The National Library of Spain preserves one of the most fascinating travel books from the Late Middle Ages, following the tradition of other illustrious literary travelers such as Marco Polo, John Mandeville, Ibn Battuta, and others. It is impossible to determine who authored it, with speculation suggesting that it might have been King Henry III […]
Mongols
Posted inMedieval Archaeology
At the Dawn of the Mongol Empire: A Woman Found Buried with a Yellow Silk Cloak and Valuable Objects Within the Walls of a Circular Fortress
A recent archaeological discovery in Dornod Province, Mongolia, has unearthed an elite tomb dating from the pre-Mongol period, shedding new light on a historically obscure moment between the fall of the Khitan Empire and the rise of the Mongol Empire. This finding, part of the Mongolian-Israeli-American Archaeological Project, offers a fascinating glimpse into the funerary […]
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology
Bronze Age Mongols’ Diet Uncovered: Blood Sausages and Yak Milk
Around 2700 years ago, Mongolian nomads were processing animal blood and milk using bronze cauldrons, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Basel have discovered the culinary secrets of these ancient peoples through protein analysis of archaeological finds. Bronze Age cauldrons have been unearthed repeatedly across the Eurasian steppe, but their specific […]
Posted inAntiquity, Middle Ages
Takht-e Soleymān, the Fortress that Housed the Most Sacred Place of the Sassanian Empire
Takht-e Soleymān, known as the Throne of Solomon, is one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in Iran, located in the West Azerbaijan province near the modern city of Takab. This fortified sanctuary, dating back to the Sasanian and early Islamic periods, has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 2003, due […]
Posted inMiddle Ages
The Story of Khutulun, the Mongolian Female Warrior who Inspired Puccini’s Turandot
The idea of a woman who considers no man worthy of her and sets strict conditions for suitors has led to various more or less famous creative works. However, it has a historical precedent glossed over by none other than Marco Polo in his Book of Wonders: the Mongolian princess Khutulun, an expert warrior, cousin […]
Posted inMiddle Ages
Subutai, the Mongol General who Conquered More Territory than Any Other Man in History
While the main character usually gets all the fame, it was common for the so-called great conquering statesmen to have, by their side and under their command, a military genius who provided them with victories. For example, Napoleon had Davout and Suchet, among many others; Itzcóatl had Tlacaélel; Pachacútec had Vicaquirao; Philip II had the […]
Posted inMiddle Ages
Battle on the Ice, the medieval battle fought on a frozen lake
If you haven’t already watched Sergei Eisenstein’s movie, Alexander Nevsky, I recommend that you look for it and watch it, regardless of whether it’s a 1938 black and white film or not. Not only because this director’s titles are still visually fascinating three quarters of a century later, but also because, after reading this article, […]
