Where the Middle Ages Begin
The Accursed Tower and Tower of the Flies were the infamous defences of the city of Acre. Strange legends surround both towers, and they would prove to be formidable challenges to besieging armies during the Crusades.
“When, how, and why did the Black Death reach Europe?” These are the questions asked by Hannah Barker. In a new article, the historian finds that the long-believed story of how this great medieval plague reached Europe is likely untrue, and that the story of the pandemic’s spread has to deal with grain and trade.
Researchers examining the Justinianic Plague have discovered that late 19th century misconceptions about the outbreaks of pandemic led to an ingrained belief that they inherently cause widespread death and change the course of history.
In the Manner of the Franks: Hunting, Kingship, and Masculinity in Early Medieval Europe, by Eric Goldberg examines the history of hunting in Europe from the years 300 to 1000.
The Accursed Tower and Tower of the Flies were the infamous defences of the city of Acre. Strange legends surround both towers, and they would prove to be formidable challenges to besieging armies during the Crusades.
Kate Buchanan is joined by Joanna Richardson to discuss Joanna’s journey to studying medieval Scottish history and her work on Edward Bruce and the Scottish Invasion of Ireland.
A conversation with Judith Herrin about the fascinating history of Ravenna between 400 and 800 AD.
“When, how, and why did the Black Death reach Europe?” These are the questions asked by Hannah Barker. In a new article, the historian finds that the long-believed story of how this great medieval plague reached Europe is likely untrue, and that the story of the pandemic’s spread has to deal with grain and trade.
One of the most influential animals of the medieval world, both in the barnyard and on the table, was also one of the most troublesome: the pig. This week, Danièle speaks with Jamie Kreiner about how the humble pig influenced everything from culture to theology.
The medieval idea of fighting a duel to determine who is right is one that has some appeal even in the modern-day.
Our next book in the Book of the Month Club will be The Use of Medieval Weaponry, by Eric Lowe.
A look at the movie adaptions of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, along with other media.
Clothing is a vital part of both our identities and our economies. So, how was cloth made and distributed in the Middle Ages? This week, Danièle speaks with John S. Lee about medieval cloth-making, and the role of the medieval clothier.
Researchers examining the Justinianic Plague have discovered that late 19th century misconceptions about the outbreaks of pandemic led to an ingrained belief that they inherently cause widespread death and change the course of history.
In the Manner of the Franks: Hunting, Kingship, and Masculinity in Early Medieval Europe, by Eric Goldberg examines the history of hunting in Europe from the years 300 to 1000.
Beñat Elortza Larrea discusses the ravages of famine, warfare and disease in fourteenth-century Scandinavia, culminating with the formation of the Kalmar Union in 1397.
The legends led to expeditions in the 16th century to find the fabled fountain and their adventures, in turn, have inspired filmmakers to portray them.
Corruption, especially in government, is an age-old problem. How did people in the Middle Ages try to solve it?
An anthology of Byzantine tales of horror. Learn about foul murders, demonic visitations, the undead, and the criminally insane; also, the Byzantine science of demonology and the spirit world.
Kate Buchanan is joined by Adrián Maldonado to discuss Adrián’s journey to studying medieval Scottish history and his work on early Christian burial in Scotland and his current work with the Glenmorangie Research Project.
January 1st is the Feast of Fools, notoriously a time of drunkenness and debauchery in the medieval church. But was it really? This…
Written sometime around 1468 amidst the gathering dusk of the medieval period Le Morte d’Arthur was an ambitious attempt to forge the self-contained, tonally dissonant, and sometimes contradictory fragments of the Arthurian legends’ broad canon into a single cohesive work.
The team extracted DNA from 44 tusks. By analyzing genetic sequences known to differ between African forest and savanna elephants, the scientists determined that all of the tusks they analyzed belonged to forest elephants.
Tournaments and jousts were often international gatherings where diplomacy, dramatic re-enactments and fighting all came together. Here we will look at some remarkable examples of these medieval deeds of arms.
There are dozens of Modern English translations of Beowulf. The following three translations are a good place to start
An in-depth look at the music of liturgical drama and its role within medieval Christmas celebrations.
A conversation with Alice-Mary Talbot on the experience of communal monastic life in Byzantium, ranging from its organization and rules to its religious goals, engagement with society, and differences between monasteries for men and women.
Our next book in the Book of the Month Club will be The Use of Medieval Weaponry, by Eric Lowe.
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.
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.
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.
How do you operate a business when you can’t read and your knowledge of math is extremely limited? Making your mark on the…
Narbonne is one of those European cities with evidence of its past on every street.
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.