You may know Marco Polo as the first European to visit China. Did you know he was certainly not the first, and many others visited during the same time. Why is he a household name today? Watch to learn how he changed the world!

Tom Scott visits an old optical telegraph station that was used to send messages across France at amazing speeds for the 19th century. Hear how some stock investors hijacked the government only system for their own purposes - and got away with it.

Check out this video from Destin of Smarter Every Day with some beautiful slow motion video of Civil War era cannons firing, and some information on the science of what is taking place.

Swords are most people's favorite medieval weapon. But spears have been an important weapon for all of recorded history, and are still used today in the form of the bayonet. How would a swordsman fare against an untrained spearman? A longer version is available here.

We highly recommend that you schedule a visit to Colditz Castle if you are in the area. You can see incredible artifacts and visit many parts of the castle that are closed to the public. http://www.schloss-colditz.com/information/Information.html

Many Christians know the name of Martin Luther, but how much do you know about Philip Melanchthon? He was Luther's collaborator, and his influence was very important in the Reformation.

The exciting climax of Luther's clash with the Catholics - he makes a bold stand on God's Word at the Diet of Worms, then is kidnapped taken to Wartburg Castle!

Get a look inside the solitary confinement at Colditz Castle, and hear about those who escaped from it! We highly recommend that you schedule a visit to Colditz Castle if you are in the area. You can see incredible artifacts and visit many parts of the castle that are closed to the public.

500 years ago, a German monk wrote some theses in a small city in German. Discover the story of this document that changed the world!

If your commanded a Medieval army, and found a castle in your path, what would you do? Learn the four ways to capture castles!

Colditz Castle is famous in WW2 history as the "Bad Boys" POW camp, where Allied POWs were sent who had attempted to escape from another camp. Were they able to get out of this "escape proof" camp? We highly recommend that you schedule a visit to Colditz Castle if you are in the area. You can see incredible artifacts and visit many parts of the castle that are closed to the public.

Tens of thousands of castles were built in Medieval Europe, and many still blanket the landscape. Why were the built, what were they used for, and why did the construction die out?