Covering history's most marvelous millennium
Covering history's most marvelous millennium
An example of the beauty of the Middle Ages, gothic architecture gave the era towering cathedrals, bronze bells and stained glass.
Byzantine emperor Justinian II lost both his crown and his nose, but staged a spectacular comeback to put himself back on the throne.
The very first caliph sent his star general Khalid ibn al-Walid - the "Sword of God" - to conquer Byzantine Syria, but the great city of Damascus stood in his way.
The mighty Mongol army tried to invade Vietnam on multiple occasions but had great difficulty bringing the country to heel.
Olga of Kiev became ruler of the Rus' because her husband was killed in an uprising. She started her reign with a savage campaign against the rebels.
The third estate was the economic engine of the Middle Ages: most of its members worked the land, but through guilds, some grew into a burgeoning 'burgher' class.
