Portrait of Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach (1525)

Am I the Ass in This Tale? (Epistola I)

AITAITT for Calling Out the Papal Sales Team? Greetings, good people of this forum. I write in earnest, for my friends insist I have stirred up needless tumult, yet my conscience compels me otherwise. I (33M, monk/professor) recently drafted a list of 95 issues I believe require serious discussion within the church, including the sale…

Period hairdressing: the Suebian knot

For those with long hair who appreciate a challenge, consider this thoroughly researched tutorial exploring the ancient Germanic hairstyle worn by the Suebi tribe east of the Rhine river. The styling is performed using only period-appropriate tools and techniques and is accompanied by an introduction to the ancient artifacts and primary sources associated with the…

10 Things Medieval Samurai Did That Prove They Were History’s Most Intense Overachievers

Medieval samurai did not do things halfway. If a skill was worth having, it was worth perfecting, preferably while riding a horse, wearing heavy armor, and being watched. These ten facts show how Japan’s warrior class turned discipline into an extreme sport. 1. They started as… estate defenders for nobles who were busy drinking tea…

Portion of painting by Josse Lieferinxe depicting the clergy's reaction to a gravedigger afflicted during the plague of Justinian.

Rats, Fleas, and Grain Ships: How a Small Bacterium Rode a Very Big Empire into Crisis

The very first pandemic on record didn’t start with drama. The Plague of Justinian (541 – 549 CE) started with fleas, grain shipments, and a supply chain doing exactly what it was designed to do. We owe a lot of what we know to Procopius of Caesarea (Προκόπιος ὁ Καισαρεύς), a Byzantine historian whose works…

Photo of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

Ten Fun Facts About the Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul is one of the most remarkable buildings in the world. It was completed in 537 CE during the reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian I. Originally built as a Christian cathedral, it has undergone multiple “rebrands” over the centuries: it became a mosque after the Ottoman conquest, then a…

Anglo-Saxon Shoulder Clasp from Sutton Hoo Burial, 625-630 AD

Explore the Early Anglo Saxon Period!

If you’re interested in researching Britain during the Migration Period (circa 300 to 600 CE), the Thegns of Mercia website is a great place to find well researched ideas for reenactment. It has clear and well-researched articles about clothing, weapons, daily life, crafts, and important archaeological finds. Each topic is explained in a way that…