Women have a significant role in brewing through history. Before brewing is industrialized, it's a domestic activity seen as providing...

From vibrant reds extracted from roots to the deep blues synthesized from leaves, plants have abundant natural dyes and also health...

Prague is an epicenter of medieval and Renaissance Bohemian culture, art and architecture. Capital of today's Czech Republic, Prague has...

Syphilis is a complex disease, leading to unusual and alternative treatments in history. A sexually transmitted disease, syphilis is...

Four Medici Popes shape history during their reigns: Pope Leo X, Pope Clement VII, Pope Pius IV, and Pope Leo XI. Centered in Florence,...

The Catholic Inquisition is an institution in Christianity from the 12th to 19th century. Its purpose is to identify and eliminate heresy...

The Protestant Reformation is one of the most significant movements in Western history. It transforms not just the Christian Church but...

The Habsburg Dynasty in history is one of Europe’s most powerful and influential royal families. From origins in the Swiss canton of...

Nitric acid, called the Queen of Acids or aqua fortis (strong water) is a vital chemical compound with significant importance in fields...

The Thirty Years' War (1618 - 48) is a major factor in the collapse of the European Renaissance and devastates a continent for three...

Egg tempera painting is beloved for its luminous quality and durability. This method uses egg yolk as a binding agent for pigments, and...

Valerian ( Valeriana officinalis ) is known for its calming properties. It's a prominent plant in natural health and herbal medicine....

Tartrate crystals appear on the bottom of a wine glass or in a bottle of grape juice, created by a reaction of tartaric acid. Reference...

Red and white tartar are ingredients used by ancients and yet today. Alchemists have great interest in salts, waters, spirits and...

Ammonia is a simple versatile compound vital to life on Earth. Here's the info on its formation, historical significance, potential...

Spirit of wine, or spirits of wine, is a common alchemical ingredient in medical remedies and recipes of chemical transformation. This...

Arcanum Duplicatum is known by many names: sulphate of potash, arcanite, potash of sulfur, potassium sulfate. An inorganic compound, it...

Ardent Spirits in alchemy are liquors obtained after repeated distillations from fermented fruit and vegetables. They are thus called...

Fulminating Gold ( aurum fulminans ) is the first high explosive known, recorded in Western alchemy c. 1585. Sebald Schwaerzer is the...

Oil of Brick is known as Oil of Philosophers by alchemists and Oleum de Lateribus  (Oil on the Sides) by apothecaries. This medicinal and...