In the annals of medieval history, particularly during the reign of Richard I, known as Richard the Lionheart, one figure remains curiously overlooked in many accounts of this tumultuous period: Berenice of Navarre. While Richard's reign is often remembered for his exploits in the Third Crusade, his contentious relationship with his family, and his

The reliefs of Marco Polo found throughout Europe are emblematic of the Renaissance's growing interest in the wider world beyond Europe. During the Renaissance, there was a renewed enthusiasm for learning, exploration, and discovery, driven in part by the humanist movement, which sought to reconnect with the classical ideals of the ancient world. T

Marco Polo, the Venetian merchant and explorer, remains one of the most iconic figures in world history, largely due to his detailed accounts of his travels to Asia, particularly his time spent in the court of Kublai Khan, the ruler of the Mongol Empire. His writings, which were compiled into The Travels of Marco Polo, provided Europeans with one o

By the late 1270s, Kublai Khan’s ambitions in the Indian Ocean began to wane. The difficulties of maintaining control over the islands, combined with the internal challenges faced by the Yuan dynasty, led to a gradual withdrawal of Mongol forces. However, the legacy of their brief presence in the region would have lasting effects. The Mongols had