From a Life of Luxury to a Life of Holy Poverty: St. Francis, Before the Franciscan Order
byWinner of the Spring 2019 StMU History Media Award for Best Article in the Category of “People” Francis was faced with a very large…
Post-Classical History (600 CE-1492 CE)
A Viking Burial: The Ancient Art of Saying Goodbye
byEvery culture in the world has a tradition that makes them stand out from the rest. People take pride in what makes them unique,…
The Legend Behind Teotihuacán
byAt the heart of the mighty Aztec empire laid the capital Tenochtitlan, the Venice of the new world. No other civilization at the time…
Ferdinand and Isabella: The Making of the First World Power
byIn April of 1451, at a secluded palace in Northern Spain, a young baby by the name of Princess Isabella of Castile was born….
Henry VII: The start of the Tudor Dynasty
by“His spirit was distinguished, wise and prudent; his mind was brave and resolute and never, even at moments of the greatest danger, deserted him….
The Seven Liberal Arts – The Foundations of Modern Day Education
byThe Seven Liberal Arts. While the phrase “Liberal Arts” is nothing new to any student’s ears, the specific term “Seven Liberal Arts” might not…
Indigenous Students Learning Math Like Their Mayan Ancestors
byImagine learning math in ancient times where nature and the environment were the only resources for learning. Before using calculators and textbooks to learn…
The Rise of Joan of Arc: The Maid of Orleans
byImagine yourself as a child, and imagine being able to hear the voices of the divine, the voices of angels such as Michael the…
Magic Water Mountain: The Foundation of Tenochtitlan
byWhen the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the valley of Mexico, they discovered something mystical. They viewed this place as the Venice of the New…
The Battle of Bosworth Field and the Successes of the Wars of the Roses
byBy all means, King Richard III had no reason to be nervous in the battle to come. He was a capable general, successfully fending…
Zen Buddhism and the Samurai’s Key to Bushido
byWhat do you suppose would happen if Buddhism were to be brought to China, and then introduced to the samurai warriors of Japan? If…
Werewolves: Creatures of Night
byHave you ever heard that at night the creatures come out, especially when there is a full moon. But whenever people think of a…
The Fall of the Knights Templar
byThe Knights Templar were a militaristic order of monks founded at the time of the First Crusade to protect the Christian people of Europe…
From prestigious noble to child serial killer: Gilles de Rais
byWith so many serial killers sprouting during the twentieth century, the name Gilles de Rais may not ring a bell to many. Rais, however,…
Christopher Columbus and his discovery of the New World
byThe voyage and expedition that changed the world forever was captained by the adventurous Christopher Columbus. Our story begins with him as a young…
St. Helena and The Legend of The True Cross
byThis is a legend unlike any other. It all started with a young servant girl named Flavia Julia Helena.1 Born in 248 C.E. in…
No One Mourns the Wicked: The Female Emperor Wu Zhao
byThe Empress Wang cooed over her stepdaughter. With no children of her own, she spoiled the child, only days old, and already loved her…
Dear Charlemagne, Merry Christmas!!, from Pope Leo III
byThere are few moments in history that compare with the crowning of Charles the Great. It was Christmas Day in the year 800 at…
Greek Fire: A Byzantine Weapon Lost to the Ages
bySeptember 1, 718. With the clear motivation to defend Constantinople, Byzantine ships filled with anxious soldiers were surrounding the mainland. On the horizon, Arab…
King Arthur’s Death by Progeny
byHave you ever heard of the famous holy sword of legend, Excalibur? And do you know who wielded such a weapon? Who was the…