Realm Collections Blog

Renaissance architecture came to be and flourished between the early 15th and 17th centuries in different European regions, most notably in Florence, Italy.

This replaced the Gothic style architecture but also revived the Classical culture influenced by the architectural treatise of the Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius which was written in 1st century BC. Classical architecture used the basic design elements of the 5 classical orders: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan and Composite. Similar to Renaissance painting, many of the architectural works done during this era were for the Catholic Church. Renaissance architecture’s highest form of art was the building of churches.

Renaissance architecture, just like the classic style of ancient Roman architecture, emphasized on symmetry, proportion, geometry, and the regularity of parts. Influenced by the Pythagorean and Platonic concepts, Renaissance architects believed that God created the universe using mathematical harmony wherein the different parts are related to each other by harmonic mathematical ratios. These ratios which were used to build the churches were considered to symbolize perfect beauty. However, instead of the cross, Renaissance architects used the circle which they regarded as the ideal basis for a church plan because it is a perfect figure and therefore the perfect symbol for God.

Vitruvius, whose works influenced Renaissance architecture, claimed that the proportions of the building must correspond to the human figure. Thus, the famous Renaissance painting of a human anatomy drawn in a circle is called the Vitruvian. One of those who were influenced by Vitruvius and his classical style of architecture was Florentine Filippo Brunelleschi, who is regarded as the first great Renaissance architect. His most distinguished work was the construction of the cathedral of Florence’s dome. He made several trips to Rome where he studied the remains of the ancient buildings and learned about the principles used in their construction. After which he was able to complete the construction of the cathedral’s dome which dominated the Florentine skyline since 1436 while Brunelleschi’s creation of the Foundling Hospital of Florence’s open porch, one of his many other achievements, was considered to be the first truly Renaissance building.

Other important Renaissance characteristics and architectures that influenced the many facets of architecture during this era include:

• Leon Battista Alberti – wrote the Ten Books on Architecture which was inspired by Vitruvius and became the bible of Renaissance architecture
• Donato Bramante – his creations ushered in the High Renaissance
• Mannerism – became the style of late Renaissance which was characterized by sophistication, complexity, and novelty

Learn more about the Renaissance and Medieval Period at realmcollections.com with a wide selection of costumes and memorabilia celebrating this fascinating period in history.

Pirates might be popular villains in literature and movies, including famous characters like Captain Hook of “Peter Pan” and Jack Sparrow of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” but they are also very popular with kids, topping the list alongside robots, superheroes, wizards and dinosaurs for their cross-generational appeal. Hence, it is not so surprising that kids (and maybe even some adults) everywhere would want a pirate-themed bedroom.

Last Sunday, ten year old Job McCully got his pirate fantasy fulfilled on ABC’s top-rated TV series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” as host Ty Pennington and his stalwart crew brought some maritime adventures to Job’s room. An inspiration to his small hometown, Job is surviving leukemia, a bone marrow and a double lung transplant. Following years in and out of hospitals, Job was finally allowed to go home in March 2008. To ensure his health, the McCully family could not return to their sinking, moldy and dilapidated home. Enter “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” provides home renovations to deserving families. The families often face a recent or ongoing hardship, from natural disasters to life-threatening illness. While the show’s producers and crew film the makeover, all materials and labor are donated. Of course, Realm Collections is proud for the opportunity to help, donating pirate-themed items to make Job’s room his dream room.

Here are some pirate-themed items from Realm Collections you might have seen as part of Job’s room:

Wooden Ship’s Wheel - Ship’s wheel, along with the anchor, is the symbol of ships and sea. It was introduced sometime in the beginning of the 18th century. Wooden Ship’s Wheel is a great decoration piece. The ship’s wheel is made of wood with sold brass nave.

Pirate Telescope - This telescope is designed after the ones used by pirates and contains a brass surface finish with a leather wrapped section that is used as a handle. Great accessory that can also be used for every day use as a personal and convenient telescope. Have fun looking for mermaids!

