Where the Middle Ages Begin
Offa was one of the most powerful rulers of early medieval England, transforming Mercia into the dominant kingdom south of the Humber. In this article, Rory Naismith examines his reign, from the construction of Offa’s Dyke to the remarkable coinage and political ambitions that reshaped the English landscape.
What everyday objects did people use in the Middle Ages? From clothing and household necessities to tools for work and warfare, these 25 medieval items were essential to daily life and shaped how people lived, ate, and survived.
Delve into the pivotal figures of the Middle Ages whose enduring legacies shaped the course of history. From visionary leaders and profound scholars to prolific writers and formidable warriors, these individuals left an indelible mark on medieval society.
Discover the 50 most significant events of the Middle Ages, spanning the years 500 to 1500.
Here are seven vivid facts about colour in the Middle Ages
In medieval times, many unique jobs, such as Ale-wife and Groom of the Stool, were essential but have since vanished. Discover these obsolete occupations and how historical changes led to their disappearance.
Are you wanting to talk more like someone from the Middle Ages? We have a list of 30 great sayings and proverbs that you can use in your conversations.
Have you wondered what a medieval king did on a typical day? Thanks to Christine de Pizan, we have an account of what daily life was like for King Charles V of France.
Some of our most popular phrases have a long history, including some that go back to the Middle Ages.
Want to know what kind of jobs there were in the Middle Ages? A unique source from the 15th century gives us some beautiful images of medieval people at work.
Offa was one of the most powerful rulers of early medieval England, transforming Mercia into the dominant kingdom south of the Humber. In this article, Rory Naismith examines his reign, from the construction of Offa’s Dyke to the remarkable coinage and political ambitions that reshaped the English landscape.
The Mary Rose Trust is launching a new history festival that will bring together some of the leading experts on Tudor England to explore the lives of Henry VIII’s six queens while raising funds for the preservation of one of the world’s most famous shipwrecks.
Southern Italy in the ninth century was beset by warfare, political rivalry, and frequent Muslim raids. The monks of Montecassino Abbey witnessed these turbulent times and left behind a valuable account, translated here.
In 1450, Johana Descamps fled an abusive marriage in Perpignan. Her ordeal led to a legal battle that reveals medieval attitudes toward domestic violence, mental illness, and family conflict.
Meet 15 medieval warrior women who led armies, defended kingdoms, and resisted invaders during the Middle Ages, from England and France to Persia, China, and Japan.
Nearly forty years after its publication, Jacques Le Goff’s Your Money or Your Life remains a key work on medieval religion, usury, and the origins of capitalism.
Discover 10 types of toxic friends described by the medieval writer Boncompagno da Signa, from fair-weather companions to opportunists and false friends.
A conversation with Christopher Bonura about the apocalyptic tradition of identifying the Four Kingdoms prophesied in the Book of Daniel. Which one was the Roman empire? The fourth, scheduled to fall with the others, or something that came afterward (a tradition sometimes called imperial eschatology)? Among other topics we discuss Eusebios of Caesarea and the reign of Herakleios as possible turning points in this tradition.
From the lead used in Notre-Dame de Paris to the age at which fosterage began in medieval Ireland, scholars continue to uncover new insights into the medieval world. Here are ten open-access articles published in May 2026 that medievalists can read for free.
This six-week course begins June 12th, with live sessions each Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm EST.
Western Europeans often portrayed the Byzantines as deceitful, weak, and overly luxurious, dismissing them as “Greeks” rather than true Romans. Michael Goodyear writes on how behind these stereotypes stood one of the Middle Ages’ most sophisticated and resilient empires — a civilization that preserved ancient knowledge, amassed immense wealth, and defended Europe for centuries.
One of the pivotal battles of the Crusades, the Battle of Hattin was shaped by both brilliant strategy and disastrous decisions. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly explore how Saladin orchestrated a crushing defeat of the Crusader army, while also sharing insights into the film Kingdom of Heaven.
Tolkien and his Medieval Sources is a six-week online course starting on June 11th, with live sessions each Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm EST.
Winchester Cathedral has launched a major new conservation campaign aimed at preserving part of its medieval structure for future generations
One of the most famous castles of the Crusader era has once again become a battlefield. Israeli forces have occupied Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, marking their deepest incursion into the country in more than a quarter century and returning the medieval fortress to the centre of a modern conflict.
Teachers and students of Medieval Latin often struggle to find the same range of learning materials available for Classical Latin. In this guide, Brigid Ehrmantraut highlights textbooks, anthologies, apps, and online resources that can help learners at every level engage more directly with medieval texts.
This three-week course begins June 10th, with live sessions each Wednesday from 2:00 – 3:30 pm EST.
Silver mines, flooded tunnels, and fierce political rivalries lay at the heart of a medieval struggle for wealth and power in the Alps. This book reveals how controlling water and underground resources helped reshape society, technology, and economic life in thirteenth-century Europe.
This six-week course, beginning June 2nd, has live sessions each Tuesday from 12:00 – 2:00 pm EST.
Discover how medieval craft guilds regulated trade, trained apprentices, enforced quality standards, and shaped urban life across Europe during the Middle Ages.
Medieval literature is often filled with heroic battles and noble knights. But one fourteenth-century poem turned war into absurd comedy, mocking the very idea of military glory.
This collection of texts may date from the eighteenth century, but the works it contains are all medieval in origin. Together, they offer a diverse glimpse into the Eastern Orthodox tradition that shaped the religious life of the Byzantine world.
Extreme weather, failed harvests, disease outbreaks, and economic collapse plunged England into crisis during the 1430s, according to a new study exploring how climate change reshaped medieval society and landholding.
When the Protestant Reformation swept through Nuremberg, one abbess refused to surrender her convent. Caritas Pirckheimer used scholarship, political connections, and years of literary experience to defend her community against reformers and city officials.
Southern Italy in the ninth century was beset by warfare, political rivalry, and frequent Muslim raids. The monks of Montecassino Abbey witnessed these turbulent times and left behind a valuable account, translated here.
A conversation with Christopher Bonura about the apocalyptic tradition of identifying the Four Kingdoms prophesied in the Book of Daniel. Which one was the Roman empire? The fourth, scheduled to fall with the others, or something that came afterward (a tradition sometimes called imperial eschatology)? Among other topics we discuss Eusebios of Caesarea and the reign of Herakleios as possible turning points in this tradition.
One of the pivotal battles of the Crusades, the Battle of Hattin was shaped by both brilliant strategy and disastrous decisions. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly explore how Saladin orchestrated a crushing defeat of the Crusader army, while also sharing insights into the film Kingdom of Heaven.
In the latest Q&A episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly answer questions about infantry vs cavalry in late medieval battles, will there be archaeological excavations at Hundred Years’ War battlefields, favourite centuries and what our hosts will be doing this summer.
A conversation with Jeremy Swist on the emperor Julian (361-363 AD) and how he tried to combine his love of philosophy with ruling the Roman Empire. We talk about why Julian continues to excite such passions, how in some ways he may have been more Roman than Greek, and how he read Roman history in light of the theurgical Neoplatonism that he espoused.
Charles the Bold was building his Duchy of Burgundy into a European power when he faced the Old Swiss Confederacy. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about the Battle of Grandson, a key event of the Burgundian Wars.
A conversation with Charlie Kuper about the Menologion of Basil II, a lavishly illustrated manuscript pairing brief notices about the saints with images of them and their ordeals, arranged according to the liturgical calendar.