Where the Middle Ages Begin
Judas was one of the most troubling figures in medieval Christian thought, not simply as Christ’s betrayer but as a symbol of despair, envy, and damnation. Lorris Chevalier explores how medieval writers turned him into a full anti-hero, reshaping a brief biblical figure into one of the era’s most powerful moral myths.
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.
Judas was one of the most troubling figures in medieval Christian thought, not simply as Christ’s betrayer but as a symbol of despair, envy, and damnation. Lorris Chevalier explores how medieval writers turned him into a full anti-hero, reshaping a brief biblical figure into one of the era’s most powerful moral myths.
A medieval mass grave discovered near Cambridge may be linked to conflict on the frontier between English and Viking kingdoms. Among the dead is an exceptionally tall young man who survived trepanation, an ancient procedure in which a hole was cut into the skull.
A rare medieval gold object found by a Newcastle University student in Northumberland will go on display in a new treasures exhibition at the Great North Museum: Hancock
David Bachrach on how church leaders played a crucial role in defending medieval Germany, organizing fortifications and mobilizing communities under the Ottonian rulers.
For the uninitiated, the rituals, prayers, and music of the Catholic Church can seem difficult to understand. This book provides an accessible introduction to liturgy in Western Europe, showing what these rituals were meant to convey from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Timur Khan explores the Qalandar-nama, a medieval Persian text attributed to Abdullah Ansari, and the challenges of tracing its manuscripts and authorship.
Researchers at Winchester Cathedral are using DNA, radiocarbon dating, and osteology to uncover the identities of medieval kings and bishops buried in its mortuary chests.
In the ancient and medieval worlds, blacksmiths had to transform raw iron ore into workable metal. This book provides a practical guide to that process, focusing on the use of a furnace known as a bloomery.
How did an early medieval tribe give its name to gothic architecture, literature, and music? Discover the surprising origins of the Gothic style.
Scientists confirm that the remains in Magdeburg Cathedral belong to Otto the Great, using DNA, archaeology, and scientific analysis to identify the medieval emperor.
A Viking high seat has been recreated in Trondheim, offering new insights into power, farming, and daily life in early medieval Norway.
Building a medieval cathedral didn’t take thousands. Discover how small teams at Girona Cathedral carried out this monumental task.
Kelly Broderick visits North Folk Night Market in Massachusetts, where firelit performances, Beowulf, handcrafted wares, and winter storytelling bring the Viking Age to life.
Archaeologists in Spain identify a medieval knight with Crouzon syndrome who lived to adulthood and died in battle, offering rare insight into life with a genetic disorder in the Middle Ages.
Were early medieval armies small warbands or much larger fighting forces? David Bachrach examines the fierce scholarly debate over army size and what it reveals about warfare after the fall of Rome.
A new study argues that King Harold sailed south in 1066 rather than marching to Hastings, but the theory is already drawing criticism from historians.
Discover how sulphur became one of medieval Iceland’s most important exports, linking the island to trade, warfare, and industry across Europe.
Egypt was one of the great crossroads of the medieval world. This book examines the many travellers who journeyed there and recorded their impressions of the country and its people.
A medieval tale reveals an unexpected side of Charlemagne, as the emperor joins a thief in a strange story preserved in sagas and later poems.
A 1,500-year-old mosaic discovered in Syedra, Turkey, features a playful inscription warning the envious, offering insight into daily life in late antiquity.
A new study reveals how medieval chess created a rare space for players of different cultures to compete as equals, offering fresh insight into race, identity, and intellectual exchange in the Middle Ages.
Discover how medieval words took on new meanings and became slang over time, from surprising insults to unexpected expressions.
A lost page from the Archimedes Palimpsest, a famous medieval manuscript, has been identified in a French museum, shedding new light on ancient mathematics.
Are you a historian specializing in the Middle Ages with strong editorial skills? Are you a creative storyteller willing to share your knowledge of the medieval world with a broad audience? Then you might be the future editor of Medieval World: Culture & Conflict
For the uninitiated, the rituals, prayers, and music of the Catholic Church can seem difficult to understand. This book provides an accessible introduction to liturgy in Western Europe, showing what these rituals were meant to convey from the Middle Ages to the present day.
On Byzantium & Friends, a conversation with Alessandra Bucossi on the preoccupation with heresy in the twelfth century, which resulted in the production of a number of massive anti-heretical treatises.
A conversation with Marica Cassis about the archaeological study of the east Roman world and how it interfaces with traditional, text-based historiography. What can archaeology see and what not? What challenges has it faced to emerge as a field and what are the prospects that it faces today?
A conversation with Alicia Walker on the pseudo-Arabic inscriptions that appear on a number of tenth- and eleventh-century churches in Greece, most notably at the monastery of Hosios Loukas. What did the Arabic script signify in Orthodox culture at the time if not tension with Islam?
After Henry V’s death, the Hundred Years’ War flares back to life as a Franco-Scottish army confronts the English in Normandy. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly dig into the Battle of Verneuil—one of the war’s bloodiest clashes—and why it mattered.
The Assassins and the Knights Templar have become two of the most iconic groups of fighters from the period of the Crusades. In recent times, they have been popularised through the video game and movie franchise, Assassin’s Creed. But who were they really and how did they interact in the Holy Land?
A conversation with Kevin van Bladel on his proposal regarding “The Classical Near East,” a constellation of fields defined by the classical literary…