Medieval Reads: The Hound and the Falcon Trilogy, by Judith Tarr
What is so special about the Medievalist trilogy?
How well do you know these Viking-age artefacts?
We have many remains from the Viking-age that offer insights into the Norse world. Here are ten artefacts – do you know what they are?
Medieval Manuscripts: The Bedford Hours
This week, our friends at Facsimile Finder give us a taste of the Bedford Hours, considered by scholars to be one of the most astonishing examples of manuscript illumination from the late medieval period. Its countless, gorgeous illustrations and bilingual text were produced in several stages as the book passed from hand to hand throughout the decades.
The Emergence of the English – a new interpretation and an old conundrum
In the past decade or so a number of works have taken a fresh look at post-Roman Britain, in particular at the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in what is now England
Education in the Middle Ages
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – time to go back to school! This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle takes a quick look at medieval education.
Six Medieval Rules for Healthy Living
If you are looking for advice on healthy living, perhaps you should try reading the medieval text The Theatre of Health. It offers six rules ‘for the daily maintenance of health,’ five of which sound very modern.
Pennsic, Or What I Did on My Summer Vacation
For the past 48 years, around 10,000 people have been gathering every summer for a festival that’s been described as ‘medieval Burning Man.’
The Assassination of Ahmad Ibn Ismail: Power Struggles in the Samanid Empire
The emir Ahmad ibn Ismail was assassinated in the year 914. This is the story of why he was killed and the power struggle that took place in the aftermath of his death.
What was it like to travel during the Middle Ages? Part 1: Going by Road
Road travel in the Middle Ages was basically awful.
The Holy Spirit in Female Form: Medieval Tales of Faith and Heresy
The stories of Guglielma of Milan and Na Prous Boneta of Montpelier – how they became associated with the Holy Spirit – and how the Catholic Church responded to them.
The Middle Ages and the Modern State
Did the modern state emerge in the seventeenth century or in the thirteenth century?
Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest: Or should it be in Barnsdale?
The legend of Robin Hood has him and his Merry Men based in Sherwood Forest. But a closer look at the medieval tales suggests his hiding place was in a different forest.
The Beowulf Manuscript
Beowulf may be one of the world’s most famous poems, but there’s a lot more to its manuscript than this poem alone. This week, Danièle looks into the other content of the Beowulf manuscript, its history, and what makes it both unique and special.
The Complicated Case of Medieval Crime Fiction
What makes the job of being a medieval detective so difficult, and also makes the medieval crime fiction genre so good?
Why battles could be so decisive in the Middle Ages
I just wrote a book about the Middle Ages viewed through the lens of the most potent and dramatic aspect of war – battle.
Medieval Geopolitics: The Late Medieval International System
What does my string of columns suggest regarding the nature of the late medieval international system? To begin with, it tells us that this system was in fact an international system.
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.