Where the Middle Ages Begin
Medieval history is full of secrets—and some of its most influential documents were outright fakes. From forged royal charters to fabricated letters from mythical kings, here are 10 famous forgeries that reshaped the Middle Ages.
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.
Medieval history is full of secrets—and some of its most influential documents were outright fakes. From forged royal charters to fabricated letters from mythical kings, here are 10 famous forgeries that reshaped the Middle Ages.
This is a partial translation of Wujing Zongyao, an important 11th-century Chinese military treatise. The section translated in this volume contains examples from Chinese history that serve as examples of good strategies and tactics related to warfare.
A conversation with Ahmad Al-Jallad about the languages and inscriptions of pre-Islamic Arabia, our main contemporary source for life, death, and worship before the time of the Prophet Muhammad. We talk about field surveys in search of inscriptions and what they tell us about Allah and other Arabian deities in the early centuries of the first millennium.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Caroline Dunn about the lives of ladies in waiting.
The Icelandic sagas written after the year 1300 tend to get classified as being not as good as the more famous Family Sagas. However, this book explains why these ‘rogue sagas’ are also very interesting, especially their superhero characters and paranormal encounters.
A beautifully preserved medieval gold posy ring, dating from the 13th or 14th century, is set to be auctioned later this month.
One of the key developments in medieval history was the creation of gunpowder weaponry. Throughout the medieval world, it would greatly change how war was waged. The Annals of King T’aejo includes an account of how gunpowder weapons were introduced to Korea.
How did medieval canon law shape the idea of absolute papal authority? This article traces the evolution of key legal concepts—plenitudo potestatis, potestas absoluta, and pro ratione voluntas—from Pope Innocent III to Hostiensis, revealing their lasting impact on theories of sovereignty.
Archaeologists excavating a site on the Île de Ré, off the western coast of France, have uncovered medieval graves that provide new insights into connections between the Nordic world and the Atlantic coast during the early Middle Ages.
By Stephanie Godward University of Louisville Assistant Professor of Anthropology Kathryn Marklein recently co-authored a study that produced jarring results contradicting past literature…
The Ottomans launch another siege against the city of Belgrade. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Kelly and Michael explore how Suleiman the Magnificent and his forces ultimately achieved victory.
The Greek Ministry of Culture has announced a major initiative to restore and enhance the Palace of the Grand Master on the island of Rhodes, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Explore nearly 1,000 years of history in this six-part course, tracing the Iberian Peninsula’s dynamic past of innovation, collaboration, and conflict.
A collection of ten essays that examines how the Middle Ages is portrayed in novels and modern literature. It aims to answer the question how to bring a true-to-life medieval world in fiction.
Was medieval Europe truly a “feudal” society, or is feudalism a modern construct imposed on the past? This article explores how historians have debated, redefined, and even rejected the term, shaping our understanding of medieval governance and society.
Few historical figures have undergone as dramatic a transformation as Saladin. Once cast as a ruthless enemy of Christendom, he later became the very model of knightly virtue in Western literature.
From ink-stained fingers to feline assistants, medieval scribes relied on an eclectic mix of tools to craft their manuscripts—some practical, some unexpected.
An edition and translation of a chronicle by a monk with ties to the French government, offering a detailed account of political and military events in France, particularly those of the Hundred Years’ War.
The Black Death devastated English towns, wiping out more than half their populations—but did they ever fully recover? A new study finds that urban centers like Nottingham rebounded much faster than previously believed, with migration and economic shifts driving their revival in the decades after the plague.
Not all medieval states were forged through war—some united through diplomacy, marriage, and mutual agreement. These six peaceful mergers strengthened kingdoms, expanded influence, and reshaped the political landscape of Europe.
New research by historian Andrei Mirea is shedding light on the challenges of winter navigation in the Black Sea during the Middle Ages. Published in the International Journal of Maritime History, his study reveals that this inland sea was largely impassable during the colder months.
In 1500, Lucrezia Borgia found herself once again a pawn in the ruthless game of power and politics. With two failed marriages behind her—one ending in murder—she was at the centre of a marriage negotiation that would test the strength of two powerful families: the Borgias and the Estes of Ferrara.
Imagine learning French not from a textbook but through a lively medieval poem filled with lessons on daily life. That’s exactly what The…
A new exhibition at Stockholm’s Vrak – Museum of Wrecks challenges the conventional timeline of Viking history by showcasing evidence of armed Scandinavian expeditions before the traditionally accepted start of the Viking Age in 793.
This is a partial translation of Wujing Zongyao, an important 11th-century Chinese military treatise. The section translated in this volume contains examples from Chinese history that serve as examples of good strategies and tactics related to warfare.
A conversation with Ahmad Al-Jallad about the languages and inscriptions of pre-Islamic Arabia, our main contemporary source for life, death, and worship before the time of the Prophet Muhammad. We talk about field surveys in search of inscriptions and what they tell us about Allah and other Arabian deities in the early centuries of the first millennium.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Caroline Dunn about the lives of ladies in waiting.
The Ottomans launch another siege against the city of Belgrade. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Kelly and Michael explore how Suleiman the Magnificent and his forces ultimately achieved victory.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Amanda Respess about ships and shipbuilding in the medieval world, what we know about early global trade routes, and the fascinating bits of archaeology we’re still finding under the sea.
A conversation with Sverrir Jakobsson about the experiences of Northmen — especially Varangians — who traveled to Constantinople and the south and returned home with stories, swords, riches, and prestige.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Thomas J. Mazanec about the Buddhist poet-monks of medieval China, why they chose to write poetry, and why their art was so controversial.