The Romans improved the process, inventing the fiber wick, and during the Middle Ages, beeswax candles were introduced.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Because these waterways were the arteries of trade, Bruges became rich during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

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During the Middle Ages, a castle was specifically a fortified structure, largely built to defend nobles against hostile intrusions.

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Many were laid down as packhorse routes by shepherds and traders during the Middle Ages, but a few are thought to be even older.

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The tradition of gingerbread making appeared in certain European monasteries during the Middle Ages and came to Croatia where it became a craft.

UNESCO: Culture

Take Prato, a beautiful town in Tuscany that grew rich on foreign trade in textiles during the Middle Ages and has the churches and paintings to show for it.

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This connection also has historic roots -- during the Middle Ages, extravagant meals or banquets hosted by the wealthy often featured sculptures made from edible ingredients like pastry dough, sugar and ice, according to the book Ice: The Nature, the History, and the Uses of an Astonishing Substance.

BBC: The origins of ice sculpting