Medieval Hazing: Freshmen Orientation in the Middle Ages
Anchoresses and beguines simply do not get drunk, break into lecture rooms…and play tennis. Yet this was a recurring problem at the University of Paris.
Medieval Archery at The Royal Garrison
We’re trying out medieval archery at The Royal Garrison in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Medieval Fun: Joking about the Church in the Middle Ages
Were medieval people funny? Could they tell a good joke? Check out these stories from Poggio Bracciolini and see if you will laugh!
Researchers bring Old Norse language back to JORVIK Viking Centre
Old Norse has been brought back to life by researchers at the University of York through the voices of new animatronic Viking characters at the world-famous JORVIK Viking Centre.
Fish on Friday III: From Fish Weir to Table
It’s no mystery that medieval people ate fish. The fish industry was a vital element of the medieval European economy, and fueled lots of movement around the continent. However how did they get onto the trestle tables and trenchers?
The Sights, Sounds and Smells of the Vikings are back in York
The long-awaited re-opening of the JORVIK Viking Centre in York took place early this week among much fanfare. The well-known medieval attraction is again having visitors immerse
themselves in experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of a Viking-age city.
Merchants’ Marks in Medieval English Books
Merchants’ marks were used initially as a tool of commerce, on consignments of goods, in the Middle Ages.
Was There History in the Middle Ages?
Did medieval writers think they were writing history? Emily A. Winkler takes a closer look at the various forms of ‘history’ during this period.
Failed Censures: Ecclesiastical Regulation of Women’s Clothing in Late Medieval Italy
Churchmen in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries tried to regulate the costume of Italian women. These efforts failed, and regulation was largely left thereafter to civic authorities.
No Strings Attached: Emotional Interaction with Animated Sculptures of Crucified Christ
Such life-size Christs were not just the stuff of dreams (or nightmares), but have existed in Europe throughout the middle ages – massive wooden bodies, from the size of a small adult up to three metres tall, were habitually hung on the crosses above the nave.
Private Passions: The Contemplation of Suffering in Medieval Affective Devotions
This dissertation examines the representation of suffering in medieval affective devotional texts.
A Wealth of Evidence: The Identity of the Man Commemorated at Sutton Hoo
Was it a wealthy merchant, a warrior from overseas, or a great king? This paper gathers, presents, and scrutinizes the evidence and arguments from ancient records, opulate grave-goods, and contemporary investigations in an attempt to determine the most likely candidate for the individual interred in Mound 1 at Sutton Hoo.
The Resurrection of Jesus and Human Beings in Medieval Christian and Jewish Theology and Polemical Literature
This article will first look at intra-religious discussion among medieval Christians and Jews about resurrection in general to see how they understood it theologically in their respective religious communities.
Virtual Pilgrimage through the Jerusalem Cityscape
This essay considers a group of images depicting the Passion that are, at one level, quite disparate: they are executed in different media, in vastly different sizes, and with different target audiences.
The knighthood in and around late medieval Brussels
This case study contributes to ongoing debates on the position and status of late medieval knighthood.
Ten Things We Learned at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Medieval Academy of America
From names of ships to mass expulsion – ten things we learned about the Middle Ages at #MAA2017
The Medieval Magazine: (Volume 3, Issue 6)
In this issue: Predicting the Year 1336 – New feature! Women in History: An in Depth Look at Lucrezia Borgia, Top 10 Things to Do in Rome, Saints, Martyrs, and Relics.
“I do medieval”: How Mechthild of Magdeburg led me into the Middle Ages
I can still remember sitting on my couch in the cold of a Midwest winter, wrapped up in six blankets, randomly picking Flowing Light of the Godhead as my first book.
Fish on Friday II: Monastic Meals
In the Middle Ages, fasting and Lenten traditions were highly evident in the monastic houses. The different Rules and Orders (take your pick…
Gregory of Tours, the Eastern Emperor, and Merovingian Gaul
This article explores Gregory’s passages on imperial Rome and argues that they were intended to highlight the virtues and vices of particular Merovingian kings in comparison with particular Roman emperors.
Crowdfunding campaign for a Crusader Castle
A crowdfunding campaign to fund archaeological work and restoration of a crusader castle has already reached half of its goal.
The Peasant Doctor: A Medieval Turnaround Tale
One of the best ways to learn about a culture is to figure out its sense of humour. In medieval Europe, this means looking at fabliaux: short, funny tales that demonstrate common stereotypes and jokes – usually sexual, violent, and containing a clear scapegoat.
One Year Anniversary of The Five-Minute Medievalist Book
I’m so excited to announce that this Thursday, April 6th, marks the first anniversary of my little book, The Five-Minute Medievalist!
New Medieval Books: Medievalism
Five recently published books that deal with medievalism.
The Needle is Mightier than the Sword: The Effect of Embroidery in Medieval War Material Culture
Beginning in the early Middle Ages, military garments evolved from simple identifying clothing with little ornamentation, to richly decorated garments that reflected the increasingly complex – and somewhat artificial – heraldic composites.