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Wealth & Power in Medieval Iceland
Early medieval Iceland, the Viking colony, was a democratic and egalitarian society, but the scarcity of resources and the rough environment created competition, where local chieftains resorted to different tactics to acquire wealth and money...
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Greek Bronze Shield
Bronze shield from Olympia, 6th century BCE. Olympia Archaeological Museum.
Video
The Battling Bugler | What Happened to Corporal Metzger at the Fetterman Fight?
Learn how Adolph Metzger, a young German immigrant, served as a bugler and made an impression on the native warriors in Wyoming. Special thanks goes out to the folks at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum in Buffalo, Wyoming for allowing...
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Maori Mere Pounamu (Hand-Held Weapon) Showing Some Colour Ranges
Maori mere pounamu (hand-held weapon) made from greenstone, in Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand.
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17th-century Musketeer Loading His Weapon
An illustration of a 17th-century musketeer loading his weapon. From a series of engravings in a Dutch 1608 arms manual The Exercise of Arms. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)
Article
Crossbows in Ancient Chinese Warfare
The crossbow was introduced into Chinese warfare during the Warring States period (481-221 BCE). Developing over the centuries into a more powerful and accurate weapon, the crossbow also came in versions light enough to be fired with one...
Definition
Excalibur
Excalibur is the sword of King Arthur in Sir Thomas Malory's iconic work Le Morte D'Arthur published in in 1485 CE. The sword was originally introduced in Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain (1136 CE) as Caliburnus (or...
Article
Pirate Weapons in the Golden Age of Piracy
Pirates in the so-called Golden Age of Piracy (1690-1740) used all manner of weapons to attack ships and relieve them of their precious cargoes. Heavy cannons, muskets, pistols, cutlasses, and grenades were just some of the weapons pirates...
Definition
Alchemy
Alchemy is an ancient practice aimed at recreating precious substances using recipes and transformative materials such as the philosopher's stone. Alchemists believed that materials like gold, silver, gems, and purple dye could be recreated...
Definition
Ancient Chinese Warfare
In ancient China warfare was a means for one region to gain ascendancy over another, for the state to expand and protect its frontiers, and for usurpers to replace an existing dynasty of rulers. With armies consisting of tens of thousands...