Amazonians, and Norse legends had the Valkyrie, both legions …
Unraveling the Mystery: Where is Genghis Khan Buried?
Genghis Khan is a name familiar to almost everyone in every language. Whether you think of him as a conqueror or hero, his military campaigns …
What Caused the Bizarre Dancing Plague of 1518?
In the city of Strasbourg in 1518, something truly strange happened. People began to dance compulsively and continuously, completely unable to stop. There was no …
What was the English Sweating Sickness?
Life in mediaeval Europe was challenging, to say the least. Peasants were ruled over by tyrannical kings who seized lands and lived lavishly whilst their …
Mansa Musa, the Richest Man in Human History
People often wonder who the richest man in history is. Of course, that’s difficult to say precisely because it often means comparing wealth several centuries …
Robert Liston, The Caring Surgeon with a 300% Mortality Rate
Have you ever heard of a surgery that had a 300% mortality rate? You probably haven’t because it has only happened once. Let’s hope no …