Medieval

What made medieval monks laugh? Edward Coleman looks at humour, holy men and the sub-texts of comment in 12th-century England.

Kings knight knights, but who knights kings? Peter Linehan looks at how Alfonso XI got round the problem and in the process strengthened his hold on his kingdom.

Michael Antonucci discerns Byzantine origins in today's international power politics.

Nigel Saul looks at the two-way traffic between medieval Britain and the Continent

Michael Leech on a Tudor revival in the East End

Colin Richmond analyses the part played by the written (and spoken) word in shoring up popular allegiances to the rival dynasties

Master mariner or dedicated amateur? Helen Wallis examines the state of geographical knowledge when Columbus set sail, and outlines his use of it.

A ruler in transition - Howell Lloyd looks at the icons of power that masked the face of French kingship around 1500.

Akbar Ahmed looks at the legacy of a Moorish past for the present Spain.