Where the Middle Ages Begin
It’s a familiar image on church banners and tourist souvenirs: the double-headed eagle soaring over the memory of Byzantium. Yet the real story behind this symbol is far more complex — and far older — than many realize.
What everyday objects did people use in the Middle Ages? From clothing and household necessities to tools for work and warfare, these 25 medieval items were essential to daily life and shaped how people lived, ate, and survived.
Delve into the pivotal figures of the Middle Ages whose enduring legacies shaped the course of history. From visionary leaders and profound scholars to prolific writers and formidable warriors, these individuals left an indelible mark on medieval society.
Discover the 50 most significant events of the Middle Ages, spanning the years 500 to 1500.
Here are seven vivid facts about colour in the Middle Ages
In medieval times, many unique jobs, such as Ale-wife and Groom of the Stool, were essential but have since vanished. Discover these obsolete occupations and how historical changes led to their disappearance.
Are you wanting to talk more like someone from the Middle Ages? We have a list of 30 great sayings and proverbs that you can use in your conversations.
Have you wondered what a medieval king did on a typical day? Thanks to Christine de Pizan, we have an account of what daily life was like for King Charles V of France.
Some of our most popular phrases have a long history, including some that go back to the Middle Ages.
Want to know what kind of jobs there were in the Middle Ages? A unique source from the 15th century gives us some beautiful images of medieval people at work.
New research reveals that key entries in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle were revised after 1066 to support Harold Godwinson’s claim to the throne—while omitting events that could have undermined it.
New research reveals stark differences in Viking violence between Norway and Denmark, uncovering patterns of brutal deaths, executions, and weapon use through the study of ancient bones and grave goods.
It’s a familiar image on church banners and tourist souvenirs: the double-headed eagle soaring over the memory of Byzantium. Yet the real story behind this symbol is far more complex — and far older — than many realize.
Researchers have uncovered medieval inscriptions in the Cenacle, the Room of the Last Supper in Jerusalem, revealing a diverse community of pilgrims from Austria, Armenia, Syria, and beyond.
Swaddling was a common practice in medieval Europe, believed to protect and strengthen infants — but archaeological research shows it may have had unintended effects on their developing skeletons.
The typical portrayal of Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries is that it was a great era in which everyone produced even greater art. However, this book reveals that the ‘Renaissance’ was not so great after all, as the period was marked by political turmoil, warfare, and tragedy.
Discover the five most common jobs in a medieval city, based on records from fifteenth-century Montpellier. Learn how farmers, carpenters, butchers, shoemakers, and clerics shaped urban life
Were war elephants actually used during the Crusades? Discover how history, art, and medieval imagination shaped Western perceptions of these towering beasts.
Discover the overlooked world of medieval blacksmiths. Far from being just weaponsmiths for knights, blacksmiths built vital industries, shaped local economies, and rose to civic prominence across medieval Europe.
Explore the mysterious story of the Green Children of Woolpit. This article offers a fresh look at the medieval legend, revealing how folklore, society, and historical realities intertwine.
Over thirty Swedish queens are profiled in this book, the first major study of royal women in Sweden between the 10th and 14th centuries. It offers new insights into the evolution of medieval queenship.
In 1483, Queen Isabel I and King Fernando of Castile granted royal garments as perpetual rewards for battlefield victories. A new study uncovers how these unusual gifts became lasting symbols of favour, power, and memory in late medieval Spain.
Discover how medieval kings transformed their realms through a “fiscal revolution” that centralized control over coinage and taxation, reshaping the foundations of state power.
A new study uncovers why Poland’s first kingdom—the Piast state—collapsed so quickly, linking slave trade wealth, ecological intensification, and political fragility. Archaeology, pollen records, and coin hoards reveal the state’s rapid rise—and sudden unraveling.
How Viking adventurers helped shape the foundations of Russia and Ukraine—and why their legacy remains at the heart of modern political conflict. Explore the Rus origin story from Rurik to Putin.
The Hippodrome of Constantinople stood at the heart of Byzantine public life. This book explores the history of the stadium, the thrilling chariot races it hosted, and the vital role it played in the political, social, and cultural fabric of the empire.
A closer look at how King Alfonso X of Castile—celebrated as “the Learned”—undermined his own kingdom through overambitious spending, aggressive economic controls, unstable currency, and heavy taxation. It reveals how one of medieval Spain’s most intellectual rulers engineered an economic collapse.
This collection of 16 essays explores the medieval story of Robin Hood, examining its sources, how it may have been understood by medieval audiences, and what it reveals about the broader fabric of medieval society.
A new study analyzes nearly 1,000 Syriac manuscripts using digital tools to reveal how scribes shaped literary culture through excerpting—introducing a new metric, Excerpts Per Manuscript (EPM), to map editorial practices across time and genre.
Discover the daily routines, rituals, and responsibilities of monks at Cluny Abbey in the 11th century. Daily Life in a Medieval Monastery offers a vivid look into food, clothing, prayer, hospitality, and the unique organization of one of medieval Europe’s most influential religious communities.
What did medieval monks wear under their habits? This study explores how underwear became a source of debate, modesty, and controversy in monastic life.
Drawing on a wide range of archaeological evidence, this book offers a detailed reconstruction of the Norse presence in the region of present-day Poland. It sheds new light on their material culture, religion, and interactions with both local populations and the emerging Polish state.
Did the relics of the True Cross really add up to a whole forest? This article explores medieval claims, 12th-century letters, and the ongoing debate over the authenticity of Christianity’s most famous relic.
Discover 20 powerful, witty, and thought-provoking quotes from medieval kings and queens—from Charlemagne to Tokugawa Ieyasu—revealing how rulers across Europe and Asia understood leadership, justice, language, and life.
The typical portrayal of Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries is that it was a great era in which everyone produced even greater art. However, this book reveals that the ‘Renaissance’ was not so great after all, as the period was marked by political turmoil, warfare, and tragedy.
A conversation with Tina Sessa and Marion Kruse on the process of peer-review in the humanities: what it’s for, how it can be done well, and where it can go awry. The conversation is based on many decades of collective experience of peer-review, on all sides of the process.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Nathen Amin about Henry Tudor’s Welsh ancestry, how generations of royals and rebels shaped him, and how he managed to claim the English throne despite desperately long odds.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Sarah Loose Guerrero about what to expect at a medieval hospital, how institutions like the Ospedale di Santa Maria della Scala supported citizens from infancy to adulthood, and what hospital support looked like for both urban and rural communities.
A conversation with Adam Morin about categories of taste, the meal structure, and the food and ingredients that east Romans ate. What foods were prized and what looked down upon? How do we know what they ate? What do we know about individual preferences?
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Lynn Ramey about the incredible Jean Bodel, his massive influence on other medieval writers, and some of his unforgettable works.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Luke Pepera about medieval Africa, what it would’ve been like to find yourself in one of the most powerful empires of the Middle Ages, and the famous pilgrimage of Mansa Musa.
