conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me a description for a story titled Medieval History For Dummies about Rattle with the genre: History, World.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Rattle through 1000 years of horrible history, from the fifthcentury to the sixteenth century
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the first five paragraphs for this story.. End with the sentence ' Whatever you decide, I hope you have fun!'.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Medieval History For Dummies
  In this part I show how Medieval Europe changed during the thirteenth century. This period was a time when kings were increasingly coming under pressure to give power to the nobles who served them. Some, like the weak King John of England, gave in, and parliament was created. The period also saw a massive explosion in trade as the wealthy city states of Italy began to expand their interests across the Mediterranean, taking advantage of the inroads made by Crusaders. This period also saw big changes in the Church with monasteries and religious movements becoming increasing influential. In fact, the papacy argued so much that it split with itself and several people claimed to be pope at the same time. I also tackle the grim story of the Black Death, the plague that devastated Europe for a decade and killed more than 75 million people.
  When did the Middle Ages come to an end? It's a great question and in Part V I take a look at the final events, when the medieval period began to merge into the Renaissance. I recount the Hundred Years' War between England and France and the amazing battles that took place at Crecy and Agincourt. I also spend some time with the Peasants' Revolt in England, when the downtrodden had finally had enough and the Lollard movement saw them storming London and demanding change. The part ends with a chapter on the fifteenth century when the Middle Ages ceased to be: the Renaissance in Italy, the end of the Byzantine Empire and the voyages of Christopher Columbus resulted in a whole new world.
  The final part contains five brief chapters in which I give you some ideas of people and places to explore next. You can find a chapter on some of the worst kings of the medieval period (for which a lot of competition exists) as well as a chapter dedicated to ten people who really changed the world. Check out my list of the best medieval castles that you can still visit today, along with some of the more curious and unpleasant practices in which medieval people engaged. Something for everybody!
  However, each of the chapters is also like an individual essay on a specific topic, and so if you already know a bit about medieval history you can just jump straight in with a topic that interests you. For example, if you're keen on the Crusades, go straight to Part III, or if you want to find out about Joan of Arc, have a look at Chapter 23.
  Alternatively, you can start with the Part of Tens, see what grabs your interest and then refer back to the relevant chapter or part. Whatever you decide, I hope you have fun!
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me three more paragraphs.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Eugenius III acted quickly and addressed a letter to the French king, Louis VII and the whole of the French nobility.
  In other words: crusade now – pay later! Eugenius was offering the deal of a lifetime. Not only were the nobility able to save their souls by going on Crusade, but they also had the personal guarantee of the pope to protect them and their property financially while they sought new fortunes abroad. Furthermore, although many people had died on the First Crusade and in the military operations since, according to the pope they would have all gone to Heaven. He was effectively giving potential recruits a personal guarantee. Unsurprisingly, many found the offer very attractive.
  Although Pope Eugenius's offer was brilliant, it was somewhat wasted on King Louis VII who had already decided on making a journey to Outremer several months earlier before the Pope had made his appeal. Louis agreed to go on Crusade, and he actively recruited others to the cause, incorporating his expedition with those planned by other people.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Swap the first and the last sentence.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Louis agreed to go on Crusade, and he actively recruited others to the cause, incorporating his expedition with those planned by other people.
  In other words: crusade now – pay later! Eugenius was offering the deal of a lifetime. Not only were the nobility able to save their souls by going on Crusade, but they also had the personal guarantee of the pope to protect them and their property financially while they sought new fortunes abroad. Furthermore, although many people had died on the First Crusade and in the military operations since, according to the pope they would have all gone to Heaven. He was effectively giving potential recruits a personal guarantee. Unsurprisingly, many found the offer very attractive.
  Although Pope Eugenius's offer was brilliant, it was somewhat wasted on King Louis VII who had already decided on making a journey to Outremer several months earlier before the Pope had made his appeal.Eugenius III acted quickly and addressed a letter to the French king, Louis VII and the whole of the French nobility.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Give me the last five paragraphs.. End with the sentence ' I don't have enough space to describe them all, but here's a list of some of the most interesting medieval inventions:'.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Initially these new institutions taught mostly theological subjects and some practical skills such as financial controls and logical debate. By the fourteenth century, universities had become home to a different type of intellectual who was interested in all aspects of academic inquiry. With the renewed interest in humanism (the rediscovery of the literature and learning of the ancient world), which developed during the early years of the Renaissance, Europe's universities flourished even more (flip to Chapter 24), becoming centres for artistic and cultural study, often using the new languages of Medieval Europe.
  Of all the military developments during the Middle Ages, such as crossbows and plate armour, cannons are probably the most significant. They weren't invented by Europeans and probably came into being through the work of Arabs or Mongols, but they were first introduced to Europe in the fourteenth century, figuring at the siege of Metz during the Hundred Years' War. Within a few decades, they were vital to military tactics and crucial in ending the Hundred Years' War – the final battle of the war (at Castillon, in 1453) was won by French cannons. Cannons also helped the Ottoman Turks to seize Constantinople in the same year (check out Chapters 23 and 24, respectively). The cannon was the first step towards the era of gunpowder warfare.
  Medieval people spent much time trying to kill animals (through hunting) or each other (through jousting and tournaments), but also had time to develop two of the most popular sports in the world today. The form of football that I mention in Chapter 26 was more of a violent, lawless mob scrap than a match for the World Cup, but was still the game on which modern football is based.
  A form of tennis – now known as real tennis – also came into being in the Middle Ages. You can still see a real tennis court in Henry VIII's palace at Hampton Court, but the game started much earlier, developing from a handball game that was played in France. The first English monarch that we know to have taken an interest was Henry V, and the game became massively popular across Europe in the two centuries that followed. Although a tough and energetic game, it was still considerably less dangerous than jousting!
  The Middle Ages introduced many small but important innovations to the world. I don't have enough space to describe them all, but here's a list of some of the most interesting medieval inventions: