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A 38-year-old man from the Bay Area, who went by at least three aliases, managed to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of rare historical Chinese manuscripts dating back to the 13th century from the University of California, Los Angeles’ library, federal officials announced. In a U.S. Department of Justice news release, federal prosecutors allege that Jeffrey Ying, who also went by the names Jason Wang, Alan Fujimori and Austin Cheng, stole the manuscripts between Dec. 2024 and July 2025. Because of their value and rarity, UCLA does not keep the books in regular circulation, requiring a reservation to...

For centuries, its origins were shrouded in mystery. But a forgotten cemetery near Lake Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan has revealed stunning new evidence. In this documentary-style deep dive, we explore how 800-year-old graves, ancient inscriptions, and cutting-edge DNA analysis led scientists to pinpoint the true birthplace of the plague that killed tens of millions across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Learn how a single strain of Yersinia pestis, preserved in the teeth of medieval plague victims, was identified as the ancestral source of the Black Death. Discover how trade routes, climate change, and human mobility allowed a microscopic killer to...

A burial in southeastern Turkey revealed a 35‑square‑meter mosaic with a Greek inscription, marking one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the region. While preparing a grave in the rural Özbilek neighborhood of Diyarbakır’s Ergani district, locals uncovered the mosaic, which experts believe dates to the late Roman or early Byzantine period. Discovery made during a routine burial The find features elaborate geometric patterns and two striking elements: a six-line inscription in ancient Greek and a Star of David enclosing a Christian cross. Museum officials say this combination of Jewish and Christian iconography is exceptionally rare and could shed...

The Irish Times reports that archaeologists from the University of Galway have uncovered a fortress belonging to a noble Medieval family near the shores of Galway Bay. Since preliminary investigation the 1940s, Rathgurreen Ringfort in Maree was suspected of being a high-status settlement during the Middle Ages, which recent archaeological work confirmed, but the team also found evidence that the site may be 1,000 older than previously expected. The 330-foot diameter fort may have been founded as early as the Iron Age in fifth century a.d., before it grew into a major medieval site centuries later and was the seat...

While America grapples with its own dark past of slavery, a massive chapter of history gets buried by academics who fixate on Western guilt. Justin Marozzi’s eye-opening book, Captives and Companions, shines a light on the Islamic world’s slave trade, spanning over a millennium with unmatched scale and savagery. This isn’t ancient news, but it is a wake-up call for historians. Marozzi estimates that from the 7th century to the 20th, up to 17 million Africans and Europeans were enslaved in Muslim lands, dwarfing the transatlantic trade’s 11-15 million.

Imagine yourself in a 13th-century North African prison where you are being held for refusing to renounce your Catholic faith. Conditions are cruel, and you are losing hope of seeing your family again. You wonder if it wouldn’t be so bad to convert to Islam. Then an angel in white appears at your cell with the jailor, who unlocks the door. All at once, you are free to return to your home in Spain. The angel is a monk from the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (also known as the Order of Mercy or the Mercedarians), who...

Historian Dr Tom Asbridge reveals the extraordinary life of William Marshall, the celebrated medieval knight often hailed as "the greatest knight in the world" and his incredible journey from humble origins and a childhood as a royal hostage to becoming a regent of England who fought alongside four kings. Marshall's unwavering loyalty and unparalleled chivalry didn't just save lives on the battlefield but also saved the English royal line from French conquest and played a pivotal role in the shaping of Magna Carta. His story is a testament to how one man's prowess and honor could dramatically alter the course...

What does it really mean to have German ancestry? If you’ve taken a DNA test and seen the "Germanic" label, your story is far richer, older, and more dynamic than any single result. Groundbreaking genetic research reveals that Germans descend from a tapestry of Ice Age hunters, early farmers, horse-riding steppe migrants, Celtic warriors, and global travelers. Each left its enduring mark, blending survival, innovation, and migration into the DNA of modern Germans. Why German Genetic Origins is Different | 22:17 Evo Inception | 52.4K subscribers | 47,642 views | July 18, 202500:00 – Introduction: Beyond the "Germanic" Label 00:21...

When you are accused, criticized, or attacked, what is your first instinct? To defend yourself. To explain your intentions. To set the record straight. But Niccolò Machiavelli, the master strategist of power, would tell you this is a fatal error. Every word you spend on defense is a word that solidifies your position as the weak one, the one on trial. You are playing their game, on their terms, and you have already lost. In this brutally effective video, “NEVER Defend Yourself - Machiavelli’s Trick to Flip the Power Instantly,” we break down one of the most potent psychological tactics...

800 pages, thousands of entries, and almost a million words. The Domesday Book, England's earliest surviving public record. Amidst a grave crisis, William the Conqueror embarked on an extraordinary bureaucratic endeavor: the Domesday Book. Dr Stephen Baxter uncovers the immense scale of the 1086 survey, detailing who owned what across England down to the last pig. But why did William do it and what did it mean for the kingdom that he had just conquered? The Intriguing Mystery Of William The Conqueror's Domesday Book | 51:49 Chronicle - Medieval History Documentaries | 811K subscribers | 9,669 views | July 19,...

