Curated category
Early modern period
- PeasantA 1909 photograph by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky shows young women offering berries to visitors at their izba home. Those who had been serfs among the Russian…
- Early modern periodThe year 1453 marked the fall of Constantinople, a moment that many historians cite as the starting point for the early modern period.
- RenaissanceIn the year 1348, a plague known as the Black Death swept through Florence and killed nearly half of its population. This demographic catastrophe created an…
- BaroqueThe English word baroque comes directly from the French. Some scholars state that the French word originated from the Portuguese term 'a flawed pearl'…
- RococoThe word rococo first appeared in print in 1825 to describe decoration that was out of style and old-fashioned. Pierre-Maurice Quays used the term as a…
- Divine right of kingsIn the year 1170, Archbishop Thomas Becket died after being murdered by knights loyal to King Henry II of England. This violent event marked a turning point…
- Holy Roman EmpireOn Christmas Day of 800, Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king Charlemagne emperor in Rome. This event revived a title that had lapsed more than three…
- Kingdom of NaplesIn 1282, the island of Sicily erupted in a violent uprising known as the War of the Sicilian Vespers. This rebellion forced King Charles I of Anjou to…