Brass Glass Sand Timer Hourglass - Hourglass sand timer is a glass vessel with two compartments joined by a hollow fine neck. Despite the electronic and mechanical watches and clocks available, the sand timers have a mystique that cannot be surpassed. The sand timers were used to measure the speed of the ships and today they are installed to keep the traditions live. The glass is hand blown by the craftsmen and each piece is unique. Our Sand Timer Hourglass is beautifully made from brass and can be used to keep time, as a pirate accessory, or simply as a decoration.

Dead Man’s Chest Limited Edition -  Sought after, fought over, the Dead Man’s Chest holds Davy Jones’ heart – and whoever has it controls Jones. Rugged and ancient looking, the chest opens – with or without Davy Jones’ Key. Will it give you power over Jones? Maybe not – but it’s a great way to stow the stuff on your desk. The limited-edition replica chest opens - with or without Davy Jones’ key - and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. As one of the most important film props, it’s a significant addition to any Pirates collection. No self-respecting pirate - or collector of pirate lore - should stow their heart - or treasures in anything else!

Jack Sparrow Button Ring Replica - Black stone set in gold-finish metal with an inlaid floral design of gold-finish metal and crystal glass. Romance is at hand! Play up your romantic side! The ladies love Captain Jack, and he loves them. When an encounter is especially romantic, Jack takes something to remember it by – like this opulent ring with it’s inlaid floral design.

Pirates Of The Caribbean Curse Coin - Exact Elizabeth Swann Necklace replica of the original coin featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Gold plated replica polished with an antique finish to further define the intricate details. Front of the coin features the traditional pirate symbol of a skull while the reverse shows a traditional Aztec symbol. The Elizabeth Swann Necklace replica makes a great collectible and costume accessory.

Pirate Coat - Pirate Coat is a stunning coat, featuring long period cut, large bell cuffs and richly antiqued buttons. Pirate Coat is one eye-catching piece of pirate garb that would make even Captain Jack take notice. Pirate Coat is made of heavy gray wool with black rayon lining. This buccaneer coat has an 11 inch slit from the hem line in the middle of the back. Also it features a horizontal 10 inch mini belt above the slit at waist height accented with 2 buttons.

Pirate Colonial Hat - Pirate Colonial Hat is a leatherette hat with an exception antique look. This hat is an exact replica of the hats worn by the ravage pirates and the peaceful settlers during the 18th century. Perfect head accessory for many costumes and also adds a pleasant look as a display.

Pirate Ship Banner - Pirate Banner is an original accent which would be a perfect part of themed room decor. It is made of durable cotton and has an original design.  This ship pirate banner has a distinct color pattern with a red background and a black bottom panel decorated with a skull and cutlass motif. This banner is the perfect finish to a pirate inspired setting. Pirate banner is also a perfect gift for those who dream of adventures and sailing the high seas.

Pirate Treasure Map - Pirate Treasure Map is a beautifully illustrated map that shows a pirate ships trail to find hidden treasure. It is a fun gift for kids that may spark their imagination and send them on a treasure hunt. X marks the spot!

Pirate Skull Sword Holder - Pirate Skull Sword Holder is amazingly detailed, right down to the red bandanna wrapped around this Jolly Roger’s skull. Made of high quality resin and painted in rich shades to enhance the aged look, this pirate cutlass holder is a grinning skull with glowering brows that will show off your favorite cutlass or sword to full advantage. Pirate Skull Sword Holder is designed to hold any standard size sword or cutlass. The patina of the skull is expertly applied to give it that old-world, aged appearance. You’d think it had been found in some dank cave in a pirate’s cove! This Pirate Skull Sword Holder includes wall-mounting brackets.

