Content Spotlight
Palace Life in Medieval Europe
The choices people make in designing buildings and spaces tell us a lot about the values they hold. The castle built at Dover by King Henry II is one such example from the Middle Ages. […]
Professor Joyce E. Salisbury
Content Spotlight
Medieval Europe: What Did the Nobility Eat?
During the Middle Ages, the heart of the aristocratic diet was meat, while peasants had more of bread, milk products, and vegetables. And, the love for wine and ale was unmatched. […]
Content Spotlight
Palace Life in Medieval Islamic World
Medieval Islamic palaces were built to provide cooling shade and breezes. They had separate quarters for women, called harems. Muslims had dietary restrictions, and wine was prohibited by the Qur’an. […]
Content Spotlight
Palace Life in Medieval China
The Chinese people tend to preserve traditions and their heritage, and respect the past. This gives legitimacy to their present. The palace structures, the clothes, and the food are all reflection of Chinese history. […]
Quizzes
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on the Middle Ages around the World
Test your knowledge of the Middle Ages—from feudalism to the origins of Islam to the Vikings’ discovery of North America—in our fun quiz. […]
Ancient History
The History of Spanish Gypsies—The Romani and Gitanos in Spain
The history of Spanish Gypsies is more complicated than one of traveling beggars—they were an essential part of the development of modern Spanish culture. Here is their story. […]
European History
The Spanish Civil War and Franco’s Reign
By Joyce Salisbury, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Green Bay In 1931, Spain had become a democracy, the Second Republic, when King Alfonso had gone into exile. […]