Where the Middle Ages Begin
An empire like Byzantium does not last for a thousand years without its own share of political intrigue. Here are three accounts of murder told by medieval chroniclers in vivid detail, in which the plot did not go as smoothly as the conspirators hoped but ultimately resulted in a new emperor on the throne.
Archaeologists working near the site of Memleben Abbey in Germany have discovered the remains of a medieval village. Two buildings, a church and a residential building, have already been unearth.
Squirrels in England carried leprosy bacteria as early as the Middle Ages. An international team of researchers has revealed a link between the pathogens found in the animals and people from a medieval leprosarium.
Want to live like a medieval Florentine noble? If you have 12,000,000 €, then you can buy a villa which dates back to the 14th century.
An empire like Byzantium does not last for a thousand years without its own share of political intrigue. Here are three accounts of murder told by medieval chroniclers in vivid detail, in which the plot did not go as smoothly as the conspirators hoped but ultimately resulted in a new emperor on the throne.
Could medieval people joke about religion? Poggio Bracciolini proves it to be true, and offers us five funny stories. In 1470 the Italian…
It is a Q&A episode of Bow & Blade, with Michael and Kelly answering listener questions. In this episode, they talk about the impact of weather on medieval battles, how often did soldiers train, and why are there more sources about the Battle of Crecy (1346) than the Battle of Poitiers (1356).
Archaeologists working near the site of Memleben Abbey in Germany have discovered the remains of a medieval village. Two buildings, a church and a residential building, have already been unearth.
A collection of over fifty short tales, originally from India and adapted to Arabic audiences in the 8th century. These entertaining morality tales have animals as the main characters, similar to Aesop’s Fables.
Modern movies rarely depict the Middle Ages accurately, and sometimes they get the period entirely wrong. However, one film managed to create a myth about a battle that persisted for decades.
Squirrels in England carried leprosy bacteria as early as the Middle Ages. An international team of researchers has revealed a link between the pathogens found in the animals and people from a medieval leprosarium.
Onomancy is a type of divination to learn a person’s future based on their name. This book looks at how this magic became popular in the later Middle Ages.
Want to live like a medieval Florentine noble? If you have 12,000,000 €, then you can buy a villa which dates back to the 14th century.
A conversation with Andrea Myers Achi (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) about the enduring connections between Byzantium and a number of African cultures, beginning in late antiquity (e.g., Aksum) and continuing into medieval and modern times (e.g., Nubia and Ethiopia).
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Kathy Cawsey and Elizabeth Edwards about the changing face of Arthur, the way his legend spread across the medieval world, and the ways in which storytellers adopted – and adapted – his myth.
The Medievalists.net Monthly Book Selection for May is The Saga of the People of Weapon’s Fjord, edited and translated by Jesse Byock and Randall Gordon.
Will Noel, a leading librarian of medieval manuscripts, has passed away after being injured by a vehicle in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was 58 years old
We have teamed up with Teepublic to offer a collection of t-shirts, mugs, totes, phone cases, stickers and much more.
The work offers a guide to a healthy life, offering advice on bathing, eating, sleeping and other day-to-day activities to help promote better living.
This talk will offer new perspectives on queenship as well as examples of historical figures which can enrich the curriculum and ideas on how we can collectively enhance the visibility of women in the historical narrative.
Barry Bergdoll talks about the history of Notre-Dame Catherdal in Paris as the repairs from the major fire in 2019 near completion.
Between 865 and 879 CE, the great Viking army campaigned extensively across England, eventually conquering three of the four Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
What is the purpose of a bestiary? Starting with the history of medieval bestiaries, and touching on dramatically topical issues such as the climate crisis and the risk of species extinction, author Caspar Henderson takes us on a journey of discovery of wondrous and barely imaginable creatures, places, and revolutionary discoveries.
Ira Rabin talks about the evolution of black writing inks and why iron gall ink became so popular in the Middle Ages.
A recent study looking at the construction history of churches during the Middle Ages has found that a building boom took place in Western Europe during the 12th century.
This book profiles the life of Kassia, a ninth-century Byzantine aristocrat who spurned an emperor and became a nun and abbess. Her story tells us much about being a woman and a religious leader in Byzantium.
The silent alleys of Tripoli still retain their medieval charms. They tell the stories of glorious counts, chivalrous knights in shining armour, and fighting men of order.
A look at how the peoples and states of Central Asia and Persia coped with the Mongol invasions and conquests, ranging from the Ilkhanate to the Timurids. Includes an in-depth examination of the warlord Timur and his impact on the region.
A collection of over fifty short tales, originally from India and adapted to Arabic audiences in the 8th century. These entertaining morality tales have animals as the main characters, similar to Aesop’s Fables.
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.
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.
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.
How do you operate a business when you can’t read and your knowledge of math is extremely limited? Making your mark on the…
Narbonne is one of those European cities with evidence of its past on every street.
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.