Why did the Crusader States fall in 1291?
The war between the Mongols and the Mamluks in the second half of the thirteenth century would be the catalyst for the downfall of the Crusader States in the Near East.
Latest Posts
Why did the Crusader States fall in 1291?
The war between the Mongols and the Mamluks in the second half of the thirteenth century would be the catalyst for the downfall of the Crusader States in the Near East.
Embodying the Soul with Meg Leja
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Meg Leja about the relationship between bodies and souls in medical thought in the early Middle Ages, why people were meant to care deeply for both, and where medieval people believed the soul to be located in the body.
13 Pieces of Wisdom from the 13th century
If you are looking for some advice, perhaps it would be good to read the words of wisdom offered by Freidank.
Online Course: Medieval Gender and Sexuality
This six-week course is an introduction to conceptions of gender and sexuality in the medieval period. Each week historian Eleanor Janega discusses the philosophical and societal underpinnings that shaped culture and relationships from the 5th to the 15th century.
Tunnel discovered during community dig at medieval abbey
Archaeologists in England believe they have located a tunnel that was once part of Hyde Abbey, a monastery located in Winchester which is the burial place of Alfred the Great.
Kings in the Mountain: Myths from Germany and Byzantium
A series of myths arose in various European countries about the return of a former great king, who is just sleeping, waiting for his time to return and save his homeland.
The Abbasid Civil War: Chaos in Iraq (813-819)
Despite al-Ma’mun’s victory in the war against his brother, al-Amin, the fighting did not end in Iraq. The six years after the siege of Baghdad were punctuated by factional fighting, violence, bloodshed, and social and political turmoil and unrest.
Medieval kitchen discovered in Czech Republic
Archaeologists working in the Czech Republic have discovered the remains of a kitchen dating back to the 15th century. Many items have been found in remarkable condition, including pots with their lids intact and kitchen utensils.
Call for Papers: 3rd International Conference on the Military History of the Mediterranean Sea
Conference taking place from 26-28 June 2023 in Istanbul
8,000 medieval medical recipes being digitised by Cambridge University Library
How did our medieval ancestors use dove faeces, fox lungs, salted owl, and eel grease in medical treatments? A major project at Cambridge University Library is finding out.
Research from Viking latrines helps reveal the long history of a parasite
Using stool samples from Viking latrines, researchers at the University of Copenhagen have genetically mapped one of the oldest human parasites – the whipworm.
Danièle’s Tale
It’s September: a time for fresh starts, as well as a time when every career and educational decision may seem large and looming. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle shares the story of how her many false starts, successes, and failures led to her career as an indie medievalist.
Medieval: The Movie, The Brand
Have we reached a point where “medieval” has become a brand in itself?
Sources of Life: Food and water sustainability in Abbasid Baghdad
Managing access to clean water and large quantities of grain and other foodstuffs was essential for the development of an exceedingly large city such as Baghdad under the Abbasids.Managing access to clean water and large quantities of grain and other foodstuffs was essential for the development of an exceedingly large city such as Baghdad under the Abbasids.
Explaining the Location of Crusader Castles
Some of the most impressive achievements of the Crusaders in the Near East were the castles they built. But why did they choose the particular locations they did when it came to constructing these fortresses?
The Siege of Rhodes (1522)
The Mediterranean island of Rhodes would once be the stage for the conflict between the Hospitallers and the Ottoman Empire. In this episode of Bow and Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about how Suleiman the Magnificent was able to besiege and overcome the Hospitallers and their fortress.
New Medieval Books: Fiction set in the Middle Ages from 2022
Here are six new works of fiction that medievalists might want to have as a late summer read.
Beyond Love Songs: Troubadours and Cathars
Exploring the theories that support and deny Cathar influence within the troubadours’ compositions.
Are Fairy Tales Medieval?
The answer is more complex than you might think.
The Abbasid Civil War: The War of the Brothers (811-813)
The war between the sons of Harun al-Rashid caused irreparable damage to the economic, political, and military structure of the Abbasid caliphate. The struggle for the throne led to the caliphate’s eventual disintegration and the reduction of the Abbasid caliphs’ power and authority.
Bees in the Medieval Mediterranean: Economic, environmental and cultural perspectives
Bees and bee products were of tremendous cultural significance in the Later Middle Ages
UFOs in the Icelandic Sagas
The History Channel has two popular shows – Ancient Aliens and Vikings. Both are anything but historical, and yet they both challenge the viewer to rethink the ways that they approach the past. What would happen if you combined the two?
Book of the Month: Consorts of the Caliphs: Women and the Court of Baghdad
Our Book of the Month for September is Consorts of the Caliphs: Women and the Court of Baghdad, by Ibn al-Sāʿī and translated by Shawkat M. Toorawa.
Your Medieval Questions Answered
This week, Danièle answers your burning medieval questions from social media and Patreon, covering everything from diapers, to sleep, to the mysterious Green Man.
BooksAll posts
New Medieval Books: Fiction set in the Middle Ages from 2022
Here are six new works of fiction that medievalists might want to have as a late summer read.
Book of the Month: Consorts of the Caliphs: Women and the Court of Baghdad
New Medieval Books: New Translations of Marie de France
Book of the Month: Scents and Flavors
New Medieval Books: From Rome to Kusk
New Medieval Books: Castles, Queens and Crecy
Book of the Month: Impostures
New Medieval Books: The Fantasy of the Middle Ages: An Epic Journey through Imaginary Medieval Worlds
New Medieval Books: Five Translated Texts
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.