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Six Great Heresies of the Middle Ages
The medieval Church established its monopoly over the spiritual life of Europeans in the Early Middle Ages (c. 476-1000) and consolidated that power throughout the High Middle Ages (1000-1300) and Late Middle Ages (1300-1500). Along the way...

Definition
Grand Remonstrance
The Grand Remonstrance of 1641 was a list of grievances issued by Parliament against King Charles I of England (r. 1625-1649). It recorded what Parliament saw as the monarch's abuse of power, his illegal raising of taxes outside Parliament...

Definition
Quipu - The Inca String Record-Keeping Device
A quipu (khipu) was a method used by the Incas and other ancient Andean cultures to keep records and communicate information using string and knots. In the absence of an alphabetic writing system, this simple and highly portable device achieved...

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Charles Martel
Charles Martel divides the realm between Pepin and Carloman. Illuminated manuscript from the Grandes Chroniques de France. Ms. fr. 2615, fol. 72.
Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris.

Definition
Constantine V
Constantine V, also known as Constantine the Dung-named by his enemies, was emperor of the Byzantine empire from 741 to 775 CE. He enjoyed military successes in the Middle East and Balkans but his reign is chiefly remembered for his systematic...

Definition
Brunhilda of Austrasia
Brunhilda of Austrasia (c. 543-613) was a Visigothic princess who married into the Merovingian dynasty of the Franks, becoming the queen consort of the eastern kingdom of Austrasia. Following the brutal death of her sister due to a plot by...

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Chlothar II
Chlothar II was a Merovingian king of the Franks, who reigned from 584 to 629. He inherited the throne of Neustria as an infant, upon the assassination of his father, Chilperic I (r. 561-584). Following a long and bitter power struggle with...

Book Review
The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
The Ancient Near East: A Very Short Introduction by Professor Amanda H. Podany is a concise, but very comprehensive, work on the history of Mesopotamia. Part of the Very Short Introduction series from Oxford University Press, the book is...

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Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire c. 814
A map illustrating the rise and expansion by conquest of the Frankish Carolingian ("descendants of Charles") dynasty during the rule of the son of Peppin the Short and grandson of Charles Martel, Charlemagne (768 - 814 CE). Under Charlemagne...

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The Ancient City of Babylon: History of the Babylonian Empire
The ancient city of Babylon was a city in Mesopotamia which is now modern-day Iraq. The city of Babylon is so well known to many due to the many references to it in the Bible, although none of them are particularly glowing comments. The history...