Online Conference: Easter in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages
This online conference takes place on April 1st. It is free to attend.
Latest Posts
Archives and Record Keeping in the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean
We present three case-studies which showcase a diverse range of historical actors, exploring state record-keeping, the archival practices of religious scholars, and the preservation of legal documents, to illustrate the rich and complex archival history of this region.
Online Conference: Easter in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages
This online conference takes place on April 1st. It is free to attend.
New Medieval Books: The Doctors’ Dinner Party by Ibn Butlan
One does not often see works of satire from the Middle Ages, so this will be of interest to those who want to know more about medieval humour.
1,400 year-old artefacts to go on display at Sutton Hoo
1,400 year-old artefacts, many never before seen by the public, will now be displayed as part of a new exhibition taking place at Sutton Hoo in England. Rendlesham Revealed: The Heart of a Kingdom AD 400-800 opens to the public on 23 March 2023.
The resilience and agency of rural communities, with Fotini Kondyli
A conversation with Fotini Kondyli about our changing picture of rural communities in late Byzantium. We talk about resilience in times of crisis — the fourteenth century was not an easy one! — and about how we can reimagine and restore the power and agency of these rural non-elites. We also talk about survey archaeology, one of our main tools for accessing these communities.
Norse Runes were just as advanced as Roman Alphabet writing, historian finds
In the Middle Ages, the Roman alphabet and Norse runes lived side by side. A new doctoral thesis challenges the notion that runes represent more of an oral and less of a learned form of written language
Medieval Movie Review: Catherine Called Birdy
Though plagued with some inaccuracies, and one atrocious plot decision, Lena Dunham’s Catherine Called Birdy is a direction in which films about the Middle Ages ought to go.
New historical tour company focuses on medieval heritage
A new travel tour company has launched with a focus on the Middle Ages.
An ExtraMedieval Crossover
This week, Danièle previews her new podcast ExtraMedieval in a crossover episode covering The Feast of the Swan, medieval guide dogs, and how modern research on animals can help us think more deeply about the Middle Ages.
Whales did this in the Middle Ages too, study finds
But the big fish keeps its mouth open for a time, no more or less wide than a large sound or fjord, and unknowing and unheeding, the fish rush in in their numbers.
St. Louis is the place to see medieval armor this spring
Those interested in the history of armor, especially of the medieval era, will want to go to the Saint Louis Art Museum over the next few months. Their new exhibition, “Age of Armor: Treasures from the Higgins Armory Collection at the Worcester Art Museum,” runs to May 14th.
Hostility Against the Jews in Medieval France
In France, as in other European regions, the medieval era saw changing and contradictory attitudes towards the Jews, who were alternately tolerated and persecuted.
Why was 11th-century England so conquerable?
The fifth Q&A episode of Bow and Blade. Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer your questions. Topics include: Kings on the battlefield, Brunanburh, Richard III, raids from Iberia, and who would be the medieval person to share a drink with.
The Golden Spice: Saffron in Medieval Europe
Saffron is one of the world’s prized spices: rare, costly, and of a distinctive flavour.
Book of the Month: Smbat Sparapet’s Chronicle
Our Book of the Month for March is Smbat Sparapet’s Chronicle, translated by Robert Bedrosian.
Scotichronicast: The Finale
With Episode 51, Scotichronicast comes to an end. In this finale, Kate Buchanan and Lucy Dean review the success of the Scotichronicast and what they hope to see in future research on medieval Scotland.
New Medieval Books: Procopius of Caesarea: The Persian Wars: A Historical Commentary
Geoffrey Greatrex’ magnum opus, this book complements his translation of The Persian Wars.
The Plague in Denmark: New research on its spread during the Middle Ages
Scientists who study the origins and evolution of the plague have examined hundreds of medieval human teeth from Denmark, seeking to address longstanding questions about its arrival, persistence and spread within Scandinavia.
Harald Hardrada: Prelude to Invasion
With Norway under his control, King Harald looks to seize the throne of another kingdom.
There is a medieval ship under this building
A team of researchers is investigating a medieval ship buried on the site of a pub in northwestern England. They hope to find out where it came from and exactly how old it is.
Women’s labor, with Anna Kelley
A conversation with Anna Kelley about women’s labor and occupations in the Roman and later Roman Empire. It turns out that they may have engaged in more types of business and workshop production, especially in textile manufacture and marketing, than contemporary gender norms suggest.
New Medieval Books: Matthew Paris on the Mongol Invasion in Europe
This book can be seen as a case study to help answer the author’s question: “What is history and how did Matthew view his duty as a historian?”
Construction begins at Museum of the Viking Age
Construction has begun on the Museum of the Viking Age in Oslo. When the Norwegian museum opens in 2026, it will be the home to three preserved Viking ships and more than 8,000 other objects from the Viking Era.
Women in the Crusades with Helen Nicholson
From supplying food and medical treatment, to lending emotional and financial support, to occasionally engaging in combat, women were to be found in and around every major conflict of the Middle Ages. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Helen J. Nicholson about the role of women in the most famous clashes of the medieval period: the crusades.
BooksAll posts
New Medieval Books: The Doctors’ Dinner Party by Ibn Butlan
One does not often see works of satire from the Middle Ages, so this will be of interest to those who want to know more about medieval humour.
Book of the Month: Smbat Sparapet’s Chronicle
New Medieval Books: Procopius of Caesarea: The Persian Wars: A Historical Commentary
New Medieval Books: Matthew Paris on the Mongol Invasion in Europe
New Medieval Books: The Fabric of the City: A Social History of Cloth Manufacture in Medieval Ypres
New Medieval Books: The Conquest of Santarém and Goswin’s Song of the Conquest of Alcácer do Sal
New Medieval Books: Dictionnaire du Moyen Age Imaginaire: Le médiévalisme, hier et aujourd’hui
New Medieval Books: Adèle and Gilbert: A Ballad
New Medieval Books: Chronicle of King Pedro
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.