The French Renaissance Court
R.J. Knecht looks at the practical considerations behind the smooth operation of the huge courts of the Valois kings of France.
Medieval
Friends or Foes? The Islamic East and the West
Christopher J. Walker asks whether the two religions that frequently appear locked in an inevitable clash of civilizations in fact share more than has often been thought.
The Birth of Henry Tudor
The man who founded the Tudor dynasty was born on January 28th, 1457.
Alexander I succeeds as King of Scots
Alexander I succeeded his father Malcolm Canmore, Macbeth's killer, as King of Scots on January 8th, 1107.
The Church in the Middle Ages
Marius Ostrowski explains why the Church was so dominant in the Middle ages, but also sees traces of a growing secularism.
Carcassonne falls in the Albigensian Crusade
Richard Cavendish marks the anniversary of a great fortress being sacked, on August 15th, 1209.
The Expulsion of the Jews of Spain
Graham Noble examines the origins and traces the consequences of the notorious Edict of 1492.
The Cross and the State
Christopher Tyerman explains why he believes the crusades were important in shaping the ideology and fiscal and political structures of the secular state.
Was Leonardo a Christian?
The beliefs of the man who painted some of the most famous Christian images are shrouded in mystery. Alex Keller coaxes Leonardo da Vinci’s thoughts out of some little-known personal writings.
Universal Projects for the Universal Man
The artist, scientist, botanist, anatomist, engineer, inventor and all-round genius Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) used paper in a unique way.