English Medieval History

The Knights Templar has established itself as the most popular military organization of medieval times. Everyone has heard of the order, and everyone is familiar with the image of a medieval Crusader knight with a red cross on their white uniform. But who exactly were the Templars? What was their purpose? And are the rumors about their secretive nature true?

Krampus: The History and Legacy of the Mythological Figure Who Punishes Children During the Christmas Season examines the pagan and Christian influences of the yuletide villain and dives into the riveting and frightening history behind the creature. You will learn about Krampus like never before.

The Republic of Venice: The History of the Venetian Empire and Its Influence across the Mediterranean dives into the city's origin story, how it became one of the most important powers in Europe, and its inevitable undoing. Along with information about important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Venetian Republic like never before.

After the long period of cultural decline known as the Dark Ages, Europe experienced a rebirth of scholarship, art, literature, philosophy, and science and began to develop a vision of Western society that remains at the heart of Western civilization today. On visits to the great cities of Europe, Thomas Cahill brilliantly captures the spirit of experimentation, the colorful pageantry, and the passionate pursuit of knowledge that built the foundations for the modern world.

GLYNDŴR 4 When Warriors Go To Die is the sequel to GLYNDŴR 1 The Foretold son, GLYNDŴR 2 Glorious Shall Their Dragon Be, GLYNDŴR 3 My Child's Child to weep ‘As you and Mortimer said. Those within the garrison will be safe.’ ‘Unless the English break through and if they do God help them.’ Glyndŵr looked inward on a world of violence he drew on from memory and Ieuan could only guess at. Ieuan was almost afraid to ask. ‘Will you stay in Harlech?’ ‘No. I received reports this morning that Prince Hal has commissioned bands of his troops to raid the countryside, strip it bare ...

For as long as language and communication have existed, humans have invented ways to mask their messages from prying eyes. One could be forgiven for assuming there are no ciphers left unsolved. On the contrary, a diverse array of both ancient and modern cryptographic challenges, which have stumped even the most seasoned code crackers of today, exist, and may exist for generations to come. Among the most famous of these memorandums is a 600-year-old document that continues to mystify: the Voynich Manuscript.

This highly entertaining travelogue from a bestselling author follows the adventures of a couple on their 102-mile hike along Britain’s famous Cotswold Way. Wendy and David, escaping the routine of home life, embark on a journey of wonder and discovery. It is one filled with romance, exquisite beauty, hilarious mishaps, and far more adventure than they had bargained for. Join them in the magic and fulfillment of this delightful journey from Chipping Campden in the north to the stunning city of Bath in the south. Wander through wildflower fields of kaleidoscopic colour, enter entranced ...

Hinduism is one of the world’s great religions, dominating the Indian subcontinent for most of the last millennium, and its largest temple is an unbelievably magnificent structure located in Angkor, Cambodia. Known in English as Angkor Wat ("City Temple"), the gigantic complex continues to fascinate the world, both due to its sheer grandeur and size, as well as its ornamental decorations both inside and out.

Dancing With Madness: The Untold Story of the 1518 Dance Plague In the summer of 1518, the people of Strasbourg witnessed something inexplicable. Hundreds of citizens, seemingly possessed, danced uncontrollably for days on end. Their feet bled, their bodies withered, but they could not stop. What caused this strange and terrifying event? Was it a curse, mass hysteria, or something even more sinister? In "Dancing With Madness," historian and author Melissa Jones takes readers deep into one of history's greatest mysteries—the 1518 Dance Plague. Combining riveting historical detail with ...

There are very few national relationships quite as complicated and enigmatic as the one that exists between the English and the Irish. For two peoples so interconnected by geography and history, the depth of animosity that is often expressed is difficult at times to understand. At the same time, historic links of family and clan, and common Gaelic roots, have at times fostered a degree of mutual regard, interdependence, and cooperation that is also occasionally hard to fathom. During World War I, for example, Ireland fought for the British Empire as part of that empire.

People have always been afraid of the dead. Since the dawn of humanity, people have both cared for those who are deceased yet also tried to keep them away. There are a myriad of legends and beliefs about the dead coming back, and one of the more persistent ones is of the vampire.

In a world where bloodlines dictate fate, Eleanor of Brittany faces a grim reality. Once a prized bride, she becomes a pawn in a deadly game of power. Her dreams shatter when the marriage meant to secure her future crumbles, leaving her at the mercy of her uncle, the cruel and infamous King John. With her younger brother Arthur seeking vengeance and a throne he believes is rightfully his, they ally with France, igniting a brutal conflict. Captured and imprisoned in England, Eleanor's only crime is her royal lineage. Will she find a way to reclaim her freedom, or will her legacy be one of ...

In 1119, the people of the Near East came together in an epic clash of horses, swords, sand, and blood that would decide the fate of the city of the Aleppo - and the eastern Crusader states. Fought between tribal Turkish warriors on steppe ponies, Arab foot soldiers, Armenian bowmen, and European knights, the battlefield was the amphitheater into which the people of the Near East poured their full gladiatorial might. Carrying a piece of the true cross before them, the Frankish army advanced, anticipating a victory that would secure their dominance over the entire region.

Even when the dauphin’s own mother betrayed him, Yolande of Aragon, Queen of Sicily, fought to save her son-in-law and his claim to the throne. But the enemy seemed invincible. Just as French hopes dimmed, an astonishingly courageous young woman named Joan of Arc arrived from the farthest recesses of the kingdom, claiming that she carried a divine message. Now, on the 600th anniversary of the birth of Joan of Arc, this beautifully written book explores the relationship between these two remarkable women.

The Vikings in Iceland: The History of the Norse Expeditions and Settlements Bcross Iceland looks at the history of the Vikings’ activities in Iceland, and how they affected subsequent exploration and colonization. You will learn about the Vikings in Iceland like never before.

Why do good things happen to bad people? Can we prove whether God exists? What is the difference between right and wrong? Medieval philosophers were centrally concerned with such questions, questions which are as relevant today as a thousand years ago when the likes of Anselm and Aquinas sought to resolve them. In this fast-paced and enlightening guide, Sharon M. Kaye takes us on a whistle-stop tour of medieval philosophy, revealing the debt it owes to Aristotle and Plato.

The lives of the sons of Eleanor of Aquitaine are the stuff of legend. Her daughters, however, are less well known, and the fascinating personalities of her daughters-in-law have been almost entirely overlooked, as have those of the daughters she bore Louis VII of France. The Families of Eleanor of Aquitaine redresses this balance and showcases the lives, travels, and careers of these ten very different women, who formed a great international network of political alliances that linked their parents, siblings, husbands, and children all across Europe and the Holy Land.

In this biography of Maimonides, the medieval philosopher, physician, and religious thinker, Alberto Manguel examines the question of his universal appeal. Moses ben Maimon, or Maimonides (1138–1204), was born in Córdoba, Spain. The gifted son of a judge and mathematician, Maimonides fled Córdoba with his family when he was thirteen due to Almohad persecution of all non-Islamic faiths. Forced into a long exile, the family spent a decade in Spain before settling in Morocco. From there, Maimonides traveled to Palestine and Egypt, where he died at Saladin’s court.

The famous conqueror from the European continent came ashore with thousands of men, ready to set up a new kingdom in England. The Britons had resisted the amphibious invasion from the moment his forces landed, but he was able to push forward. In a large winter battle, the Britons’ large army attacked the invaders, but was eventually routed, and the conqueror was able to set up a new kingdom.

If you want to discover the captivating history and know more about the Norman Quest and William the Conqueror, this audiobook is for you. Find out how the Normans invaded England, key historic events, the character and personality of William the Conqueror, and much more.