The Medieval Guide to Avoiding 15 Common Speaking Blunders
Struggling with speaking—whether in public or even with a friend? A medieval treatise offers timeless advice on what not to do.
Latest Posts
The Medieval Guide to Avoiding 15 Common Speaking Blunders
Struggling with speaking—whether in public or even with a friend? A medieval treatise offers timeless advice on what not to do.
“Thanks for the good news!” Medieval Manuscripts Return to British Library’s Website
The British Library has delighted medieval enthusiasts by restoring access to its digitised manuscripts collection. After being offline for nearly a year due to a cyberattack last October, the first 1,000 manuscripts, many of which date from the Middle Ages, have now been returned to the website.
10 Medieval Studies’ Articles Published Last Month
What’s new in medieval studies? Here are ten open-access articles published in September, which tell us about topics including the dietary habits of Florentines and the rediscovery of an African empire.
The Eagle and the Hart with Helen Castor – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 260
Richard II came to the throne as a young child, only to lose it to his cousin Henry IV in 1399. But why did Henry take such drastic action? And what became of the teenage boy who stood up to a crowd of angry peasants and held his own? This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Helen Castor about these rival cousins, the events that shaped them, and how an anointed king could lose his hollow crown.
Medieval Coin Hoard Discovered on Isle of Man
A hoard of silver coins, buried nearly 1,000 years ago, has been discovered on the Isle of Man.
A Medieval Cat’s Paw Print: How a Mischievous Feline Made its Mark on History
Imagine stumbling upon a centuries-old manuscript and discovering an unexpected visitor had left its mark – a cat’s paw, immortalised in ink. This quirky image, a medieval equivalent of your cat jumping on your keyboard, has captivated social media for over ten years.
Medieval Religious Order Might Be the Next European State
A new state might be coming to Europe, and it has a medieval connection. The Albanian government is planning to allow a religious order dating back to the 13th century to have its own microstate.
Viking Helmet and Byzantine Earrings are among the medieval items to be auctioned
Are you looking to get a helmet worn by a Viking or Norman warrior? Or a stunning terracotta horse created in China during the Tang Dynasty? These are among the item going up for auction later this month.
Medieval Remedies for Modern Ailments: Can a 14th-Century Text Reshape Healthcare?
Amid growing health concerns over chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, modern researchers are increasingly looking to the past for innovative solutions. A new study examines what a 14th-century text reveals about ‘food as medicine’.
Top 50 Masterpieces of Medieval Literature
Unlock the rich and diverse world of medieval literature with our list of 50 masterpieces. From epic tales of heroism to timeless romances and spiritual writings, these works from the Middle Ages have shaped cultures and influenced storytelling traditions for centuries.
Careers for Medievalists?
Sponsored by the British Archaeological Association, this event aims to demonstrate the range of career options available to medievalists, especially those studying in Art History and adjacent disciplines such as History, Archaeology and Heritage Studies.
The Queens Who Shaped Medieval Christianity: Gregory the Great’s Forgotten Allies
While Gregory’s influence is well known, the role of several powerful queens in promoting Catholic Christianity during his time is a fascinating but often overlooked aspect of this period.
Study Reveals Norway’s Viking Society Was Far More Violent than Denmark’s
It turns out that Norway’s Viking Age was much more violent.
Life and Government in Royal Castles in the Long Thirteenth Century
This is a two-part lecture with Lindy Grant speaking on ‘Power and domesticity: Castles and Capetian rulership in the the thirteenth century’ and Jeremy Ashbee speaking on ‘The Royal Castles of Edward I and English Control of North Wales’
Medieval Church Discovered in Bulgaria
Archaeologists have uncovered the 14th-century church of the medieval monastery of St. Theodosius of Tarnovski near Veliko Tarnovo, in northern Bulgaria, shedding light on the rich historical legacy of the region.
Black Death Genomes: Uncovering Medieval Genetic Clues
A new project aims to uncover how genetic traits from the Black Death era shaped human populations, providing insights into disease susceptibility that may still affect us today. Led by Harald Ringbauer of the Max Plank Institute, the research team will analyze the genomes of 500 victims to link medieval and modern genes in an unprecedented way.
Silk Roads exhibitions open at British Museum and British Library
The British Museum and British Library have both opened exhibitions focusing on the trade routes and connections between Asia, Africa and Europe in the Middle Ages.
