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The Household Staff in an English Medieval Castle
An English medieval castle, if a large one, could have a household staff of at least 50 people, which included all manner of specialised and skilled workers such as cooks, grooms, carpenters, masons, falconers, and musicians, as well as a...
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Daily Life in a Medieval Monastery
Monasteries and other religious institutions such as priories and nunneries were a quintessential part of the medieval landscape and an important component of a community's social fabric. Providing spiritual guidance, employment, education...
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The Book of Enoch Manuscript
The backside of P.Mich.inv. 5552, showing portions of the Book of Enoch in Greek. Part of the Chester Beatty Papyri, most likely originated in Egypt, 4th century CE.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Library
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Illuminated Manuscript of the Rubaiyat
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (l. 1048-1131 CE), illuminated by William Morris.
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Buddhist Illuminated Manuscript, Goryeo Period
An illuminated text of the Buddhist Lotus sutra. Goryeo period (918-1392 CE).
Gwangdeoksa temple in Chenan, Korea.
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Irish Manuscript Fragment
This Isidor fragment from the middle of the 7th century CE shows how the Irish introduced capital letters at the beginnings of paragraphs, the separation of words from each other, and interpunction into writing; all innovations we still use...
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Martial Arts in Medieval Japan
There were 18 martial arts (bugei or bujutsu) in medieval Japan, and these included use of weapons, unarmed self-defence techniques, swimming, and equestrian skills. Initially designed to hone the skills of warriors for greater success on...
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Diversity in Church Architecture in Medieval England
Medieval English churches differed in size and layout. Their original and evolving role(s), financial and material resources, and architectural fashions helped determine variability. However, their look ultimately grew from a constant symbiosis...
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Medieval Indulgence & Martin Luther
The medieval indulgence was a writ offered by the Church, for money, guaranteeing the remission of sin, and its abuse was the spark that inspired Martin Luther's 95 Theses. Luther (l. 1483-1546) claimed the sale of indulgences was unbiblical...
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Clothes in Medieval England
As in just about any other period of history, clothing in the Middle Ages was worn for necessity, comfort, and display. Bright colours and rich decorations made for a striking medieval wardrobe, at least among the wealthy, although there...