Many Greek and Roman classics start their fascinating—and often debaucherous—tales by invoking one or more gods, and Boccaccio does something similar in The Decameron. His book, which is a Renaissance classic, chronicles the stories told by ten people who survived the Black Death. With all their colleagues killed, they temporarily moved to the country for … More Why Did Boccaccio Invoke God in The Decameron?
Petrarch is often considered the father of the Renaissance. He was born into a legal family and followed in his father’s footsteps by studying law at Bologna. It was among the most prestigious universities at the time, but Petrarch was not interested in law. Frequently, poetry distracted him from his studies. On one occasion, his … More Petrarch and the Spirit of the Renaissance
The Renaissance marked a rekindled interest in Roman and Greek literature in the West. For hundreds of years, the writings of Plato and Cicero were merely footnotes in history. The West had no access to those writings, even though medieval writers frequently referenced them. Towards the end of the High Middle Ages, various scholars including … More Key Ideas of the Renaissance
Divine providence exists in history. An invisible hand guides the events of today, yesterday, and tomorrow. Anyone who looks through the pages of history can see the clear presence of this supernatural force. It is almost as if all lives are single chapters in a grander story that are all guided by this divine providence. When evaluated from a broader historical context, it becomes apparent that coincidences do not exist, and historical chaos is not accidental. … More Providence in Historical Chaos: God’s Order in the 14th-Century Crises
The Black Death (1347-1350) was a catastrophic plague that slaughtered between ¼ and ½ of the European population in the space of three years. Such lethal numbers absolutely dwarf anything any living American has witnessed, including COVID-19. To translate the Black Death’s lethality into numbers that might resonate more with the modern American, if a … More The Black Death (1347-1350)
The Little Flowers of St. Francis is a biographical book following the ministry of St. Francis. It focuses on the piety of the Friars Minors—the religious order Francis created—and the many miracles they did. They functioned as a monastic order without a monastery, traveling from town to town preaching the gospel. The road to salvation … More Little Flowers of St. Francis: The Road to Salvation
The High Middle Ages were littered with imperial and papal conflicts. The Hohenstaufen family was notorious for garnering the hatred of various popes. From a glance, a student of history may get the impression that popes were continually engaged in proxy wars with the Holy Roman emperors. Such an impression would be accurate. Though the … More Imperial and Papal Conflicts During the High Middle Ages
The discrepancies within The Song of Roland make the entire poem laughable. It is a wonder why anyone takes the book seriously. Though the book is filled with fascinating betrayals and gripping battles, the author repeatedly contradicts himself throughout the book, begging the question of why it lasted the test of time as a Western … More Discrepancies in the Song of Roland
The West gained an economic advantage over the rest of the world during the High Middle Ages. Somehow, the political and business environment helped to propagate a successful economy. It resulted in prolonged economic growth in the West, an advantage they held for centuries. But how? The answer is competition. Competition between towns resulted in … More Why the West Experienced Prolonged Economic Growth
The rise of medieval towns started during the 13th century. The specific origins of the town concept are an obscure mystery lost in history. Some speculate that they evolved from fortifications built during the Viking invasions. However, it is uncertain whether that is true. What is certain is that they became a central staple of … More The Rise of Medieval Towns
Asher Sisneros 