The 36 Stratagems of Medieval China
A sixth-century essay reveals 36 ways to defeat an enemy. Many readers will be familiar with The Art of War. Sun Tzu’s treatise,…
Latest Posts
Stolen Sheep and Wandering Cows: Reclaiming Lost and Stolen Property in Early Medieval Ireland and Britain
Professor Eska offers a comparative analysis of early Irish and British legal texts and contextualizes them within broader legal traditions.
The 36 Stratagems of Medieval China
A sixth-century essay reveals 36 ways to defeat an enemy. Many readers will be familiar with The Art of War. Sun Tzu’s treatise,…
Maps: The Norman Conquest of England in 1066
Our latest digital map for sale – a detailed look at the events of the Norman Conquest of England.
Intersections: Entanglements with Medieval and Renaissance Textiles, 1100-1550
Twelve papers from the 28th Medieval Postgraduate Colloquium at The Courtauld
The Three Orders of Medieval Society: Those who Pray, Those who Work, Those who Fight
One of the first things students learn about the Middle Ages is society was divided into three orders – those who pray, such as priests and monks; those who work, like farmers; and those who fight, namely the warrior class. How did this idea get started and what does it actually mean?
Details of Italian earthquake from 1446 discovered in Hebrew Prayer Book
The chance discovery of a note written in a 15th-century Hebrew prayer book fills an important gap in the historical Italian earthquake record, offering a brief glimpse of a previously unknown earthquake affecting the Marche region in the central Apennines.
Time Pressure and Boredom in Medieval Japan
The diverse ways in which time was perceived, experienced, and negotiated in Medieval Japan.
How Many Medieval Saints Are There?
Even a quick glance at medieval history will reveal that there are a lot of saints from the Middle Ages. How many are there? The short answer is that we don’t know exactly and that the number is still growing.
Medieval ‘folding chair’ discovered
German archaeologists discovered a very unique item during excavations last year: a folding chair dated to the 6th century. After a year of research they are revealing what they know about the object.
About time, with Jesse Torgerson
Jesse Torgerson and I take a stab at understanding time, as it was measured, structured, and experienced in so many overlapping ways by Christian east Romans. Their days, months, and years were defined by the state tax cycle, the Church festival cycle, and nature itself, to name the most important temporal grids.
Book of the Month: The Animal Let Live: Marie de France’s Bisclavret and Milun
Our Book of the Month for November is The Animal Let Live: Marie de France’s Bisclavret and Milun, translated by Katherine Margot Toohey.
Nearly 500,000 Dirhams were buried in Viking-Age Scandinavia, study finds
A new study reveals that silver coins from the medieval Islamic world were incredibly prevalent in Viking-Age Scandinavia. In fact, Scandinavian museums possess almost 500,000 dirhams, more than any other place in the world and shows that the Norse had an intense desire for silver.
Medieval skeleton with prosthetic hand discovered in Germany
Archaeologists working in southern Germany have found a man with an iron prosthesis on his arm in a grave. The prosthesis likely dates from the second half of the 15th cenetury.
Seven Things to Look for in Medieval Manuscripts
A guide to some of the interesting things you can look for in these manuscripts from the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: Medieval Monstrosity
An examination of monster theory and how it applies to the Middle Ages, this book covers the way people looked at the monsters of literature and imagination (dragons, werewolves, revenants and monstrous races) and how they made monsters out of the other (women, children with disabilities, non-Christians).
The Pagan and Christian Origins of Halloween
With roots in Europe’s Christianization, Halloween is something of a hybrid holiday strongly influenced by ancient pagan beliefs, and for this reason, its celebration has long been somewhat controversial within the Christian faith.
Maps: Europe in the Year 1000
Our latest map of the medieval world details Europe in the year 1000.
“I cannot get enough books”
Do you think you have too many books? Is your library overflowing? If this worries you, consider the words of Petrarch, the great medieval Italian poet.
Decoding Divine Enterprise: The Domestic Affairs of 13th Century Canterbury Cathedral
In understanding the domestic affairs of Canterbury, we shall be able to witness the bustling day-to-day life of those who lived and breathed in the 13th century.
British Templars at War – The Doomed Band of 1185-1187
The British Templars were not just bankers, diplomats and estate managers – many were swept up in the disastrous events unfolding in the Holy Land in 1187
New Medieval Books: Art of the Grimoire
A global history of magic, from ancient to modern. The focus of this book is often on the materials used to record magic, including scrolls, manuscripts and printed books.
Medieval Horror, Epistemic Fear, and the Cloud of Unknowing
Examines ideas about the horror genre through the late 14th-century Middle English work, The Cloud of Unknowing.
When this medieval English queen died, 68,000 people were fed
The death of a medieval queen was often an occasion for great sorrow throughout their own country – even more so when the…
10 Ways Healthcare improved in the Middle Ages
Ten medieval medical advances, including hospitals, pharmacies, surgeries and dental care.
BooksAll posts
Book of the Month: The Animal Let Live: Marie de France’s Bisclavret and Milun
Our Book of the Month for November is The Animal Let Live: Marie de France’s Bisclavret and Milun, translated by Katherine Margot Toohey.
New Medieval Books: Medieval Monstrosity
New Medieval Books: Art of the Grimoire
New Medieval Books: Inked
New Medieval Books: Beowulf: Translation and Commentary
New Medieval Books: Wolves of Winter
New Medieval Books: Corruption, Protection and Justice in Medieval Europe
New Medieval Books: The Story of Attila in Prose
New Medieval Books: The Art of Anatomy in Medieval Europe
Places to SeeAll posts
Örebro Castle: History, Secrets, and Romance
For anyone who visits Örebro, it is hard to miss its castle – an ancient-looking fortress made of weathered grey stones that stands on an islet in the middle of the city centre.
The Vasa: Gustav II Adolf’s Glorious and Doomed Warship
On the 10th of August 1628, the Vasa sank in Stockholm harbour, thus ending the career of the most powerful warship that Sweden had ever seen.
Uppsala Slott: 5 Things You Ought to Know About One of Sweden’s Greatest Castles
This strategic location not only makes the castle a majestic sight, but also earns it the reputation as the most modern defence fortress in its time. But, as all ancient buildings, there is always more than meets the eye. Here are the five things that you may not know about Uppsala Castle.
Making Your Mark: Medieval Masons’ Marks at Tarascon
How do you operate a business when you can’t read and your knowledge of math is extremely limited? Making your mark on the…
The Weird, the Wonderful, and the Macabre in the Cathedral of Narbonne
Narbonne is one of those European cities with evidence of its past on every street.
Medieval English Embroidery on Display for the Last Time at the V&A’s Opus Anglicanum Exhibit
The V&A Museum opened its latest medieval exhibit exhibit on Saturday: Opus Anglicanum: Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery. I had the opportunity to see it opening day and it was spectacular.