The first known serious flight attempt in world history occurred about a thousand years before the Wright brothers, in western England. Then, a young Benedictine monk leapt with a crude pair of cloth wings from a watchtower of a church abbey at the beginning of the 11th century. This monk, known to history as Eilmer of Malmesbury, covered a furlong--a distance of approximately 600 feet--before landing heavily and breaking both legs. Afterwards, he remarked that the cause of his crash was that "he had forgotten to provide himself with a tail." We know of Eilmer's attempt through the writings of...

Cats aren't what you would typically imagine when asked about law, let alone medieval law, but the history of Wales is full of oddities, and the medieval cat laws (Cyfreith Cath), are no exception. Here we find laws deciding on their value, their jobs, and what their appearance should be. Medieval Cat Laws - Laws for your Medieval Cat | 14:00 Cambrian Chronicles | 258K subscribers | 885,045 views | July 20, 2024 Chapters: 0:00 - Meow 0:39 - Assigning Monetary Value to Your Cat's Appearance 4:50 - Cat Products 7:06 - Cat Crime 9:00 - How to be a...

Cambridge scholars have finally cracked a 130-year-old medieval literary puzzle: the Song of Wade, a long-lost gem of English literature.Previously believed to be a monster-filled epic, new research reveals it was actually a chivalric romance -- a tale of knights, battles, and courtly intrigue.A few lines of text in an 800-year-old medieval sermon document stumped the literature scholars.The breakthrough came from correcting a long-standing misreading in a medieval sermon: the word "elves" was mistakenly transcribed by a scribe, and the correct word is "wolves.""Changing elves to wolves makes a massive difference. It shifts this legend away from monsters and giants...

Over 1,000 years ago, Norse explorers reached North America from Greenland, centuries before Christopher Columbus. Join historian Dan Snow as he explores how ancient Viking sagas about the discoveries of legendary Norse explorer Leif Erikson offer clues to where these intrepid adventurers may have landed. This clip is from The Vikings Uncovered (2016). What The Viking Sagas Reveal About Who Really Discovered America | 3:58BBC Timestamp | 853K subscribers | 68,830 views | July 8, 2025

Château de Brézé isn't just a castle – it's a medieval survival masterpiece hiding 3 kilometers of underground tunnels, rooms, and an entire troglodyte city carved into limestone. While most châteaux had cellars, Brézé went full underground with bakeries, stables, silk farms, and escape routes dating back to the 11th century. French Château Hides an Underground City - 3km of Secret Tunnels | Château de Brézé | 12:07 Saving Castles | 27.4K subscribers | 3,143 views | July 13, 2025 Chapters: 00:00 - The Castle With a Secret 02:30 - Inside the Grand Salons 05:45 - Descending Into the Underground...

The mystery of the missing sea is one that has personally intrigued me recently. Through all of the Welsh history I have covered on this channel, I have never encountered a phenomenon as mysterious as what I've dubbed as the "islands that aren't islands". Throughout a small valley in Wales, near the towns of Porthmadog and Tremadog, there are 10 hills that aren't called hills at all, but "islands", despite being completely away from the ocean, a phenomenon that is completely unique throughout the history of Wales. Wales' history is full of mysteries, and these islands that aren't islands, surrounded...

Welcome to Lostwithiel, a town where history is woven into the very fabric of daily life. In Lostwithiel, you walk through centuries of Cornish heritage. This isn't just a pretty place; it's a living, breathing testament to Cornwall's rich past, a place where the echoes of ancient tin miners and medieval lords still resonate. If you're looking for an authentic slice of history combined with genuine local charm, then Lostwithiel is waiting to be discovered. This truly significant historical location was once the county town of Cornwall and a major hub for the tin trade. A must-do is a visit...

The Medieval Kingdom that was Erased from History | 36:14 Cambrian Chronicles | 258K subscribers | 2,354,838 views | July 6, 2023 Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 1:43 - Amwythig 4:26 - Caught in the Web 10:27 - Pengwern Ablaze 13:19 - The City of Virocon 17:18 - Know Your Enemy 20:48 - Powys 24:01 - The Cornovii 26:54 - The Usurper 32:00 - Pengwern

Although definitive evidence for the construction date of Sheffield Castle has long eluded archaeologists, a small patch of burnt ground has now helped unravel the mystery, according to a Miami Herald report. Researchers from Wessex Archaeology uncovered the deposit on the side of the motte, or artificial hill, where the original castle once stood. They believe that it was created when builders lit a fire during initial castle construction. With help from Museum of London Archaeology and the University of Bradford, the team relied on a cutting-edge method known as archaeomagnetic dating to date the fire and therefore the castle's...

Workers recovered a remarkable medieval sword during dredging of the Korte Linschoten River near Montfoort. According to a La Brújula Verde report, the three-foot-long double-edged blade dates to between a.d. 1050 and 1150. This was a time when the bishop of Utrecht held power in the region, but the counts of Holland and Flanders were growing increasingly more influential. Besides its exceptionally well-preserved condition, the weapon is noteworthy because of a pair of intricate designs etched into its surface. One side features a "sun wheel," a circular design divided by a cross that was a sacred symbol in medieval Europe...