Where the Middle Ages Begin
A conversation with Felege Yirga about the presence of Ethiopians in late antique Egypt. We discuss relations between the Roman province and the lands to the south and the roles that Ethiopians play in stories in Greek sources, especially the lives of ascetics, focusing on the monk Moses.
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.
The Fourteenth Annual Symposium on Medieval and Renaissance Studies will take place at Saint Louis University from June 14-16, 2027.
A conversation with Felege Yirga about the presence of Ethiopians in late antique Egypt. We discuss relations between the Roman province and the lands to the south and the roles that Ethiopians play in stories in Greek sources, especially the lives of ascetics, focusing on the monk Moses.
New research reveals how the Lipka Tatars, a Muslim community in medieval Christian Europe, survived centuries of religious persecution and political change.
When the Crusaders arrived in the Holy Land at the end of the 11th century, they entered a region shaped by numerous peoples, kingdoms and competing political interests. This book takes a broader look at the conflicts, alliances and political struggles unfolding across the eastern Mediterranean during this period.
Archaeologists in Sweden uncover new details of a rare 500-year-old medieval shipwreck, including its kitchen, rigging and unusual mast construction.
A new study reveals how notes in medieval Arabic manuscripts preserve the history of scholars, education and the transmission of knowledge across the Islamic world.
Explore 10 key facts about the Great Medieval Famine of 1315–1322, when failed harvests, starvation and disease devastated much of northern Europe.
A brother’s mysterious death, a nephew’s doomed rebellion and a struggle for the crown shaped the reign of Giorgi III of Georgia. Irene…
Explore 20 Old English girls’ names from Anglo-Saxon England, their meanings, historical origins and the medieval women who bore them.
Chinese archaeologists have discovered the first Sui Dynasty Great Wall remains in Beijing, alongside ancient wooden boats and other finds.
A new study reveals how medieval Florence regulated cathedral workers, enforced workplace discipline and compensated those injured on the job.
Warfare underwent significant changes between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, bringing new challenges for those treating wounded and sick soldiers. This book explores how medical care evolved to deal with the injuries and diseases that accompanied these changes in warfare.
Medieval villagers in France fought a 47-year legal battle against a powerful monastery over their status as serfs and their right to freedom.
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.
When the Crusaders arrived in the Holy Land at the end of the 11th century, they entered a region shaped by numerous peoples, kingdoms and competing political interests. This book takes a broader look at the conflicts, alliances and political struggles unfolding across the eastern Mediterranean during this period.
A conversation with Felege Yirga about the presence of Ethiopians in late antique Egypt. We discuss relations between the Roman province and the lands to the south and the roles that Ethiopians play in stories in Greek sources, especially the lives of ascetics, focusing on the monk Moses.
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.