For the poorest people in medieval Europe, begging could mean the difference between surviving another day and going hungry.

A German painting of the Danse Macabre from the 18th century. Nine women of different social rank from empress to fool dance with the dead. The entire economy of salvation is depicted, from the Fall, ...

Western kings and lords placed themselves under the Church’s authority to gain greater control over their subjects’ thoughts and actions. This divine right to rule became the foundation for their ...

Most people in medieval society lived in villages, there were few large towns. The majority of people were peasants, who worked on the land. There were a range of jobs and trades in towns and villages ...

The Heege Manuscript which ‘pokes fun at everyone, high and low’ is among the earliest evidence of the life and work of a real minstrel From mocking kings and priests to encouraging audiences to get ...

Medieval society needed workers, but not every role earned dignity. Certain jobs were unavoidable, but still left people socially shunned and physically stained. Others placed people in danger or left ...

The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. In the Halloween season, American culture briefly participates in an ancient ...