Medieval Ages

When Richard Fidler came across the account of Ibn Fadlan—a tenth-century Arab diplomat who travelled all the way from Baghdad to the cold riverlands of modern-day Russia—he was struck by how modern his voice was, like that of a 21st century time-traveller dropped into a medieval wilderness. On further investigation, Fidler discovered this was just one of countless reports from Arab and Persian travellers of their adventures in medieval China, India, Africa and Byzantium. Put together, he saw these stories formed a crazy quilt picture of a lost world.

The famous conqueror from the European continent came ashore with thousands of men, ready to set up a new kingdom in England. The Britons had resisted the amphibious invasion from the moment his forces landed, but he was able to push forward. In a large winter battle, the Britons’ large army attacked the invaders, but was eventually routed, and the conqueror was able to set up a new kingdom.

Viking Age Norway’s greatest king Harald Fairhair has unified the northern districts into a kingdom, but as he ages and his body weakens, so does his realm. To keep the kingdom from fracturing, Harald abdicates his high seat to the one son he believes capable enough - and vicious enough - to rule: Erik Bloodaxe. There is one problem. The other sons hate their brother and will not accept his kingship.

The term Moor is a historical rather than an ethnic name. It is an invention of European Christians for the Islamic inhabitants of Maghreb (North Africa), Andalusia (Spain), Sicily and Malta, and was sometimes use to designate all Muslims. It is derived from Mauri, the Latin name for the Berbers who lived in the Roman province of Mauretania, which ranged across modern Algeria and Morocco. Saracen was another European term used to designate Muslims, though it usually referred to the Arabic peoples of the Middle East and derives from an ancient name for the Arabs, Sarakenoi.

Prince Rafe leans over me, holding himself up on one elbow as he gazes at my face. I feel his eyes wandering over every surface from my brow to my eyes, down my nose, to my lips and chin, and then returning to hold my gaze for a second. The small smile at the corner of his mouth makes me think he likes what he sees. His hand is cool when it brushes a loose curl from my cheek, but I don’t jerk away from him. I have no idea what’s going on. I don’t understand why I’m here. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. It seems like a lot of powerful people want me—dead or alive. And yet...

In the realm of Eldoria, an ancient land where magic permeates every crevice and the very air thrums with arcane energy, a legendary artifact lies shattered - the Ancient Crystal of Eldoria. This relic, capable of uniting or shattering the realms themselves, has been shrouded in mystery for centuries, its true power all but forgotten. Amidst the rolling hills and frozen peaks of this mythical domain, a young girl named Isolde Frostbane is about to embark on a journey that will shape her destiny forever. Born into a humble village, her life is shattered when a marauding band of mercenaries ...

It could be said that European kings and nobles in the Middle Ages were Crusade mad. The enormous amount of fighting men who periodically sailed off to the Near East to do battle with Muslims are evidence of the widespread popularity of overseas adventurism at the time. The notion of a Crusade, in which large armies assembled from various regions of Europe for the purpose of doing battle with Turkish and Arab Muslims, became so fixed that it was expanded to include Crusades against heretical European Christian sects.

A short story. A prequel to the Knights of Acre series. In the scorching summer of 1191, as the Third Crusade rages on, Sir Alaric of Normandy finds himself at the heart of a treacherous plot that threatens to unravel everything he holds dear. On the eve of a crucial battle against Saladin's forces near the strategic city of Arsuf, Alaric uncovers a shocking conspiracy led by the ambitious Lord de Marcy and his own mentor, Sir Geoffrey. Torn between loyalty and duty, Alaric must navigate a dangerous web of deceit as he races against time to expose the betrayal and save the Crusader army ...

The Moors are well-known for their presence on the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages and for the conflicts they fought in Europe, but the term Moor is a historical rather than an ethnic name. It is an invention of European Christians for the Islamic inhabitants of Maghreb (North Africa), Andalusia (Spain), Sicily, and Malta, and it was sometimes used to designate all Muslims.

After the long period of cultural decline known as the Dark Ages, Europe experienced a rebirth of scholarship, art, literature, philosophy, and science and began to develop a vision of Western society that remains at the heart of Western civilization today. On visits to the great cities of Europe, Thomas Cahill brilliantly captures the spirit of experimentation, the colorful pageantry, and the passionate pursuit of knowledge that built the foundations for the modern world.

