Learning to Read and Write: Women’s Education in the Middle Ages
This article explores the ins and outs of female literacy in the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: From the Early Middle Ages to the Black Death
Five new books about the Middle Ages, dealing with topics such as clothing and poisoned wells.
Across the Strait of Gibraltar: Chroniclers from Iberia and North Africa
We are bridging communities across the sea in this episode of the Medieval Grad Podcast. Emma Snowden talks with Lucie Laumonier about her dissertation, “Bridging the Strait: The Shared History of Iberia and North Africa in Medieval Muslim and Christian Chronicles.”
“Be like the River-Crab” and Other Life Lessons from the Twelfth Century
On a collection of short tips, pointers and ways of thinking about life by a former schoolteacher at the imperial palace of the Song dynasty (960–1279).
25 Things from Everyday Life in the Middle Ages
If you lived during the Middle Ages, what kind of things would you have? Here is a guide to some of the everyday items that a medieval person would have used or had.
The Rise and Fall of the ‘Dark Ages’
For five hundred years, the phrase ‘Dark Ages’ has allowed the living to signal their moral and intellectual superiority over those long dead and unable to reply.
The ‘classical’ author imagined by medieval readers
How did medieval readers understand and imagine the classical authors?
Babak’s Revolt of 816-837
Babak’s revolt in Azerbaijan was the longest and last major Khurramiyya rebellion in the wake of the Abbasid Revolution.
Field Report: Kalamazoom 2022
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle and Peter Konieczny report back on the 57th International Congress on Medieval Studies, affectionately known this year as “Kalamazoom”. Here are some favourite papers, some of the exciting new research going on in medieval studies and how the field is changing for the better.
Telling Saga Stories at Þingvellir
Yoav Tirosh talks about the Saga of Njáll the Burner with a Portuguese tourist.
Top 10 Peace Treaties of the Middle Ages
Wars and conflicts rarely end with one side totally defeating the other. Even in the Middle Ages enemies understood the value of diplomacy, and hundreds of peace treaties were signed (although many were not followed). Some would have profound consequences. Here is our list of the ten most important peace treaties of the Middle Ages, arranged chronologically.
The Battle of Stamford Bridge (1066)
King Harold Godwinson of England would see his country invaded by army led by his brother Tostig and King Harald Hardrada of Norway. In this episode of Bow and Blade, Kelly and Michael discuss the Norwegian invasion of 1066, which culminated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
Christine de Pizan: Women’s Most Famous Medieval Defender
Despite centuries of obscurity, one of the most popular authors of the medieval period is slowly finding her place in the literary canon restored. Said to have been the first professional woman writer, Christine de Pizan’s life and career rivalled that of any of her better-known male counterparts, and believe it or not, she used that popularity to highlight women’s strengths and struggles.
Illegitimate children in the Middle Ages
The stories of illegitimate children in the Middle Ages are often told through the lives of famous bastards, the daughters and sons of kings and noblemen, like William the Conqueror, born of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and his mistress Herleva. But what do we know about the illegitimate children of common people?
The Battle of Anesin: A Medieval Parody about War
By Peter Konieczny It might seem that medieval people loved the idea of war – many works offer praise for those who fought…
What a fourteenth-century medievalist doesn’t know about the fourteenth century
Having studied the fourteenth century for over thirty years as an art historian, when my brother, Boyd Morrison, asked me to co-author a novel with him set in 1351, I thought I was totally ready.
Body Language and the Modern Medieval Courtroom
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle reflects on medieval court cases, body language, and the ways in which both have shaped today’s modern trials – including the celebrity ones.
Sex and Sagas
Would you have sex with a troll woman? In this episode of the Medieval Grad Podcast, Lucie talks with Matthew Roby, who deciphers for us the dirty details of these Old Norse and Icelandic texts. Turns out there are a lot of them, and many include monstrous beings!
El Cid and the Conquest of Valencia
Rodrigo Díaz, better known as El Cid, would find his greatest success in the year 1094, when he captured the city of Valencia. How he did it depends on which writer you believe.
The Wicked Grandmas of Medieval Literature
Grandmothers today tend to be understood as kindly and caring, but in the Middle Ages, some of the evilest characters of the literary world were the grandmothers.
Corrupted Air and Water: Pollution in Medieval Cities
When poop and entrails filled the Thames. Dealing with urban pollution in the Middle Ages.
Princess Olga: A Medieval Hero for Modern Ukraine
Princess Olga, the tenth-century ruler of Kyiv and all Rus, is a fitting figure to represent the current Ukrainian challenge given her wit, wisdom, and fighting spirit.
The Past and Present of Abortion in Medieval Law
Abortion is once again in the spotlight in the United States, as its Supreme Court is set to uphold a law limiting this right. How do medieval laws and views on abortion play a role in this issue?
Kalamazoo 2022: What the Congress Program Tells Us
Giving a preview of the upcoming International Congress on Medieval Studies – the largest annual gathering of the medieval academic community.