Brass Pirate Compass - Brass Pirate Compass features a style that helped small yachts and life boats find their way home. Binnacle is a case on the deck of a ship, generally in front of the helmsman, in which is kept a compass, and a light by which the compass is read at night. In the 1880s a compass and binnacle were patented by Lord Kelvin that greatly advanced marine compasses. This stunning Brass Pirate Compass will make a great gift for the pirate collector or antique collector.

So why the appeal of these thieves of the seas?

Author J. Patrick Lewis, who wrote “Blackbeard the Pirate King,” summarizes the overall longevity of the appeal of pirates. “Pirates appeal, I think, because of their clandestine nature. Kids (and adults) are hooked on the buried treasure, the eye patch, the battle at sea. Piracy stretches to the breaking point our collective imagination of a world so totally at odds with the one we know.

You can find more pirate collectibles and Pirates of the Caribbean memorabilia at realmcollections.com. You can watch this full episode featuring the McCully family and Job’s pirate room at the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” site.

Walking down the aisle with a Medieval or Renaissance theme is like going back in time when chivalrous knights in shining armors rescued damsels in distress. It would be pure romance. However, what are the things you should do to prepare for your medieval wedding? First, you have to choose the place for the ceremony. It would be best to have it in a castle or a wedding chapel with ancient European architecture. If this isn’t available and your only option is to have it in a modern hall or setting, you can always just make the decorations medieval. Research illustrations depicting the Medieval or Renaissance era and try to replicate it with accessible items like banners with crests, big candelabras, suit of armors or breastplates and a lot of tulles or flowing cloth along the aisle. When it comes to the flower arrangements, use a lot of ivy and deep-colored flowers and plants.

Another thing to consider is your wedding attire. Medieval brides didn’t wear white wedding gowns, so the bride’s option is to have a colorful low cut gown set in deep colors such as red, purple, burgundy or the like with a lot of pleats and trains. The bride’s bouquet should be extravagant with a lot of colorful flowers and a hint of wheat which was part of the medieval wedding bouquet. It was believed that wheat signified fertility. Meanwhile, the groom also has to dress up like a prince or a knight, using breeches, tights, pirate shirts, and boots, among several other accessories.

Other things to consider include the invitations, the ceremony itself, the fare or wedding reception, and wedding favors. The style of your wedding invitation and should follow the authentic medieval idiom. The wedding fare and favors, on the other hand, should also have touches from the Medieval and Renaissance period. You can consult caterers for an authentic medieval menu while ideas for wedding favors may include miniature banners, breastplates or swords. For example, you can use brass goblets to serve beverages. Your guests can even take them home after!

“The Chronicles of Narnia” is a seven book series written by C.S. Lewis. These fantasy novels were written for children and considered to be classic children’s literature. C.S. Lewis wrote the book series between 1949 and 1954 and was published in 41 languages with 120 million copies sold worldwide.

The books have been adapted into films and television series in the past but it was only when Disney bought the film rights for the series that it gained popularity once again. Rivaling with the Harry Potter book series and movies, “The Chronicles of Narnia” still was able to make a mark of its own in book and ticket sales.

“The Chronicles of Narnia” series of fantasy novels have seven books which include:

1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – published in 1950, this book tells the story of the four children: Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie who were destined to be kings and queen of Narnia. With the help of Aslan the lion, they saved Narnia from the evil White Witch.
2. Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia – published in 1951, tells the story of the Pevensie children returning to Narnia to help Prince Caspian to become the rightful king.
3. The Voyage of the Dawn – published in 1952, it tells of the story where Edmund and Lucy Pevensie returned to Narnia with their cousin Eustace Scrubb. They went back to Narnia to help Caspian find the 7 lords who were banished by his Uncle Miraz.
4. The Silver Chair – published in 1953, this book tells of the story of Eustace going back to Narnia with his classmate Jill Pole. He was called by Aslan to find Prince Rilian, Caspian’s son who was kidnapped 10 years ago.
5. The Horse and His Boy – published in 1954, it tells of the story of Bree, a talking horse and a young boy named Shasta. The story was set during the time that the Pevencies were the reigning kings and queens of Narnia.
6. The Magician’s Nephew – published in 1955, this book tells the story of the beginning of Narnia and answers most of the questions about Narnia.
7. The Last Battle – published in 1956, tells the story of the end of Narnia.