Ten Medieval Megaprojects That Shaped the World
The Middle Ages weren’t just a time of knights and castles—they were also an era of awe-inspiring megaprojects that pushed the limits of engineering. From massive walls to entire cities built from scratch, these ten medieval feats of construction shaped the world we know today.
Saint Catherine’s Monastery Offers Certified Replicas of Iconic Byzantine Art
For the first time in its 1,500-year history, Saint Catherine’s Monastery is offering certified replicas of its most famous Byzantine icons. These replicas, available in actual size and true-to-life color, allow people worldwide to own a piece of this sacred art.
Anglo-Saxon Discoveries Unearthed in England During Wind Farm Project
Archaeologists working on the Dogger Bank Wind Farm project in England have made remarkable early medieval discoveries, shedding new light on Anglo-Saxon life in the Holderness region. These findings, which emerged during the excavation of a 30km corridor for underground cables connecting the wind farm to onshore convertor stations near Beverley, provide crucial insight into the area’s history, particularly from the 5th to the 11th centuries.
Charlemagne with Cullen Chandler – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 259
What’s so great about Charlemagne? We’re about to find out. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Cullen Chandler about the reign of Charlemagne, how he ruled such a massive empire, and how he still took the time to care about font.
Polynesian Colonisation Fueled by Sweet Potato: New Archaeological Evidence
Archaeologists have discovered American sweet potato starch granules in early site deposits of Aotearoa/New Zealand’s South Island (Te Waipounamu), revealing how the tuberous root was instrumental to Polynesian colonisation of cooler climate South Pacific islands.
When Did Jousting Become Obsolete? Bow & Blade, Episode 55
In this episode, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer your questions about medieval warfare.
How Will the Middle Ages Be Studied in a Thousand Years?
In a thousand years, our approach to the Middle Ages may be vastly different from what it is today. As technology advances and society evolves, the methods, perspectives, and focus of historical research will inevitably shift. What will medieval studies look like in the year 3024?
BooksAll posts
New Medieval Books: Radegund
The story of Radegund, a 6th-century princess who would find herself being married to the man who had killed her family. From high politics in the Merovingian Empire to the creation of a monastery, Radegund’s life is a very interesting tale.
New Medieval Books: Three Political Tales from Medieval Germany
New Medieval Books: A Shattered Realm
New Medieval Books: Medieval Eastern Europe
New Medieval Books: The Misadventures of Master Mugwort
New Medieval Books: Laetentur Caeli
New Medieval Books: The Life of St Brendan and His Prayer
New Medieval Books: Introduction to the Carolingian Age
Cover Reveal: The Traitor of Sherwood Forest
Latest Podcast EpisodesAll posts
The Eagle and the Hart with Helen Castor – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 260
Richard II came to the throne as a young child, only to lose it to his cousin Henry IV in 1399. But why did Henry take such drastic action? And what became of the teenage boy who stood up to a crowd of angry peasants and held his own? This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Helen Castor about these rival cousins, the events that shaped them, and how an anointed king could lose his hollow crown.
Charlemagne with Cullen Chandler – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 259
What’s so great about Charlemagne? We’re about to find out. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Cullen Chandler about the reign of Charlemagne, how he ruled such a massive empire, and how he still took the time to care about font.
When Did Jousting Become Obsolete? Bow & Blade, Episode 55
In this episode, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer your questions about medieval warfare.
September Book Roundup – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 258
What’s new and beautiful and hitting the medieval history section of the bookshop? This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle shares six new books spanning art, gunpowder, translation, and medicine in the Middle Ages.
Medieval Falconry with Yannis Hadjinicolaou
In the Middle Ages, falconry was one of the most popular pastimes across the known world. More than just a pleasant diversion in the countryside, it was a way to show status, education, sophistication, and leadership. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Yannis Hadjinicolaou about why falconry was so widely beloved, and such a popular metaphor for both love and power.
Forging a Kingdom in the 11th century with Simon Doubleday – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 256
In the eleventh-century, Iberia was in the process of evolving networks of tiny villages into the powerful kingdoms we recognize from the end of the medieval period – sometimes by any means necessary. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Simon Doubleday about the ways in which Queen Sancha and King Fernando I shaped northern Spain and Portugal.