In a remarkable breakthrough, researchers traced the origins of the Black Death, one of history’s deadliest pandemics, to a small region in Central Asia near present-day Kyrgyzstan. This discovery sheds new light on the roots of the plague that decimated nearly half of Europe’s population in the 14th century and offers crucial insights into the […]
A Revolutionary Study Identified the Origin of the Black Death Read More »
Rats can be a real nuisance. They get into our food, our trash, and even our homes. But when applied in the right (or rather, wrong) ways, they can turn into something far more sinister: a form of torture so cruel that the very mention of it can be enough to compel someone to spill
Rat Torture: One Of History’s Most Barbaric Torture Methods? Read More »
Throughout the Dark and Medieval ages, punishments for crimes would become both more creative and more gruesome than ever before. Tales of executions have fascinated and horrified have the public for as long as history has been recorded, and none so much as being hanged, drawn, and quartered. Made famous by the execution of William
The Horrific History of Being Hanged, Drawn, and Quartered Read More »
In the world of academia, there is a principle called “Occam’s Razor” (also referred to as the “Principle/Law of Parsimony”). It is the philosophy that when presented with competing hypotheses about the same prediction, one should always choose the one that requires the fewest assumptions. (This is not meant to be a method of choosing
The Man Behind Occam’s Razor: William of Ockham Read More »
Even the most well-intentioned deed can go awry, but not many go off the rails quite as much as the meeting put together by King Henry VI in July 1184. Henry had organized the meeting, called a Hoftag, to help broker peace between two other leaders, Louis III of Thuringia and Archbishop Conrad of Mainz.
Grossest Disaster in History? The Erfurt Latrine Disaster Read More »
In the long stretch of human history, few instruments can evoke as much dread and revulsion as the breaking wheel. The breaking wheel was a gruesome and torturous device. Also known as the Catherine wheel, it was a macabre invention employed to inflict excruciating pain and death upon its victims. It originated in medieval Europe.
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The Excalibur is a mythical sword. It is associated with King Arthur and his compilation of medieval stories. The legendary Excalibur was believed to hold ultimate power to its rightful master, but plague anyone else who attempted to use it. The Arthurian Legend To introduce the famous Excalibur we must first recognize the series of
Excalibur: The Legendary Sword of King Arthur Read More »
At first glance, the so-called Spanish Donkey may not seem menacing. But take a closer look. It was shaped like a pommel horse in gymnastics, but with a pointed triangular edge facing upwards. This device’s shape ensured that its victims received a gruesomely agonizing experience. Used first in Medieval Europe, particularly during the Spanish Inquisition,
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Jeanne d’Arc – anglicized as Joan of Arc – is a famous French military leader born in 1412 and canonized by the Roman Catholic church in 1920. She is best known for rallying French troops and helping to turn the tide of the Hundred Years War. In doing so, she saved France from English rule.
The life and death of Joan of Arc Read More »
Rats can be a real nuisance. They get into our food, our trash, and even our homes. But when applied in the right (or rather, wrong) ways, they can turn into something far more sinister: a form of torture so cruel that the very mention of it can be enough to compel someone to spill
Rat Torture: One Of History’s Most Barbaric Torture Methods? Read More »