The books in the order that they were published will also be the sequence that Disney will be following for making the big screen versions of “The Chronicles of Narnia.” They wanted to feature the Pevensie children first due to the popularity of movies with similar plots and second, due to the fact that “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” is the most popular of the series.

The first two books, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and “Prince Caspian” were already shown in theaters on December 7, 2007 and May 16, 2008 respectively. The third installment which is “The Voyage of the Dawn Trader” is scheduled to be shown on May 7, 2010. So far, the first two films have garnered good reviews from both children and adults alike.

For more fascinating “The Chronicles of Narnia” tidbits, including weapons and other movie replica, drop by realmcollections.com.

Kilts are customary attire that can be traced back to the sixteenth century. While it is traditional Scottish Highland garb usually for men, there are Irish, Welsh, Northumbrian, and even contemporary United States and Canadian variations. However, its roots are in the Scottish and Celtic-Gaelic heritage.

There are some useful points you need to consider when buying a kilt. This is especially true when you are buying or wearing one for the fist time.

1. You need to decide on the make of your kilt.
2. The cloth or tartan design says what clan you belong to.
3. You need to take measurements for your kilt.
4. There are optional accessories to complement your kilt and the overall “Scottish” look.

The make of your kilt should follow the traditional design, and your clan’s tartan must be used as material. Tartans are cloths that have crisscrossed horizontal and vertical patterns in different colors. Furthermore, the design of tartans represents different clans aside from their Coat of Arms.

The most popular includes the Stewart tartan, the Black Watch tartan, the Northumbrian tartan, the MacAulay hunting tartan, and the Clarkson tartan, among several others. Once you have discovered your Scottish roots (or the one you want to adopt) then you can choose and buy the tartan for your kilt.

The most important measurements that you have to take are the kilt length (measure from waist to floor whilst kneeling minus 1.5 inches or 4 cm), around the waist, and around the hips.

In addition, you can wear your kilt with a jacket or a waistcoat. This is especially important to wear as a complete suit during formal occasions and traditional Scottish events. However, it doesn’t stop with the kilt and jacket alone. There are several accessories for your kilt that you can purchase to complete the “Scottish” look. These include plaid brooches, satin bow tie, Ruche tie, Ghillie shirts, sporrans and chains, belts and buckles, kilt pins, Sgian Dhubs (black knives), kilt socks, kilt flashes, cufflinks, and sporran flasks, among many others.

The Medieval Times was an era of discoveries and changes that affected different countries in the world. It was during the Middle Ages that many countries were discovered and that which started the Modern Period. However, it was also during this time that many wars and deaths occurred.

Thus many stories and folklores about ghosts and monsters were passed on from generation to generation. Tales about kings and queens living in castles may be the bases for the different fairy tales we known today but behind all these are stories of blood and death. Many castles built during the medieval times are said to be haunted by many ghosts but the most famous medieval ghosts are haunting the Tower of London.

The Tower of London, also known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, which is a historic monument in central London, England. It served as fortress, royal palace and prison for royal prisoners such as the Princes in the Tower – Edward V of England and his brother Richard of Shrewsbury the 1st Duke of York, and Queen Elizabeth I. The Tower of London was also used as a place of execution and torture which became one of the reasons for the many ghost stories that were told about this place.

