Where the Middle Ages Begin
What did a medieval government actually do on a daily basis? Thanks to the rich administrative records from the Middle Ages, we have detailed insights into the workings of royal bureaucracy and how money was spent. One valuable source of such information is the Close Rolls of England’s King John, which provide a glimpse into the decisions and orders that shaped his reign.
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.
If you lived during the Middle Ages, what kind of things would you have? Here is a guide to some of the everyday items that a medieval person would have used or had.
What did a medieval government actually do on a daily basis? Thanks to the rich administrative records from the Middle Ages, we have detailed insights into the workings of royal bureaucracy and how money was spent. One valuable source of such information is the Close Rolls of England’s King John, which provide a glimpse into the decisions and orders that shaped his reign.
Modern-day media typically presents Templar Knights as hate-filled fanatics, frothing with rage, and charging recklessly into combat. This is certainly the impression given by many contemporary books and films on the subject, but is this verdict accurate?
Examine the medieval culture of violence through a range of sources that deal with everything from blood feud and battlefield to torture and comedy. Learn about the reality versus modern pop culture and what it really means to “get medieval.”
There is less confidence about how and why this transformation came about especially in its early stages around the time of Bede and what this talk was consider is how and why these changes began when they did.
This paper argues that the vast majority of Jews who drew up notarial wills, donatio inter vivos contracts, and other Latinate documents related to inheritance did not seek to circumvent Jewish law. Instead, they valued a combination of Latin and Hebrew-Aramaic contracts as a means of making their inheritance choices intelligible both within and beyond the Jewish community.
Political posts on social media that most frequently referenced ancient and early medieval history tended to be more extreme, hostile, and overwhelmingly negative in tone than average, finds a new study by researchers from University College London and the University of Edinburgh.
Norwegian archaeologists have uncovered a significant Viking treasure buried more than 1,100 years ago in the southwest corner of the country. Four heavy silver bracelets were found hidden on a mountainside where a farm once existed.
Today we are going to deal with a very famous actually episode in the history of African history that is the so-called Moroccan conquest of this late medieval, early modern polity of West Africa that is the so-called Songhay Empire.
The Misadventures of Master Mugwort: A Joke Book Trilogy from Imperial China By Su Shi, Lu Cai, Tu Benjun Translated by Elizabeth Smithrosser…
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.
My goal here is to talk a bit about why medieval romance, and especially medieval English romance, is such a useful archive for the critical study of race.
How should one govern a state? For answers, we can turn to the wisdom of Gino di Neri Capponi, a 15th-century statesman whose advice on politics and governance remains surprisingly relevant. Written nearly 600 years ago, Capponi’s insights continue to offer valuable lessons for both modern leaders and individuals alike.
Nestled between Florence, Pisa, and the sea, this magnificent 15th-century estate in Tuscany offers a perfect blend of medieval history and timeless elegance.
For many years, Jennifer Bain has been analyzing and contextualizing the music of Hildegard of Bingen within the medieval chant repertory using manual methodologies.
A set of translated documents from the mid-15th century related to inter-Christian relations and attempts to bring a union between the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Armenian, Coptic and Ethiopian churches.
A ‘remarkable’ Pictish ring, featuring an intricate setting and believed from the Early Middle Ages, has been discovered in northern Scotland.
A unique medieval coin from the reign of David I of Scotland (1124-1153) will be going up for auction next week. It is expected to fetch between £15,000-20,000.
Cutting-edge technology has just uncovered hidden secrets within one of the world’s most mysterious medieval texts. Multispectral imaging has revealed previously invisible details in the Voynich manuscript, offering new clues about this undeciphered enigma that has baffled scholars for centuries.
St Brendan the Navigator is one of the most famous saints from the Early Middle Ages. This book translates his Vita, which recounts Brendan’s life, and a prayer of protection that he supposedly created.
The story of Manuel II Palaiologos, whose travels would take him to Paris and London, and his efforts to protect his empire.
The Knights Templar, renowned for their military prowess and mystique, may have had an unusual companion at their headquarters in Acre—a pet crocodile.…
Five simple medieval do-it-yourself projects you can try out to impress your friends
Serving as ‘an invitation to the study of Carolingian civilization,’ this book examines the political and societal changes that took place in Western Europe in the 8th and 9th centuries. It is mostly a guide to how this empire came about, the family that ruled it, and its quick end.
New research and conservation efforts have unveiled the Iranian origin of a lidded vessel that held many of the unique treasures in the Galloway Hoard. This revelation comes just in time for the vessel’s public debut, marking the 10th anniversary of the hoard’s discovery.
The Misadventures of Master Mugwort: A Joke Book Trilogy from Imperial China By Su Shi, Lu Cai, Tu Benjun Translated by Elizabeth Smithrosser…
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.
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.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Usha Vishnuvajjala about some of the surprising places the medieval world pops up in the modern world, and how it’s perfectly okay to love medieval fiction.
At the beginning of the 15th century, Owain Glyndŵr would lead a Welsh rebellion against King Henry IV of England. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly examine one of the key battles of that war.
As we wrap up another summer vacation season, it’s a good time to take a look at the way medieval people travelled for business, pleasure, and their immortal souls. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Anthony Bale about the ins and outs of medieval travel, and some of the wild stories of journeys gone wrong.
Ever come across a really amazing historical fact on the internet or in school, and tell it to all your friends, only to find out that it actually isn’t true? This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse (aka the Fake History Hunter) about things that never happened, what it’s like to hunt fake history, and what really grinds her gears.