Detail from the Bayeux Tapestry What could a battle in AD 1066 possibly have to do with you? It was 945 years ago today that William the Bastard, the duke of Normandy, led his troops to victory over Harold II, the king of England. At first blush, this may not seem relevant to you, but […]
Thomas Aquinas–the man who made it okay to think again. What made Thomas Aquinas one of the most important thinkers in Western history? Well, to understand that, you have to understand why the Middle Ages have often been known as “The Dark Ages,” or, as one historian put it, “A thousand years without a bath.” […]
Do you ever wish life came with an instruction manual? It does. Benedict wrote it. Benedict was born in Nursia, Italy, around 480. He was born in the years following the collapse of the Roman Empire, and the world he entered was one of confusion and chaos. Many people were turning away from society and […]
On Saturday, July 10, Renee and I visited the Cloisters Museum and Garden in Manhattan. The Cloisters Museum and Garden is owned by the Metropolitan Museum, and is dedicated to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages. It was started by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., who imported ruined abbeys from Spain brick by brick […]
We are all familiar with the image of St. Francis of Assisi, the benevolent, bearded man who speaks to animals and allows the birds to perch on his shoulders. However, the real Francis was a controversial figure who impelled many people to abandon their worldly lives and roam the country in poverty. Francis, pictured in […]