There were 7 famous people who were executed inside the Tower of London and who are now 7 of the most famous ghosts in the middle ages. They all played an important part in the history of England and were all killed by beheading. This is why the stories that tell about their ghosts haunting the tower are mostly without heads. These include:

• William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings – he was executed by beheading in June 13, 1483. He fought for the crown of young Edward V after his father King Edward died. Due to this, he was charged with treason and executed without trial.
• Anne Boleyn, Queen of England – she was the 2nd wife of King Henry VIII, who did everything to marry her, lost interest when he fell in love with Jane Seymour. To get rid of her, King Henry VIII charged her with treason, adultery, and incest with her brother, George. She was imprisoned in the Royal apartments and was beheaded on May 19, 1536.
• Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury – she was the last direct descendant of the Plantagenet line and also a descendant of King Edward III. She was charged with treason when she sided with Katherine Aragon against King Henry VIII. She was not given any trial and on the day of hear execution, she refused to lay her head on the block. She struggled and even tried to escape. She was chased by the executioner and struck her 11 times before she died at the age of 68 years old on May 27, 1541.
• Catherine Howard, Queen of England – she was the 5th wife of King Henry VIII and the cousin of Anne Boleyn. King Henry VIII was already an old and repulsive man when Catherine married him that she had an affair with a young and handsome man named Thomas Culpepper. They were found out and thus were charged with adultery and executed. Catherine was 18 years old when she died on February 13, 1542.

The other famous medieval ghosts haunting the Tower of London are Jane Boleyn the wife of George Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey who became queen of England for just 9 days, and Robert Devereux who was once a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I but attempted a political coup against her when their relationship went sour.

For more from the Medieval and Renaissance eras, drop by realmcollections.com.

Japan has a very rich culture filled with age-old customs and traditions spanning all aspects of life. The Japanese people are known to pioneer many technological discoveries but are also world famous for their artistic endeavors such as the manga.

The characters spawned from the Japanese comics, literature, film and art have become popular even in Western countries such as “Naruto” and “Detective Conan,” among many others. The stories, especially about monsters and ghosts, became instant hits. Who can forget Sadako from “The Ring” movie series?

There are so many famous Japanese ghost stories that you will have difficulty deciding where to start. Japanese ghost stories, unlike with other paranormal tales that often happen at night and winter time, are usually set during the summer. The Japanese have different terms used for the different forms of ghosts and creatures in their stories. These include:

• Obake/bakemono – literally means transforming thing and refers to preternatural beings that are weird or grotesque looking
• Yokai – literally means bewitching apparition which includes ghouls, goblins and monsters that appear at dawn or dusk
• Yurei – this term means dim, hazy or faint spirit, the Japanese version of ghosts or the spirits of the dead that usually seek vengeance and appear between 2 and 3 AM
• Oni – means demons or ogres which are violent beings with horns and fangs that perform tortures within Buddhist hells

Two of the most famous Japanese ghost stories are

• Bancho Sarayashiki which is about the ghost of Okiku and the nine plates. This Japanese ghost story tells of the tale of Okiku who was hired as a maid in the home of a samurai named Tessa Aoyama. One day while Okiku was cleaning a collection ten precious ceramic plates of Aoyama’s family, she accidentally broke one of them. Aoyama became enraged, killed her and threw her into an old well. After a while, the ghost of Okiku appears every night from the well, slowly counts from one to nine, and then cries uncontrollably over and over for several nights. She finally stopped when Aoyama became insane thus, vengeance was served.
• Yotsuya Kaidan is a Japanese ghost story that begins with Iyemon, a masterless samurai experiencing difficult times with his beautiful but sickly wife Oiwa who was also pregnant with their child. After a while, he became resentful of his situation as well as of his wife that he gave in to temptation. A wealthy neighbor, whose granddaughter fell in love with Iyemon, wanted him to be his son-in-law and thus encouraged him to poison Oiwa. When Oiwa drank the supposedly medicinal drink she became horribly disfigured and died a brutal death. To justify his actions of killing Oiwa, Iyemon made up stories that she was having an affair with a servant named Kobotoke Kohei. He then kills Kohei, too, nailed the bodies into opposite sides of a door and threw them into the river. Afterwards Iyemon immediately married his neighbor’s granddaughter but during the wedding when he lifted his bride’s veil to kiss her, he saw instead the disfigured face of Oiwa. He was terrified and cut of her head but it was too late to realize that he actually killed his new wife. He ran off to confess to the grandfather only to see the ghost of Kohei along the way. He slashed his head but afterwards saw the body of the grandfather. Iyemon escaped but kept on seeing the faces of Oiwa and Kohei until finally Oiwa’s brother came to find him and took vengeance for Oiwa’s death.

