Between bear baiting and a little gambling, the average Joe Renaissance could take a midday break to enjoy a show in one of the new open theatres. While there, Joe Ren could also hob-nob with the u...

Greek and Roman mythology are highly entertaining because they offer stories and characters that are truly larger than life. You've got your gods, you've got your heroes, and, most importantly, you...

During the Middle Ages—sometimes disparagingly referred to as the Dark Ages, because a lot of dark and unpleasant stuff like the Plague happened then—people focused a lot on heaven and the afte...

It's no surprise that a rise in humanism—i.e., the basic belief that humans are good and have got something to offer—did funny things to religion. But humanism wasn't even the half of it. Never...

So, say you're British royalty. And one day, your dad and siblings drop a messy, bloody nation into your lap—one that's torn apart by in-fighting over religion, politics, and power. What do you d...

The university was the place to be during the Renaissance. While most people who went to school were studying law or were members of the clergy, this was also a super-awesome time for math, science...

So people really like throwing around the appellation "The Age of X," and those who dubbed the Renaissance the "Age of Exploration" were no different. So stop us if you've heard this one: Columbus...

Anyone who was anyone in Renaissance Europe was a merchant. Unless, of course, you were a noble. At first, merchants were the new kids on the block. But before long, even the nobility, wealthy land...