New Medieval Books: From Matilda to Married Life
Five new books about the medieval world, featuring an empress and a tradesman.
Medieval Reads: Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe and John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice Series
The interesting thing about the invented Middle Ages is that it carries over the aspects we enjoy from history and dumps the things that are less fun.
The death of Richard III
Read an excerpt from the newly published book, Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth, by Mike Ingram.
Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Viking?
The North is a dour land where brave Jarls fight for their place under the cold and ruthless sun. Do you have what it takes to join them as the worthiest warlords in the world?
Which Medieval Humour Dominates Your Cat?
An ancient science lives within your favorite housepet.
Why Is English So Weird?
The English language is notoriously difficult to learn and to spell. In this episode of The Medieval Podcast, Danièle talks about the medieval roots of English and how it got to be so weird.
Ten Fabulous Medieval Book Titles
We all know that for a book to get noticed it needs a catchy title. Apparently, in the Middle Ages authors could think of some really great titles too!
The Saga of Jón the Playmate: A ‘Cannibalistic’ Story
At first sight, Jóns saga leikara is but your average chivalric romance, filled with exciting but somewhat generic little adventures.
Medieval Manuscripts: The Black Hours
The Black Hours is a splendidly decorated devotional book, crafted around 1475 in Bruges and currently stored in the Morgan Library & Museum (MS M.493) in New York City.
Building the Middle Ages one LEGO Brick at a time
For the last 70 years people around the world have been creating buildings, vehicles and anything else they can imagine out of small colourful bricks. For Ben Pitchford that includes recreating the Middle Ages.
Where to get your medieval fix – travel recommendations for medievalists
On this episode of The Medieval Podcast we offer our travel recommendations for great places to learn about the Middle Ages – from amazing castles to gorgeous towns.
(Medieval) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Imagining Animals in the Middle Ages
The wild landscape in the medieval imagination is both enchanting and enchanted.
Thoroughly Modern Valkyries: The Shift to Girl Power
From Wagner to the Marvel Cinematic Universe – the modern portrayal of Valkyries.
Medieval Geopolitics: How different are medieval and modern ideas of sovereignty?
Over the last couple of months I have been writing about the disputes between kings and popes over who was more powerful and who held ultimate authority. What is the significance of this string of columns?
Warfare during the Crusades: Usama ibn Munqidh and his Memoirs
Some of the most useful sources on medieval warfare are the ones written by the warriors themselves.
Viking Currency
Buying, selling and trading in the Viking Age, and how hoards are different over the centuries.
Merging history and the fantastic with Guy Gavriel Kay
International bestselling author Guy Gavriel Kay is well known for creating literary worlds that often look like the medieval world. It’s been called history with a quarter turn to the fantastic. In this episode of The Medieval Podcast he talks with Danièle about his latest novel, A Brightness Long Ago.
The Treasure Hunters from the 10th century
A 10th century tale of a group of treasure hunters seeking out a castle. Here are the strange things they found.
Byzantine strategy in the East and the key role of Armenia
What were the deeper reasons that drew the super-power of the time, Byzantium, into a protracted and ‘all-out’ conflict with the Arabs of Aleppo in the middle of the 10th century?
Advice from a Werewolf: Arthur and Gorlagon
King Arthur goes on a quest to learn ‘the nature or the heart of a woman’. What did he find out?
So You Want to Be a Medieval Priest
It might seem like one of the more glamorous professions in the Middle Ages – as a priest you could run a church and offer moral leadership to your parishioners. But here are a few drawbacks to being a medieval priest.
‘Dear to Me above a Thousand Others’: Augustine at the Dawn of the Renaissance
Augustine, exponent and champion of Christian faith, displayed such knowledge of the poets in all his writings that there is scarcely a single letter or treatise of his which is not crowded with poetic ornament.
How Well Do You Know the 12th Century?
Here are twelve questions about the people, places and events of the twelfth-century. How many can you answer?
Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse (The Medieval Way)
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle shows how useful medieval history can be in helping us survive the imminent zombie apocalypse.