If you are interested in more historical facts and memorabilia, drop by realmcollections.com, including a large variety of Oriental Swords, including Ninja, Wakizashi, Katana, Tanto, Samurai 3000 Collection, Throwing Stars and variety of other decorative and medieval Japanese Swords.

The Renaissance was an era which signified new opportunities not only for a few countries in Europe but also for most nations across the world. This period in history, after a large percentage of population around the world was wiped out by the Black Plague in 1348,  lived up to its meaning of “rebirth.” Europe became the center of sweeping changes especially in Italy and the city of Florence.

Other than the Italian Renaissance, which was a cultural movement between the 14th century and 17th century, other similar movements in neighboring countries have their own version of Renaissance such as the English, German, French, Netherlands, Polish, and Spanish.

Florence became the model of Renaissance movements due to the significant changes in the city’s economy and culture. Several of the most prominent writers, painters, architects and philosophers appeared during this period such as Martin Luther, William Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci (the Renaissance Man), Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, Sandro Botticelli, Erasmus, and Thomas More, among many others.

The city of Florence, especially during the 15th century, was a self-governed and independent city-state. One of the reasons for the city’s commercial success was due to its 12 artists’ guilds that regulated trade in and out of the city. The members of these guilds were very influential in both society and politics.

With the influence of the 12 artists’ guilds, the city of Florence prospered especially with the textile business. Most of the city’s wealth came from the manufacture and trade of cloth made from wool. Wool which was purchased from England and Iberia was cleaned, carded, spun, dyed and woven into cloths of superior quality. These were then sold in other parts of Italy and other European cities. Most of their businesses and products were transported over land since Florence was not a port city like Venice. However, Florence flourished in other businesses such as banking.

13th century Florence saw the start of many families involved in banking other than trading. Florin, which was Florence’s gold coin, became the standard of coinage throughout Europe. Due to this and the fact that Florentine bankers were well known throughout Europe, they were able to build banking houses in other important cities of the Renaissance period such as London, Geneva, Venice, Amsterdam and Bruges (Belgium).  Other than trading, textile and banking, Florentines earned their living from being masons, builders, sculptors and lawyers among others.

Other important cities during the Renaissance period made their mark on commercial development and technology such as the invention of the printing press, ability to structure stable financial institutions, provided knowledge on creating infrastructures, banks, factories, and attract tourists. Many citizens from these different cities were highly knowledgeable and artistic and strove hard to perfect their craft. Many discoveries on Science and medicine happened during this period as well the creation of several of the most renowned works of art and literature were produced during the Renaissance era. It was really a period of rebirth and development that reached the greatest heights close to perfection.

Are you a fan of the Renaissance? Drop by realmcollections.com for clothing, weapons, and other memorabilia from this fascinating period.

The Renaissance period from the 14th century to the 17th century had risen from the ashes of the Black Death in 1348. The Black Death killed almost 50% of the population of Europe in a span of 3 years. Furthermore, the early days of the Renaissance period suffered economic loss since most of Europe’s wealthy citizens went abroad to avoid the plague which left merchants and trades people without customers to sell their items to. However, since many lords of lands were also left without peasants to plant and harvest crops, they offered other peasants to work for them for wages. Since this was the first time that peasants were paid for their labor, many of them had their lives improved and eventually became traders and merchants living as freemen in towns.

