For students of the humanities…
New Advent is a Catholic resource with a huge amount of information. It includes a literature section and a Catholic encyclopedia. The encyclopedia contains detailed sections on cultural topics including the Crusades, Italian literature, Iconoclasm, Christian Art, Ecclesiastical Architecture, Gothic Architecture, and many other topics related to Catholicism. link to New Advent
The Crusades were an important series of events in European history, but they are not as straightforward as many believe. This article from BBC Bitesize gives a good overview of these events. Even though it is intended for a younger audience, this is a solid resource. link to What were the Crusades?
History Crunch is a website that contains a lot of solid information on a variety of historical topics. Both the modern and ancient worlds are well represented. link History Crunch
Lumen Learning offers a number of educational resources, and their look at Western Civilization is very thorough, with information stretching from the ancient world to the more recent past. If you are researching a topic in Western culture or history, this site is worth a look. link Western Civilization (Lumen Learning)
The history of exploration is a rich one that deals with the maps that people made and used, and the places that they sought to find. This article provides a brief overview of that important history. link to Exploration through the Ages
The history of maps is essential part of the study of the history of exploration. This article from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provides a great introduction to the subject. link to Maps of Exploration and Settlement
If you are interested in the Crusades, then this article may be a good place to start. It provides a great description of many of the Crusades, and the sections of the article are hyperlinked to make it easier for interested scholars to find their way around. link to Crusades
The Crusades took place during a tumultuous time in European history, and they are an interesting topic to study. This article from the BBC's History Extra gives a great overview of the First Crusade. link to The First Crusade: your ultimate guide
Art in Context is a website that focusses on the arts, and it tries to provide an idea of where that art is coming from and what it means. It's set up as an online encyclopedia and has a lot of resources on many periods of art and art history. link to Art in Context
French Gothic architecture created some amazing structures. This virtual tour, from Google Arts and Culture, of some of the most impressive examples gives an up-close look at the style. link to Gothic Treasures of France
French Gothic architecture (as well as the variations which followed) is proof that the people of the Middle Ages were capable of amazing things. The Gothic style allowed architects to build to untold heights and to accomodate thousands of people within a single structure. This article from the Victoria and Albert museum provides an interesting… Continue reading Article: The Gothic style – an introduction
France's Chartes Cathedral is thought by many to be the most beautiful of the French Gothic Cathedrals. Known for its amazingly detailed sculptures and impressive stained glass, it is certainly an excellent example of the form. This article from UNESCO provides more information and images. link to Chartes Cathedral
Archeology Magazine's website is full of a huge variety of information. They cover just about every area of culture that touches on archeology at all. For example, they have articles on Charlemagne, the Vikings, the Assyrians and other Mesopotamians, Medieval Europe, historic Christianity, Notre Dame, ancient Greece, the Black Death, and many other topics. link… Continue reading Website: Archaeology Magazine
This is more of a book recommendation than a review. Daniel Defoe is one of the preeminant primary sources on the Black Death, or Black Plague. Because he lived through the plague in London, and chose to record his experiences, he has helped centuries of scholars better understand the Black Death. link to A Journal… Continue reading Book Review: A Journal of the Plague Year, by Daniel Defoe
Black Plague papers seem to be popular in my classes this semester, so here's another interesting article on the plague--this time from the History Channel. In this article, they lay out how the plague worked and what its effects were on the population of Medieval Europe. It was a time that resulted in much death… Continue reading Article: Black Death
