Where the Middle Ages Begin
Discover the medieval world behind J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth! Join medieval scholar Dr. Larissa Tracy for two online courses exploring the myths, legends, and literature that inspired The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and more.
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.
Discover the medieval world behind J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth! Join medieval scholar Dr. Larissa Tracy for two online courses exploring the myths, legends, and literature that inspired The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and more.
Explore the medieval origins of demonology and witchcraft, from beliefs in demonic illusion to the rise of the witches’ sabbath.
Archaeologists excavating the medieval city of Rusokastro in southeastern Bulgaria have uncovered a large stone building, along with silver coins dating to the…
Medieval tournaments were more than contests of strength and skill. From elaborate spectacles to unexpected confrontations, Steven Muhlberger reveals just how unpredictable jousting and tournaments could be in the Middle Ages.
Two stolen 14th-century Byzantine icons depicting Matthew and Mark have been returned to Cyprus after more than 50 years.
In 1091, a medieval priest encountered a terrifying army of the dead in Normandy, revealing medieval beliefs about ghosts, punishment and the afterlife.
New research reveals a surprising connection between medieval medicine and ancient Egyptian mummies, with chemical evidence of aloe in embalming materials.
A new study reveals how medieval merchants used distinctive marks to build trust, establish reputations and create early forms of corporate branding.
Rare medieval manuscripts, including the ninth-century Hildebrandslied, return to public display as Germany’s historic Murhard Library reopens after renovation.
Marriage and family were central to Byzantine society, shaping property, inheritance, gender roles, social status, and networks of kinship.
Archaeologists have discovered a long-lost early medieval church near Venice, revealing new evidence about the origins of the city and its Christian history.
Here’s the truth behind 20 common myths about the Middle Ages, from Viking helmets and medieval hygiene to witch hunts, warfare, food and daily life.
This book explores medieval iron-smelting technology through experimental archaeology, drawing on more than a hundred tests of bloomery iron smelting to better understand how the process worked, particularly in the Norse settlement of Vinland.
Charles the Bold once again faces the Swiss Confederation, this time at the Battle of Murten (also known as Morat). In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly explore the battle and explain how it ended in disaster for the Burgundians.
Ancient DNA reveals how Visigoths, Suebi and other Germanic migrants shaped early medieval Iberia without replacing its Hispano-Roman population.
Discover the 10 most important cities of the medieval world, from Constantinople and Baghdad to Venice and Angkor, and how they shaped history.
How did medieval people determine if someone was dead? Explore the physical signs of death and how families, midwives, and physicians recognised them.
Gunnhild, Mother of Kings, was a powerful Viking Age queen whose reputation for witchcraft, murder and political intrigue was shaped by medieval sagas.
A fifteenth-century Venetian report reveals how medieval states compared in military strength and wealth, from England and France to the Ottoman Empire.
A rare coin of Saint Olaf has been discovered in Norway’s largest Viking Age hoard, marking the first find of its type in the country since 1924.
New research suggests that a mysterious skeleton found in a Roman sarcophagus at Westminster Abbey may belong to an Anglo-Saxon abbot.
How were medieval armies organised? David Bachrach examines the Battle of Ane in 1227 to explore the roles of knights, professional soldiers and peasants.
A conversation with Lea Niccolai on the challenge faced by emperors and theologians who claimed authority on the basis of their religious positions while simultaneously admitting that the truth about God lay beyond reach. How did they cope with this self-professed ignorance or deploy it as an asset in polemics, e.g., against heretics who presumed to know too much?
Archaeologists uncover a 10th-century stone building at the lost royal palace of Helfta in Germany, revealing new details about life under Otto the Great.
This book explores medieval iron-smelting technology through experimental archaeology, drawing on more than a hundred tests of bloomery iron smelting to better understand how the process worked, particularly in the Norse settlement of Vinland.
Charles the Bold once again faces the Swiss Confederation, this time at the Battle of Murten (also known as Morat). In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly explore the battle and explain how it ended in disaster for the Burgundians.
A conversation with Lea Niccolai on the challenge faced by emperors and theologians who claimed authority on the basis of their religious positions while simultaneously admitting that the truth about God lay beyond reach. How did they cope with this self-professed ignorance or deploy it as an asset in polemics, e.g., against heretics who presumed to know too much?
A conversation with Derek Krueger on homoerotic language and imagery in the works of the eleventh-century writer Symeon the New Theologian. These passages are unusual enough that earlier editors and scholars were made uncomfortable about them. We discuss their devotional context but also the broader context of homoeroticism and homophobia in the monastic world of that time.
This episode of Bow & Blade was recorded live at the 2026 International Medieval Congress at the University of Leeds. Kelly and Michael answer questions including was Agincourt the most decisive battle of the period, what battle do they find most useful to teach, and who was the most effective general of the Middle Ages?
Florence and its allies faced the forces of Arezzo in one of the most important battles of medieval Tuscany. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss the Battle of Campaldino and the fighting that brought Dante Alighieri onto the battlefield.
A conversation with Naomi Pitamber about the art and architecture of the empire of Nicaea (Nikaia), the Roman state that emerged in Asia Minor after the disaster of 1204.