You may think that because you've obsessively watched every episode of "Game of Thrones," you know something about life in a cold and pitiless medieval world. Well, here's a fact from history, not ...

Rope is everywhere. Humans have been using this simple tool for thousands of years, and whether you’re sailing across the ocean or just tying your shoes, you can’t get far without some form of rope.

Queeney, in his book, traces the evolution of rope and its functions. It began humbly, uniting stone and stick into prehistoric tools such as spears, hammers, and arrows. As harvested strands ...