Category Archives: Early Modern Europe

Graves of Black Death Victims Unearthed

The graves of twelve suspected victims of the Black Death have been unearthed in London. Workers excavating on a tunnel for an extension of the London Underground system discovered the human remains and brought in archaeologists to investigate. This excavation … Continue reading

Posted in Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, European History, History of Medicine, History of Science | Leave a comment

A Van Dyck Painting Rediscovered Online

An Anthony Van Dyck portrait has been identified in an online database. The previously unidentified painting was in storage at a museum in the United Kingdom, but a digital image of the portrait was recently added to an online database, … Continue reading

Posted in Art History, Digital Humanities, Early Modern Europe, European History, History in the Media, Noble Culture and History of Elites, Reformation History, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Sephardic Jews Invited to Return to Spain

More than 500 years after the infamous 1492 expulsion of Jews from the kingdom of Spain, the modern Spanish government is preparing to invite Jews to return to the country. “In November [2012],” according to the BBC, “Spain’s justice minister … Continue reading

Posted in Civilians and Refugees in War, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, Empires and Imperialism, European History, European Union, European Wars of Religion, History of Violence, Human Rights, Mediterranean World, Political Culture, Religious History, Religious Violence, Renaissance Art and History | 1 Comment

Procedures for the Papal Conclave

As cardinals prepare to elect a new pope in the Vatican, observers may want a refresher on the procedures for a papal conclave. The Washington Post reports on the preparations for the upcoming papal conclave and provides the following graphic … Continue reading

Posted in Early Modern Europe, European History, European Wars of Religion, Italian History, Political Culture, Reformation History, Religious History, Renaissance Art and History | Leave a comment

Pope Benedict XVI Resigns

Pope Benedict XVI officially resigned yesterday, becoming the first pope to resign since 1415. Benedict addressed the cardinals for a final time, charging them with electing his replacement: “May the College of Cardinals work like an orchestra, where diversity — … Continue reading

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Betting on the New Pope

Pope Benedict XVI’s surprise announcement that he will resign and go into retirement stunned the Catholic world. Some Catholics have been protesting Benedict XVI’s decision, claiming that popes can never step down, while other believers have been flocking to the … Continue reading

Posted in Early Modern Europe, European History, Italian History, Mediterranean World, Political Culture, Reformation History, Renaissance Art and History, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Renaissance Italian Bank in Trouble

Monte dei Paschi di Siena is in deep financial trouble. “To howls across Italy,” the New York Times reports, “the government has hastily arranged a €3.9 billion, or $5.1 billion, bailout. The widening scandal, which hit at a time of … Continue reading

Posted in Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, European History, European Union, Globalization, Italian History, Political Culture, Renaissance Art and History | Leave a comment

Anglocentric History in the United Kingdom

A controversy has erupted in the United Kingdom over new History curriculum proposals. Conservative politicians are pushing for new national curriculum that would emphasize certain aspects of British history. Many historians have criticized the new proposals as politically motivated attempts … Continue reading

Posted in Early Modern Europe, Education Policy, European History, European Union, Historiography and Social Theory, Humanities Education, Political Culture | 2 Comments

Pope Benedict XVI Announces Resignation

Pope Benedict XVI has surprised Italians and the world with an announcement that he plans to resign the Papal throne and go into retirement at the end of the month. Benedict XVI is 85 years old and says that he … Continue reading

Posted in Early Modern Europe, European History, European Union, History in the Media, Italian History, Mediterranean World, Renaissance Art and History, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Knights of Malta Celebrate 900th Anniversary

The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights of Malta, is celebrating its 900th anniversary. The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem was founded as a crusading Christian military order in the 11th century and transformed … Continue reading

Posted in Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, European History, European Wars of Religion, History in the Media, History of Violence, Maritime History, Mediterranean World, Noble Culture and History of Elites, Religious Violence, Renaissance Art and History, War, Culture, and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World | Leave a comment