Where the Middle Ages Begin
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?
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.
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?
Whether you were a military commander in medieval England or Japan, you would have faced many of the same challenges of organisation, logistics, and tactics. This book takes a comparative approach to medieval warfare, examining how armies fought and operated across different parts of the medieval world.
Archaeologists in Poland have uncovered possible medieval fortifications surrounding a 15th-century windmill, along with stone cannonballs.
Archaeologists in Russia have uncovered a remarkable medieval silver hoard containing rare Swedish coins, jewellery and possible Norse imagery.
From deadly banquets to wedding betrayals, discover 15 medieval massacres and murders that recall the infamous Red Wedding.
Explore the flavours of medieval food, from exotic spices and elaborate dishes to the unusual ingredients that delighted diners in the Middle Ages.
Across the medieval world we can find various writings aimed at giving advice and wisdom. Here is some poetic wisdom from the ninth-century Middle East.
Renovation work at Żupny Castle in Poland has uncovered stone fortifications believed to date from the 14th century.
Medieval China is where printing was first invented. But what kinds of works were printed there? This book focuses on the 10th to 12th centuries, revealing how the state made use of this technology and how the spread of the printed word transformed Chinese culture.
Discover the sports and games enjoyed by medieval Londoners, from jousting and wrestling to ball games, cockfighting and ice skating.
Six Viking gold arm-rings weighing more than 750 grams have been discovered in Denmark, revealing new evidence of wealth and power in the tenth century.
Archaeologists in Cyprus have uncovered an underground chamber that began as a Hellenistic quarry and was later transformed into a Byzantine church.
From legal reform and royal government to the conquest of Wales and war in Scotland, explore the turbulent reign of Edward I.
Call for Papers for the 5th International Conference on the Military History of the Mediterranean Sea, taking place in Istanbul in June 2027.
Anglo-Saxon coins discovered near the Vatican reveal new evidence for Rome’s medieval English community and its connections with England.
How the fall of Constantinople in 1453 shaped trauma, myth, Orthodox memory, and the end of the Byzantine Empire.
Nearly 600 medieval manuscripts from the German monasteries of Heilsbronn and Sankt Jobst have been digitised and made available to explore online.
Greece will return the remains of medieval Tsar Samuel to Bulgaria in an agreement that will also see 48 religious artefacts returned to Greece.
Why did the Crusaders need naval power? Steve Tibble examines the sieges of Arsuf and how control of the sea could determine success in the Crusades.
This book examines the emergence of Brittany in the Early Middle Ages, focusing on a period when the Carolingian Empire was disintegrating and the region faced increasing Viking attacks.
Archaeologists in Tuscany have uncovered ten early medieval burials at Rusellae, offering new evidence about the city during the Lombard period.
The Nine Worthies brought together King Arthur, Charlemagne, Alexander the Great and other legendary figures as medieval models of chivalry.
A new online course from Irina-Maria Manea offers a deep dive into Njal’s Saga. This six-week course begins October 6th, with live sessions each Tuesday from 4:00 to 5:30 pm Eastern U.S. time.
Early medieval Arab silver coins discovered in northern Poland may shed new light on trade routes connected with the Viking-Age settlement of Truso.
Whether you were a military commander in medieval England or Japan, you would have faced many of the same challenges of organisation, logistics, and tactics. This book takes a comparative approach to medieval warfare, examining how armies fought and operated across different parts of the medieval world.
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.
A conversation with Naomi Pitamber about the art and architecture of the empire of Nicaea (Nikaia), the Roman state that emerged in Asia Minor after the disaster of 1204.
King Richard III faces Henry Tudor in one of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss the Battle of Bosworth and how the identification of its battlefield has offered new insights into how the fighting unfolded.
As the Hundred Years’ War entered its final chapter, England and France fought for control of Normandy. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly examine the road to the Battle of Formigny and its decisive impact on the war.
A conversation with Christopher Bonura about the apocalyptic tradition of identifying the Four Kingdoms prophesied in the Book of Daniel. Which one was the Roman empire? The fourth, scheduled to fall with the others, or something that came afterward (a tradition sometimes called imperial eschatology)? Among other topics we discuss Eusebios of Caesarea and the reign of Herakleios as possible turning points in this tradition.