Where the Middle Ages Begin
Sending a letter in late medieval Italy changed dramatically over the centuries. This book traces how an initially ad hoc system of messengers developed into increasingly organised and professional courier networks, eventually becoming a significant business in its own right.
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.
Sending a letter in late medieval Italy changed dramatically over the centuries. This book traces how an initially ad hoc system of messengers developed into increasingly organised and professional courier networks, eventually becoming a significant business in its own right.
This month sees three courses set to start, dealing with the Carolingians, the Angevins, and the Crusades.
Gold has been discovered in a medieval archbishop’s silk garment at Canterbury Cathedral, raising new questions about where the luxury textile was made.
Archaeologists in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, have uncovered more than 200 burials at the site of a medieval leprosy hospital and chapel.
Medieval bishops needed soldiers, but maintaining them came at a cost. David Bachrach explores how monastic wealth was used to support military households.
Children digging at a residential complex in Vienna discovered a late medieval sword, now being studied and conserved by Austria’s Federal Monuments Office.
Archaeologists in China have uncovered colourful winged horses in a Tang Dynasty tomb, alongside Byzantine and Persian coins and other Silk Road finds.
When it comes to the Crusader States, the Principality of Antioch is often overlooked. This book aims to correct that, offering an in-depth examination of its political history during the first six decades of its existence.
In fourteenth-century Burgundy, gallows were more than places of execution. They became powerful symbols in struggles over justice, territory and princely authority.
Archaeologists from Bournemouth University believe they have identified a lost medieval farmstead in southern England, matching a site recorded on a 15th-century map.…
A medieval calendar from 813 reveals that scholars had identified a three-day discrepancy between the Julian calendar and the solar year.
In the early tenth century, a new Islamic movement emerged in North Africa and soon developed into a powerful empire. This book examines the rise and fall of the Fatimids, their expansion across the medieval world, and how their rule helped create a ‘Golden Age’ in Egypt.
Discover 25 Greek proverbs about life, luck, work, wisdom and human nature, including sayings with roots in the Byzantine and medieval world.
A powerful earthquake in 1303 triggered a devastating tsunami that struck Crete, Egypt and the Levant, leaving destruction across the medieval Mediterranean.
A trepanned skull belonging to an exceptionally tall young man was found in an early medieval mass grave near Cambridge, England.
Archaeologists in South Korea have recreated the funeral of a 10-year-old Silla princess as part of an experiment to rebuild her 1,550-year-old tomb.
Explore how Insular manuscript illuminators may have used stereoscopic vision to create the intricate designs of early medieval manuscripts.
How do you make a medieval king fall in love? The Picatrix has the answer, but you’ll need wax, strange ingredients and a little magic.
Parts of a medieval ship have been discovered reused as the ceiling of a 13th-century cellar in Konstanz, Germany, offering new insights into medieval shipbuilding.
Archaeologists at Guzmán Castle in Spain have uncovered new evidence of a medieval village, revealing homes, productive areas and everyday life.
In the 10th century, a cleric in Germany wrote down two magical charms rooted in pre-Christian pagan beliefs. This book takes a detailed look at the Merseburg Charms, exploring their origins, meaning, and significance.
Online course begins Friday, September 4th.
A first-hand look inside the 20th Viking Congress in Norway, where scholars explored new research and the future direction of Viking Studies.
A rare medieval die found in Kent offers new evidence that Sutton Hoo-style helmets and their elaborate decorations may have been made in Anglo-Saxon England.
Sending a letter in late medieval Italy changed dramatically over the centuries. This book traces how an initially ad hoc system of messengers developed into increasingly organised and professional courier networks, eventually becoming a significant business in its own right.
King Richard III faces Henry Tudor in one of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss the Battle of Bosworth and how the identification of its battlefield has offered new insights into how the fighting unfolded.
As the Hundred Years’ War entered its final chapter, England and France fought for control of Normandy. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly examine the road to the Battle of Formigny and its decisive impact on the war.
A conversation with Christopher Bonura about the apocalyptic tradition of identifying the Four Kingdoms prophesied in the Book of Daniel. Which one was the Roman empire? The fourth, scheduled to fall with the others, or something that came afterward (a tradition sometimes called imperial eschatology)? Among other topics we discuss Eusebios of Caesarea and the reign of Herakleios as possible turning points in this tradition.
One of the pivotal battles of the Crusades, the Battle of Hattin was shaped by both brilliant strategy and disastrous decisions. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly explore how Saladin orchestrated a crushing defeat of the Crusader army, while also sharing insights into the film Kingdom of Heaven.
In the latest Q&A episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly answer questions about infantry vs cavalry in late medieval battles, will there be archaeological excavations at Hundred Years’ War battlefields, favourite centuries and what our hosts will be doing this summer.
A conversation with Jeremy Swist on the emperor Julian (361-363 AD) and how he tried to combine his love of philosophy with ruling the Roman Empire. We talk about why Julian continues to excite such passions, how in some ways he may have been more Roman than Greek, and how he read Roman history in light of the theurgical Neoplatonism that he espoused.