European History

Before the advent of gunpowder, enemy combatants used a powerful siege weapon called a trebuchet to forcefully launch projectiles - sometimes a large stone, a decapitated human head or a dead horse - at intended targets.

By Dave Roos

This brilliant, ruthless leader invaded England in 1066 and utterly changed the course of British history. In fact, he is the 'father' of every British monarch since.

By Dave Roos

The Druids were a class of Celtic-speaking purveyors of magical and religious practice who inhabited northwestern Europe around 2,000 years ago, but almost everything we know about them is from secondhand sources.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Many of the kings and queens of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty had a distinctive facial malady known as the Habsburg jaw. What caused it?

By Maria C. Hunt

"I came, I saw, I conquered" encapsulates Julius Caesar's entire approach to ruling.

By Jesslyn Shields

In 1919, 30 nations met to formulate the Treaty of Versailles, the treaty to end World War 1. The Allied nations wanted Germany to pay huge fines and take responsibility for starting the war. But were the terms too harsh?

By Dave Roos

The kilt is synonymous with Scotland, but does that mean everyone with a Scottish surname has his or her own tartan?

By Dave Roos

In the 1970s, Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha ordered a massive building program of bunkers throughout the country, allegedly for protection. But their real purpose was to create fear and paranoia in its citizens.

By Nathan Chandler

Contaminated water, poor hygiene and the lack of sanitation caused most epidemics prior to the 20th century, but the plague doctors believed that germs were spread through the skin and nose and they costumed themselves accordingly.

By Jesslyn Shields

People often use the words Holland and the Netherlands interchangeably when talking about the country in Western Europe. Are the two places the same?

By Wendy Bowman

Did you know that the iconic monument in the French capital city is topped by a secret apartment? But who built it, and why?

By Laurie L. Dove

It may sound degrading to modern ears, but the groom of the stool, the person who helped the British king with his toilet duties, held an extremely prestigious position and was a close confidant of the monarch.

By Nathan Chandler

Uncover the intriguing history of Neuschwanstein Castle, King Ludwig II's architectural homage to Wagner, and the mysteries surrounding its creation.

By Dave Roos

The famed London clock tower marks 160 years in silence as its historic restoration continues.

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.

One of the most famous buildings in the world has burned. What did it take to build it in the first place?

By Jesslyn Shields

What was behind the building of possibly the world's shortest border fence?

By Dave Roos

Britain has voted to leave the European Union, a group of 28 European countries. What does the EU do and why would countries want to leave - or join - it?

By Patrick J. Kiger

There's a whale of a difference between the United Kingdom and Great Britain. But whatever you do, don't call someone from Scotland "English."

By Dave Roos

Knights, in the Middle Ages, were warrior horsemen. A knight was called Sir, and was usually of a noble or a genteel family.

The control of Jerusalem and conflicts between Islam and the Western world may read like topics from today's headlines. But they were also at the heart of the Crusades.

By Molly Edmonds

Free City , a town or city that governs itself and is independent, or largely independent, of the country in which it is located.

Goliard SongsLatin songs written from the 10th to early 13th centuries. They are among the earliest examples of Western secular music.