Why Medieval Torture Devices are Not Medieval
Were medieval people tortured by a wide assortment of diabolical instruments?
Latest Posts
Communities of the living, communities of the dead: hospitals in medieval social life
This paper discussed the nature of medical practice and care in the medieval hospitals of England and Wales, and in particular set out the way that archaeology can help us understand how these sites approached health and treatment.
Why Medieval Torture Devices are Not Medieval
Were medieval people tortured by a wide assortment of diabolical instruments?
Secret Code, Lost Language, Nonsense, or Hoax: The Voynich Manuscript’s Enduring Mysteries
Lisa Fagin Davis gives a tour of the ‘world’s most mysterious manuscript.’
Book of the Month: Chivalry and Courtesy: Medieval Manners for a Modern World
Our Book of the Month for December is Chivalry and Courtesy: Medieval Manners for a Modern World, by Danièle Cybulskie.
So you’re the Roman emperor… now what?, with Olivier Hekster
A conversation with Olivier Hekster about the position of Roman emperor, from the beginning to the sixth century. We talk a little bit about titles and mostly about the expectations that subjects had of their emperors and how the latter navigated these demands and tried, or failed, to play their roles properly.
The Best Medieval Books of 2023
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle continues the annual tradition of sharing some of her favourite books of the year, along with the top picks of Peter Konieczny, editor and co-founder of Medievalists.net.
New open-access book charts the archaeological discoveries at Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle’s origins date back to the 11th century. A newly published book – which you can read for free – reveals 15 years of archaeological excavations that have unearthed forgotten treasures and greatly enhanced understanding of the area’s rich medieval history.
Did people in the Middle Ages take baths?
It was said that the Middle Ages was ‘one thousand years without a bath.’ However, a closer look shows that baths and bathing were actually quite common in the Middle Ages, but in a different way than one might expect.
Rise and Fall of Medieval Tibetan Empire linked to Climate Change
Between the 7th and 9th centuries AD a new empire emerged in medieval Asia – the Tibetan Kingdom under the Yarlung dynasty expanded its domain in all directions, reaching as far as the Indian Ocean. A new study links their expansion and subsequent downfall to climate change.
New Medieval Books: The Catch
A comprehensive examination of fishing in medieval Europe, including how they were caught, how they went from sea (or river) to market, and what happened when overfishing led to scarcities.
Revisiting the Cloisters Cross: A One-Day Colloquium
The Cloisters Cross is widely recognised as a masterpiece of late Romanesque art. Carved of walrus ivory, it appeared after World War II in a private collection and was subsequently acquired by the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Fashion for Fighting: Fabric Armor in the Latter Middle Ages
In this talk, we will discuss some of the types of defensive garments that existed in the 15th century through discussion and analysis of five different extant examples.
Medieval building discovered by archaeologists in Germany
Archaeologists working at Magdeburg’s Cathedral Square in eastern Germany have uncovered the remains of a large medieval building thought to be over a thousand years old.
How did people sleep in the Middle Ages?
A look at the theory that medieval people slept in two periods during the night.
King John and the Templars: Strange Times, Strange Partners
The extraordinary story of how the Templars stepped up to act as diplomats for England’s least diplomatic king.
Yak milk was a popular drink in the Mongol Empire, study finds
The Mongol Empire reached the height of its power in the 13th century. It was also during this time that yak milk became a popular drink among its elite, a new study has found.
“Tempera in questa aqua”: Experimenting with Impact of Medieval Quenching Recipes on Steel Hardness
We used two medieval recipes–one from Caterina Sforza’s ca. 1490 recipe collection and one from the pseudo-Dohbringer German commonplace book — to prepare two different quenching liquids.
Medieval Online Courses: Black Friday Sale!
If you are interested in Crusades or Vikings, then check out our upcoming online courses!
Pilgrimages, Pandemics and the Past
Tom Holland will draw on experiences of reading Chaucer and undertaking pilgrimages during and after the pandemic.
New Medieval Books: A Compendium of World Sovereigns
This guide lists all the various rulers of the medieval world, covering Europe, Asia, Africa and even Mexico and Central America. Includes emperors, kings, even dukes and counts in over 500 pages.
Medieval Castle for Sale in France
Dating back to the 12th century, this picturesque castle has its share of history during the Middle Ages and afterwards.
San Clemente: Man, Legend, Church
By Chris Petitt San Clemente is one of the Roman tituli, the twenty-some late antique churches that continue to animate the modern landscape of…
English Royal Mysteries
In honour of the new discoveries around the princes in the tower, Danièle delves into some other mysterious deaths and disappearances in English royal history.
New Medieval Books: The Vanished Settlers of Greenland
There was a small Norse colony in Greenland during the Middle Ages. Centuries later, Danes and other Europeans came to this region to search for what happened to these people, leading to new encounters with the Inuit and much speculation about the fate of this colony.
BooksAll posts
Book of the Month: Chivalry and Courtesy: Medieval Manners for a Modern World
Our Book of the Month for December is Chivalry and Courtesy: Medieval Manners for a Modern World, by Danièle Cybulskie.
The Best Medieval Books of 2023
New open-access book charts the archaeological discoveries at Berkeley Castle
New Medieval Books: The Catch
New Medieval Books: A Compendium of World Sovereigns
New Medieval Books: The Vanished Settlers of Greenland
New Medieval Books: The Plantagenet Socialite
New Medieval Books: The Cosmography and Geography of Africa
New Medieval Books: American Vikings
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.