New Medieval Literature online course starts next week
We have a new online course starting on Tuesday, May 14th – for the next three weeks, you can learn about medieval literature through Beowulf, King Arthur and Robin Hood.
Latest Posts
New Medieval Literature online course starts next week
We have a new online course starting on Tuesday, May 14th – for the next three weeks, you can learn about medieval literature through Beowulf, King Arthur and Robin Hood.
The Mad Norse King
What happens when the mental health of a medieval King of Norway declines into madness? The story of Sigurðr the Crusader, who reigned for over 25 years, provides a fascinating account of mental illness from the 12th century.
From Beowulf to the First Crusade: 10 Medieval Studies’ Articles Published Last Month
What’s new in medieval studies? Here are ten articles published in April, which tell us about topics including dealing with guests in Sweden to trade in Ethiopia.
New Medieval Books: Islam in Europe
A catalogue that showcased the exhibition ‘Islam in Europe’ held at the Sam Fogg gallery in London in 2023. It details over 60 items that were part of the exhibition ranging from ceramics to carpets.
£10 million conversation project at Caerphilly Castle
The Welsh government is investing £10 million project towards the conversation and restoration of Caerphilly Castle, one of the great castles built by King Edward I. The project aims to make the site a world-class visitor attraction while preserving its history.
The Murder of the Bishop of Acre in 1172
The murder of the bishop of Acre, however, which took place on the night of 29 June 1172, was something altogether more disturbing.
462 medieval manuscripts to be digitized
Mainz University Library will be digitizing 462 medieval manuscripts over the next three years. The manuscripts, which can be found in the German cities of Speyer, Worms and Mainz, have over 170,000 pages.
New Medieval Books: Knowing What We Know
A general history that examines how humans retain information and the changing technologies to help with this. While the medieval period only occupies a small part of this book, it does offer insights into how the invention of printing was an important milestone in this history.
How to Murder a Byzantine Emperor
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.
Five Jokes about the Medieval Church
Could medieval people joke about religion? Poggio Bracciolini proves it to be true, and offers us five funny stories. In 1470 the Italian…
How did weather impact medieval battles?
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).
Medieval village discovered in Germany
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.
New Medieval Books: Kalilah and Dimnah
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.
The Movie that Created a Medieval Myth
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.
Medieval Squirrels Linked to Spread of Leprosy in Humans
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.
New Medieval Books: Onomantic Divination in Late Medieval Britain
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.
14th-century Florentine Villa for Sale
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.
Africa and Byzantium, with Andrea Myers Achi
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).
Medieval Arthurian Literature with Kathy Cawsey and Elizabeth Edwards
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.
Medievalists.net’s Featured Book: The Saga of the People of Weapon’s Fjord
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 passes away
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
Medieval T-Shirts, Mugs and More from Medievalists.net
We have teamed up with Teepublic to offer a collection of t-shirts, mugs, totes, phone cases, stickers and much more.
New Medieval Books: The Book of the Crown (Kitāb al-Iklīl) of Pseudo-Rhazes
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.
Medieval women: “Highly visible, often obscured” or hidden in plain sight?
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.
BooksAll posts
New Medieval Books: Islam in Europe
A catalogue that showcased the exhibition ‘Islam in Europe’ held at the Sam Fogg gallery in London in 2023. It details over 60 items that were part of the exhibition ranging from ceramics to carpets.
New Medieval Books: Knowing What We Know
New Medieval Books: Kalilah and Dimnah
New Medieval Books: Onomantic Divination in Late Medieval Britain
Medievalists.net’s Featured Book: The Saga of the People of Weapon’s Fjord
New Medieval Books: The Book of the Crown (Kitāb al-Iklīl) of Pseudo-Rhazes
New Medieval Books: Kassia the Nun in Context
New Medieval Books: From Genghis Khan to Tamerlane
New Medieval Books: Beards and Baldness in the Middle Ages
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.