Follow the crusades to the Holy Land, explore China with Marco Polo and visit a Mayan ball game. Find out how knights trained for battle, who invented fireworks and who the Vandals were.

In the year 1195, eleven-year-old Roger and his eight-year-old sister Alice travel through the French countryside in search of their ailing mother's estranged brother, a wealthy baron.

In medieval England, after her seven brothers are falsely accused of murder and treason, eighteen-year-old Delia flees their cruel stepmother and becomes a seamstress at Westminster Palace, hoping to gain their release, with Sir Geoffrey's assistance.

"The Middle Ages come to life in this latest installment in the hit Weird But True Know-It-All series, featuring stories of legendary rulers, epic castles, menacing weaponry, and more!Vikings are known for being fierce warriors. But did you know that they used tug-of-war to train for battle-and that the losing team got pulled into a pit of fire? Europe was ravaged by the plague during the Middle Ages. But did you know that one proposed cure from Medieval...

Includes bibliographical references and index.

In this beautiful story of adventure and survival from the New York Times bestselling author of Room, three men vow to leave the world behind them as they set out in a small boat for an island their leader has seen in a dream, with only faith to guide them. In seventh-century Ireland, a scholar and priest called Artt has a dream telling him to leave the sinful world behind. Taking two monks--young Trian and old Cormac--he rows down the river Shannon...

Discusses the difficulty of life in Medieval times relating to famine, anthrax disease, leprosy, and problems due to poor hygiene.