Major Michelangelo exhibition to begin next week at The Met
Michelangelo: Divine Draftsman and Designer, on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art from November 13, 2017, through February 12, 2018, will present a stunning range and number of works by the artist.
How medieval theologians debated the humanity of Jesus Christ
New research out of the University of Helsinki shows some of the fascinating and differing viewpoints medieval theologians had about the humanity of Christ.
Women and the Reformation
In 2017, we are celebrating the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s 95 theses, the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Truly a monumental event in western history. But was it only a history initiated and carried by men?
Excavations at Glastonbury Abbey, 1908-79: reassessing the medieval monastery
This paper shares the results of the archaeological excavations at Glastonbury Abbey; specifically, thirty-six seasons of excavations, which took place between 1904 and 1979.
Beyond Honor and Shame: Rabbinic Control of Jewish Women in Medieval Egypt
This lecture explores how the Restrictions imposed on women in Mediterranean societies both past and present are often understood to reflect a gendered model of ‘honor and shame’ that conditions men’s status on their female relatives’ sexual purity.
Henry II, Thomas Becket and the Building of Dover Castle
Since it made sense for expenditure on royal buildings to be made by local officials, it is believed that ‘the Pipe Rolls do record by far the greater part of royal spending on building.’
Encounters Among Enemies: Preliminary Remarks on Captives in Mongol Eurasia
While the collective experience of Mongol prisoners is one of agony and desperation, not all captives suffered such a grim fate.
Waste Management in Medieval Krakow: 1257-1500
This thesis outlines the wastes produced in medieval Krakow – Animal, Industrial, and Domestic – and the efforts made to control them between the dates of the city’s incorporation under Magdeburg law in 1257 up to 1500.
The Cathar Mary Magdalene and the Sacred Feminine: Pop Culture Legend vs. Medieval Doctrine
This study investigates the historical evidence for the widespread pop culture assertion, disseminated through popular histories, novels, and spiritual tourism, that the medieval Cathars of southern France treasured a tradition that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had children.
The Medieval Origins of the Concept of Hypertension
Despite the well-known history of hypertension research in the modern era, main points in the medieval concept of this disease and its early management methods remain obscure.
Book Review: Medievalism: A Manifesto
A rallying cry for scholars in general to harness the power of public platforms to better society.
The death of a medieval Danish warrior: A case of bone trauma interpretation
The study of trauma in skeletal remains is important to bioarchaeology as it can provide insight into the patterns of interpersonal violence and warfare in the past, an important aspect of human society.
From the Closet to the Wallet: Pawning Clothes in Renaissance Italy
In this article, we will examine some sources in which pawns were registered in order to gain a better idea of those whom the monti di pietà helped.
Piety and Poor Relief: Confraternities in Medieval Cremona, c. 1334-1499
This dissertation focuses on confraternal piety and poor relief in the northern Italian city of Cremona between the mid-fourteenth century and the end of the fifteenth century.
Cinema Paradiso: Re-Picturing the Medieval Cult of Saints
Cinema is not, of course, a medieval cultural form but its evolutionary trajectory can perhaps be seen as rooted in aspects of medieval material culture, particularly the plastic arts, manuscript illumination and printing and the performing arts, particularly religious drama with its propensity for movement.
Conversations Between Medieval Texts and Digital Editions: The Remediation of Harley 4205
While the knightly and kingly images of the British Library’s MS Harley 4205 are visually intriguing, there has been little research dedicated to this manuscript. These figures and their textual counterparts reveal a tension central to this manuscript between its repetitious features and identifying markers.
Sean Cunningham Discusses the Legacy of Arthur Tudor
In a lecture at Bangor University on 2 November 2017, Sean Cunningham talked about the brief but influential life of Arthur Tudor, older brother of Henry VIII and the man who should have been king.
The Legend of the White Snake: A Chinese Mélusine Story
A husband ‘accidentally’ glimpses into his wife’s bedchamber only to discover that the lady whom he believed to be fair, noble, and undoubtedly human – is in fact a (partial) snake.
Medieval Executions: The View from the Scaffold
Let’s take a brief look at what judicial execution was really like in the Middle Ages.
Viking Age Hoard Acquired by National Museums Scotland
National Museums Scotland has today announced that it has achieved its fundraising target of £1.98 million in order to acquire the Galloway Hoard on behalf of the nation.
Heritage Assessment of the Abbey of St Edmund to be Undertaken
For the first time, all of the historical and archaeological information about the Abbey of St Edmund is to be gathered together to help not only its conservation, but also the public’s understanding and enjoyment of the buildings that once played such a prominent role in everyday life in the town.
Worcester’s Medieval Churches Receive £2.8 Million of National Lottery Funding
Worcester Cathedral and St Swithun’s Church have both received support of over £1million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help more people to explore their heritage.
Medieval Fur Trade May Have Led to Spread of Leprosy
The authors of a new study suggest that an explanation for the prevalence of leprosy in medieval East Anglia may possibly be found in the sustained Scandinavian trade in squirrel fur – an animal known to carry the disease.
What Comes After Halloween?: Celebrating All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day
This time of year, it’s normally Halloween, that sugar-filled Bacchanalia, that gets all the attention. But what about its lesser-known follow-ups, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day?
Historians Challenge Oxford’s Claim of World’s Oldest Zero
An international group of historians of Indian mathematics challenges Oxford’s findings around the age and importance of a manuscript thought to contain the oldest known zero.