European Culture

People of the 17th century began to question the authority of the church and reliance on Aristotelian philosophies. This independence in thinking led to the important inventions of this time period.

Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection, first appeared in Europe in 1495 as an extremely fatal disease. Mercury became the most popular treatment, based on the theory of "humors and...

One way to reconnect with your roots, and in turn with another culture, is obtaining dual citizenship. The process of dual citizenship in the European Union isn't exactly streamlined, but the...

In the Medieval era, the castles that dotted the European landscape offered protection to nearby villagers during times of war, played host to social gatherings, housed armies and served as...

You are wondering how to become a polymath, eh? Most people unfortunately don't even know what a polymath is. The fact is that you, by even wondering how to become a polymath, are already on the...

Heraldry is defined as the practice of designing, displaying, describing and recording coats of arms and badges. Heraldry was created to distinguish knights and other participants in battle when...

The sonnet is one of the most beloved forms of poetry, and for good reason: it is tailor-made for examining the complexity of emotional experience, for engaging in word-play and extended...

Family history is an area that fascinates many people. This is even more so if you have ties to someone who was famous or particularly important. Finding out whether you're related to a knight,...

Norway is a country in northern Europe that has more than 4.8 million inhabitants. According to the Official Site of Norway, flowers are significant in the country because the adoration of nature...

The practice of creating and assigning a coat of arms is known as heraldry, a type of identification that began before 1400 A.D. The coat of arms began as a symbol that represented an individual,...

Family crests or coats of arms were designed centuries ago by noble European families. Whether you have a traditional family crest passed down from your ancestors or you've never even considered...

The leaders of prominent families and nobility designed family crests or coat of arms centuries ago in Europe. They composed each crest with a variety of objects containing special meanings...

The colors used in a coat of arms have as much meaning as the symbols, words and other heraldic elements. These colors have a long-standing history and symbolic significance. This means that a...

The city of Rome is about 2,800 years old, with many of its ancient buildings still standing after approximately 2,000 years. Today, Rome is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and contains the...

Originally, a coat of arms was used to differentiate between the soldiers of competing armies. For the last 400 years, it has come to mark families, especially nobility. In the 17th century, some...

The long bow is believed to have been first used by the Germans or Scandinavians around 500 AD. Its use as a military weapon was developed by the English after the Welsh army used it against them...

For school, work or personal interest, creating a Roman timeline can be a daunting task. The city's history stretches back almost 3,000 years. Roman culture encompasses religion, politics,...

You don't have to be a professional investigator to find a person in the United Kingdom. It is relatively easy to find anyone, provided you have a bit of personal background first. If a person in...

Serfs were the laborers of the Middle Ages. They worked the lands for their landlord, paid him taxes and were responsible for nearly everything involved in maintaining their lord's property.

The current flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina was implemented in 1998, six years after the country gained independence. The flag has a dark blue base, with seven white stars running diagonally from...

Medieval tools include a wide range of instruments, some which are outdated while some are still used today. While varying greatly from trade to trade, most tools in Medieval times had to be...

The city of London is replete with history and culture, and a visit to it will turn up many worthwhile attractions.

Over time, the dilemma of how to dispose of trash, also known as refuse, has become increasingly difficult to solve with an ever-growing population and the ongoing production of goods from virgin...

Although castles were built in many parts of the world during the Middle Ages, medieval Europe is most famous for its castles. While walled fortifications date back to ancient Babylonian times,...

Painted and glazed ceramic bowls have featured prominently in Royal Doulton production since the early 1900s. However, the bowl's appearance alone cannot be used to identify an authentic Royal...

Classical Rome is a civilization that was located in southern Europe and the Mediterranean about two centuries ago. It has had a significant impact on modern day society through its influences in...

A sauna is a small room or house that uses heat to induce perspiration. This is traditionally done these days by pouring water over heated rocks.

Iron Age Shoes was a manufacturer of safety shoes such as steel toe work boots among others. The brand was well-known for protective footwear in factories. Iron Age held a large part of the North...

Finland is a Scandinavian country bordered by Norway, Sweden, Russia and the Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia. Finland's climate is more temperate then other nations at the same latitude, enabling...

Scottish culture is experiencing a renaissance via novels, movies and festivals, with celebrities being seen on the red carpet wearing kilts. Scottish highlands dress is varied. Apparel can range...

The years 30 BC to 30 AD saw some of the most important events in ancient Roman history. These occurrences were highly influential in both Rome's immense prosperity and its tragic decline.

The "Viking" (Wiking) Division was the nickname for the 5th SS Panzer Division, a German combat formation made up of foreign volunteers during the Second World War. The SS issued silver signet...

The knight's dubbing ceremony was the one in which a knight-in-training became a knight. It included many years of skills training beginning at age 8 and culminating in the shoulder tapping---or...

Hunting and playing games was an integral part of life in the early Renaissance. Hunting provided not only a source of food but was also a popular pastime among the wealthy. Games, on other hand,...

As the world feels smaller and smaller, we find ourselves having to communicate with people in places we've never imagined. Learning another language can be frustrating, though, because the books...

A coat of arms, also called an armorial bearing, is a design historically used to identify European knights. Over the course of time, coats of arms have been used in many countries for a variety...

The study of Western morals begins with the ancient Greeks; they thought virtue could be found in logic and wisdom. Their theories have been incorporated, modified and rejected by the theories of...

Countries in the Eastern Mediterranean have been strained by years of conflict and economic instability. Much of this stems from the region's years of control by larger powers such as the Ottomans...

James Watt was a Scottish inventor, mathematical-instrument maker and a mechanical engineer. Most known for his accomplishments with the steam engine, Watt helped move science and engineering...

Heraldic emblems were used on the family crest (the coat of arms) of each knight in the Middle Ages in Europe and England. The symbols and other design elements on their shields had a particular...

The weaponry of old is replaced by more technological advancements as time goes by, but the purpose of these weapons remains the same: to win wars by destroying the enemy. In medieval times, the...

In the past, Hieronymus Bosch's art has been variously described as the work of a social critic, a heretic and an intellectual whose works appealed to highly learned elite viewers. Despite all the...

The early modern period was a time of great societal changes. Europe awoke from its medieval slumber and looked forward to an era of enlightenment. This was true in many aspects of society, and...

Here is how to find your ancestors' coat of arms. Most lineages don't have a ancestor who bore arms, but some do. In all countries coats of arms are inherited from the father. Remember, don't...

The benefits of the age-old practice of traditional Finnish sauna are many. In the United States, most saunas can be found in gyms, health spas and resorts.

UK citizenship is one of the six forms of British nationality. Such citizenship grants one the right to apply for and receive a British passport and live legally in Britain without any special...

As Rome acquired importance and stature in the ancient world, the Romans looked to another great culture of the time, the Greeks, for architectural inspiration. The Romans took Grecian ideas and...

In many parts of Europe, you must pass a driving test in a manual transmission car to obtain a driver's license so you can legally drive. In the U.S., this is not a requirement, as most cars here...

Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania, Australia. Its population in 2009 was 68,000. It sits on the waterfront and is known for its cultural scene and parkland. The city is compact....