William Caxton: The First Printer of English Literature
Caxton became the first person to print books in English for popular consumption, and in so doing, he shaped the nature of English popular literature for years to come.
Latest Posts
William Caxton: The First Printer of English Literature
Caxton became the first person to print books in English for popular consumption, and in so doing, he shaped the nature of English popular literature for years to come.
Islamic Gardens in the Middle Ages with D. Fairchild Ruggles
The Middle Ages was a time in which people were closely tied to plants and their environment, deeply aware of their potential as a source of food, healing and beauty. Islamic gardens were especially known for their creativity and innovation. This week, Danièle speaks with D. Fairchild Ruggles about their cultural significance and the ingenious ways they were cultivated.
Would you rather have a Knight’s sword or a Horse figurine?
Two medieval items coming up for auction will probably be bought for a similar price. Which would you choose to have?
“Once-in-a-lifetime”: 7th-century gold and gemstone necklace discovered in England
An early medieval necklace made of gold, garnets and semi-precious stones has been found by archaeologists working in central England. Dubbed the ‘Harpole Treasure’, this is being called an internationally significant discovery.
Medieval skeletons help reveal genetic causes of bone tumours
Two men buried in a medieval graveyard in Ireland had a genetic condition called Multiple Osteochondromas, which causes benign bone tumours. One of the disease mutations is a new discovery, so this is the first time such information has been unlocked from ancient genomic data.
Greek Fire: The first chemical weapon?
Since ancient times, civilizations have feared fire, but of all the early attempts to use it as a controllable and effective weapon, none is as intriguing as the mysterious substance that today we call ‘Greek fire’.
Results of Recent Scientific Analysis of the Vinland Map: Can You Judge a Manuscript by its Ink?
Science cannot be used to prove a work of art is genuine, but it is possible to establish that an object is likely a forgery if the materials from which it is made are inconsistent with the time period and geography of its purported origin.
Light from the Dark Ages: medieval dispatches for difficult times
Stefania Gerevini walks you through a journey in the “Dark Age”, showing examples of how, indeed, light permeated Middle Age artistic production, scientific studies, and metaphysical theories.
Medieval Representation: England’s Parliament
Democracy has many roots, some of which are medieval.
Two medieval shipwrecks discovered in Sweden
The remains of two medieval merchant vessels, known as cogs, were discovered over the summer in western Sweden during an archaeological excavation. New evidence reveals that the ships were built outside of Scandinavia in the mid-14th century.
True Crusader Crime: Murdering Monks
Not surprisingly, the crusades were full of headstrong and heavily armed soldiers who were hard to police.
The Ancient Origins of Christmas Magic
From magi to holly – a look at the magical aspects of Christmas celebrations.
Knattleikr: The Politics of the Viking Sport
A popular sport in the Viking Age, knattleikr could often be more than just a game.
Book of the Month: Then She Endures Like the Tree: Marie de France’s The Ash Tree (Le Fresne) and Honeysuckle (Chevrefoil)
Our Book of the Month for December is Then She Endures Like the Tree: Marie de France’s The Ash Tree (Le Fresne) and Honeysuckle (Chevrefoil), translated by Katharine Margot Toohey.
What was First Iconoclasm about?, with Leslie Brubaker
A conversation with Leslie Brubaker on the first period of Byzantine iconoclasm (ca. 730 to 787 AD). What was the problem with religious icons? What did the “Isaurian” emperors Leon III and Konstantinos V try to do about it, and why? A great deal of what we used to know, largely by following pro-icon sources, has come undone in the latest research.
Hidden inscriptions hint at mystery medieval woman’s identity
A series of secret drawings and writings possibly added by a mysterious female scribe have been uncovered in a manuscript over 1,200 years old.
Lost Medieval Chapel Sheds Light on Royal Burials at Westminster Abbey, study finds
New evidence, helping to form a 15th-century reconstruction of part of Westminster Abbey, demonstrates how a section of the building was once the focus for the royal family’s devotion to the cult of a disemboweled saint and likely contained gruesome images of his martyrdom.
The Scottish Wars of Independence with Iain MacInnes
In the mid-1990s, a little movie called Braveheart introduced a whole new generation to Scotland’s fight for freedom in the Middle Ages. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Iain MacInnes about Scotland’s Wars of Independence, why a sovereign kingdom had to fight for independence in the first place, and why the story doesn’t end with the Battle of Bannockburn.
Picts, Early Scotland and Issues with Scottish History with Alex Woolf
What happened to the Picts and why does is story of early medieval Scotland so difficult to tell? In this episode of Scotichronicast, Kate Buchanan is joined by Alex Woolf to talk studying Scottish history in the Early Middle Ages.
Eating Christ: Ingesting Christian Monstrosity and Spitting Others Out
Although borderland spaces and cannibalistic monsters were a problem for Christian hegemonic discourse, ultimately, they were able to resolve this by asserting God’s omnipresence, discernible in these spaces, and the possibility of conversion to Christianity and whiteness.
Recreating Medieval Paintings with Light at St Albans Cathedral
During the Reformation, countless works of art within churches were destroyed or obscured. At St Albans Cathedral they use light projection to restore four medieval paintings.
Viking Age silver treasure discovered in Norway
“This is quite an exceptional find. Finding this big a treasure from the Viking Age hasn’t happened in Norway for a long time.”
True Crusader Crime: Murder in an Age of Crusading – A Surfeit of Blood?
Murder in a time of perpetual war seems faintly ridiculous.
Archaeologists uncover medieval farm in England
An archaeological dig in northern England is uncovering a high-status medieval farm that had close links to the Cistercian monastery. The finds have included jet rosary beads, pottery and glazed tiles.
BooksAll posts
Book of the Month: Then She Endures Like the Tree: Marie de France’s The Ash Tree (Le Fresne) and Honeysuckle (Chevrefoil)
Our Book of the Month for December is Then She Endures Like the Tree: Marie de France’s The Ash Tree (Le Fresne) and Honeysuckle (Chevrefoil), translated by Katharine Margot Toohey.
New Medieval Books: Splendor Solis
New Medieval Books: From Swans to Saxons
New Medieval Books: From Chivalry to Gems
Book of the Month: Once She Had Escaped the Tower – Aucassin and Nicolette, and Marie de France’s Gugemer
Book of the Month: The Battle at the Halfway Oak and The Spanish Count
New Medieval Books: Global Medievalism: An Introduction – available for free
New Medieval Books: From Manuscripts to Cathedrals
New Medieval Books: Fiction set in the Middle Ages from 2022
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.