Medieval & Renaissance

Interview excerpt

For many, the first time they learned about the so-called ‘Monuments Men,’ was when the group’s story was dramatized in the 2014 film directed by George Clooney by the same name. Established in 1943 by the Allied forces, under the name the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section Unit (MFAA), this was an almost 400-strong group tasked by the then President of the United States, Franklin D.

The rivalry between Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, two of the most renowned artists of the Renaissance, is a fascinating story that illustrates the competitive spirit and the contrasting personalities and styles of these two titans of their time. Let’s explore why and how the famous Renaissance men did not get along.

Who doesn’t love a good ghost story? Travel to any city in the world and you’re likely to find haunted landmarks and the ghost tours to go with them. Whether or not you’re a believer, the history behind the ghostly sightings at the following three castles may give you chills.

Queen Elizabeth I was one of the most successful and celebrated queens in British history. The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, she came to the throne on November 17, 1558, following the death of her older half-sister, Mary I. While Elizabeth's reign is widely recognized for ushering in a golden age, she herself has also been remembered for her iconic fashion choices and style.

Zheng He (also known as Cheng Ho) is one of the most famous admirals in Chinese history and is best known for his treasure voyages. These voyages served to showcase the power and the wealth of the Ming Dynasty to the known world and were commissioned by the Ming Dynasty’s Yongle Emperor himself.

Thomas Blood is an infamous Irishman known as the ‘Man Who Stole the Crown Jewels.’ The self-styled colonel lived during the 17th century and established his reputation as a rogue and trickster during the time when England was embroiled in a civil war. Blood cemented his place in history with his audacious attempt to steal the Crown Jewels. But what are the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom?

King Arthur is undoubtedly one of the most enduringly popular heroes to come out of the medieval era, and he has meant many things to many people for hundreds of years. Over time, the mythology of Arthur grew as new stories were added to the existing ones and his fame spread throughout Britain and beyond.

Joan of Arc was a young peasant woman who lived during the last phase of the Hundred Years’ War. This war was a series of military conflicts between France and England which began in 1337 due to an inheritance dispute over the French throne. It ended in 1453. The 116 years of the war saw the rise and fall of several kings and nobles, many of whom are noteworthy in their own right.

"Brewing", "herbs," "broomsticks," "woman." When one hears these words together, most often the assumption is that the person in question is a witch. Yet brewing has another meaning - one that revolves around the avarice of alcohol. Alewives were women in the Middle Ages through the early modern period who brewed and sold alcohol. Due to the alewives' skills in the kitchen, fashion sense, and the eventual rise of urban guilds, however, the alewife soon became a term synonymous with "witch."