Organized sports as we know them today did not exist, but people have always enjoyed competition, in whatever ways were available.

During outbreaks of the black plague, city officials throughout Europe were forced to hire what are known as "plague doctors" to assist in the treatment of plague sufferers.

In today's world the choices available to us, for entertainment, are limited only by our imagination. It was the same for Renaissance folk!

One of the deadliest pandemics in history, the "Black Death" is often credited as one of the major factors leading to the European Renaissance.

During the Renaissance women strove for pale skin so much that they risked their lives for it!

To really understand any historical time period it is essential that one has a firm grasp on the vocabulary of the times. In this article, the definitions for various merchant occupations are given and defined.

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, food preparation was one of the duties of women, for their own families. In some instances a part of the job of preparing food was done by people outside the family, as a way to make their living.

Many works depicting a Madonna and Child were created as private devotional items. Donatello’s Madonna of the Clouds is one of several half-length Madonna reliefs that may have been in the collection of the Medici family or one of their contemporaries.

During the Medieval and Renaissance Periods there were many skilled craftsmen that not only provided vital items of daily life but made a living at their craft. In this article I will look at a few of the more common skilled crafts.

In addition to giving a rise in the arts and sciences, the Renaissance is responsible for giving rise to the banking system.