The wulfriths. It all began with a woman. A battle. A crown. The conqueror. The conquered. Medieval England - forever changed by the Battle of Hastings. And the rise of the formidable Wulfriths. Having lost all - the woman he loved, great friendship, and lands - Sir Guy wants only to end the insurrection plaguing England. But being the conqueror’s man puts him at odds with his conscience when a disastrous siege against the resistance yields only one thing of value - his capture of a Saxon rebel known as the virgin widow.

With subtlety and exceptional sensitivity, historian Zoë Oldenbourg analyzes the complicated tangle of currents and ideas that motivated the Crusades. As Oldenbourg describes them, the Crusades were not simply a religious phenomenon, nor were they motivated by pure aggression. They were the result of a religious climate that led people of all walks of life to leave their homes and follow the unattainable ideal of heaven on earth.

Once rumored to be nothing more than an ancient legend, it is now painfully obvious that the lerwicks are real. Viola has reached out to the lerwicks, begging them to step into the light so they may show themselves to the world. No longer do they need to hide in the shadows, concealing themselves from a world that dares to defy their existence. They too have a place in this world, and whether or not the humans accept that fact is of no concern. But the lerwicks are not the only ones who have heard the call. When a stranger appears in the middle of the night, Viola will have no choice but to...

More than eight centuries after his death, Saladin's life and reign represent the pinnacle of the Arab world's glory. Saladin is widely considered one of the greatest generals in history and one of the most famous leaders of the Middle Ages, but he remains a paradox, both in personal and in historical terms. A military genius, he first served other generals and was overshadowed later in life by his greatest rival, Richard I of England. He was far more admired by his Christian enemies, who extolled his chivalry, than some of his Muslim rivals.

Examining trial records and the pharmacopoeia of witches, alchemists, folk healers, and heretics of the 15th century, Thomas Hatsis details how a range of ideas from folk drugs to ecclesiastical fears over medicine women merged to form the classical “witch” stereotype and what history has called the “witches’ ointment”. He shares dozens of psychoactive formulas and recipes gleaned from rare manuscripts from university collections from all over the world as well as the practices and magical incantations necessary for their preparation.

Like the shinobi, more commonly known as the ninja, the assassin is yet another fabled figure with ancient roots that remains astonishingly relevant to this day. Assassins in the context of contemporary pop culture often conjure up images of brooding, silver-tongued individuals in peak physique, equipped with impeccable style, flawless marksmanship, and exemplary hand-to-hand combat skills.

The bloody war is over and the city of Taron still stands tall. With one battle over, another is about to begin. Left with no other choice, our heroes must leave their familiar lands to embark on a journey by sea. A new world awaits them, but are they ready to face their calling? It matters not. Destiny waits for no one... This book is intended for mature audiences. The Legend of the Gate Keeper Series Reading Order: The Shadow: (A standalone prequel: Book 0) Land of Shadows: (Book 1) Siege of Night: (Book 2) Lost Empire: (Book 3) Reborn: (Book 4) The Trials of Ashbarn: (Book 5) End of Days...

I’m willing to sacrifice everything if that’s what it takes, but what happens when I have nothing left to give? After joining forces with the tarrins to fend off the ghatins in a brutal battle, Viola and her companions must now face some tough choices. The defeat, a minor setback, has only further enraged the savage ghatins, and Viola’s life is now in more danger than ever before. Left with no choice, she and her friends must leave Eldham in order to stay one step ahead of their enemies. Even with the aid of some newfound allies, will Viola find peace at last? Perhaps it’s time she ...

The Republic of Genoa: The History of the Italian City that Became Influential across the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages examines the highs and lows of Genoa La Superba (“The Proud”), including its humble origins in the first century CE, its felicitous rise after the fall of the Roman Empire, its golden age as a mercantile power during the “Genoese Century,” and its demise at the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797.

The Sword of Truth meets The Wheel of Time in this epic fantasy series. If there is one thing Viola knows for certain, it is that she’s inferior to all other beings. At least, that is what she has been told for as long as she can remember. She was born a freak with no memory of her past, and her red eyes and white hair have forced her to hide from the rest of the world. She’s been treated like a slave by a man she hates, and her life of involuntary servitude is all she's ever known. But everything changes the day she is followed home and captured by Lord Alaric. With her most unusual ...