Exploration & trade in Europe could be traced back hundreds of years before the Renaissance period. Many Europeans already had their fill of traveling abroad and doing business with other merchants. However, it was during Renaissance times that explorers & traders took to the seas to supply Europeans with many Asian spices such as peppercorns, nutmeg, mace and cinnamon among many others. Traveling by water was the preferred means of trading in order to avoid thieves and robbers that filled the roads.

Exploration of the New World and Asian countries brought trade and economic aid to Renaissance Europe. Most of those who explored the seas not only went for trading but also out of dire curiosity to see other places. It was during these travels that Columbus discovered the Americas even though his real intention was to find an all-water route to the East Indies. The New World or American continents not only offered spices for trade but also gold and silver. It was also during this time that the Aztecs were discovered together with an abundance of gold and most of Mexico and Latin America were conquered.

When Europeans discovered gold and silver in the New World, they did not waste time to start mining in Mexico and South America. Aside from these precious metals other products such as corn, tomatoes, tobacco and chocolate were also discovered. The 15th century and 16th century brought about the Age of Exploration when spices were of major economic importance even after the discovery of gold and silver. Spices were even more valued and expensive than gold. It was also around 16th century that Holland became the center of free trade while subsequent centuries saw the dominance of Portugal and the Netherlands in 17th century over trading.

The Age of Exploration was prompted by several factors including Science curiosity, Renaissance spirit of free inquiry, crusading spirit of spreading Christianity around the world, and to acquire wealth, fame and power among many others. The most important exploration and trading discoveries happened during the Renaissance times when many countries and islands were explored for their riches and culture. However, the Age of Exploration was also a time of greed that led to bloodshed and even the disappearance of many groups of ancient people.

Looking for more interesting tidbits about the Renaissance? Drop by realmcollections.com for clothing, weapons, and other memorabilia from this fascinating historical period.

The Black Death, also called the Black Plague, had three variations: the bubonic plague, the pneumonic plague and the septicemic plague. It was one of the worst and deadliest pandemics in the history of mankind. This pandemic spread throughout the different parts of the world from 1347 to 1350 during which almost 50% of Europe’s population alone was wiped out. The Black Death was believed to have originated in Central Asia and specifically India. It spread throughout most of Europe, Asia and the Middle East with an estimated 75 million people dead.

The Black Death was caused by the oriental fleas that were carried on the back of black rats which probably found their way onto the ships of traders and expeditions during the latter part of the middle ages and early Renaissance. This pandemic began to spread throughout Europe in the spring of 1348 and after three years, 25% to 50% of the population had fallen victims to this pestilence. The Black Death had three interrelated forms:

• The bubonic plague – which was the most common form of the disease produced swellings on the victims’ necks, armpits and groin which grew into the size of eggs and even as large as the size of apples. The appearance of these lesions meant that you only have up to a week to live. This was transmitted by the infected fleas from rats and transferred to humans.
• The pneumonic plague – a variation of the bubonic plague which attacked the respiratory system and transmitted by merely inhaling the exhaled air of a victim. The life expectancy was 1 to 2 days.
• The septimic plague – the further mutated version of the disease which attacked the blood system of the victims.

There was no known cure for the Black Death which on the last living days of the victims manifested certain signs of death by the swellings becoming purple or black spreading throughout the body. The doctors’ ignorance during this time was caused by not knowing where the disease came from.

The Black Death greatly affected the economy during the early days of the Renaissance period where most of the wealthy went abroad to avoid the disease. The merchants and trades people were left without any customers to sell their wares to. Many lords who owned lands were left without peasants to sow and harvest crops. However, when the effects of the plague subsided in the late 15th century, most of Europe arose with an increase in population as well as the emergence of a new middle class - merchants, bankers and trades people. Thus the Renaissance period was appropriately the rebirth of Europe after the devastation caused by the Black Death.

For more interesting facts and prized collectibles and costumes from the Renaissance, drop by realmcollections.com.