How Church Leaders Helped Defend Medieval Germany
David Bachrach on how church leaders played a crucial role in defending medieval Germany, organizing fortifications and mobilizing communities under the Ottonian rulers.
New Medieval Books: Light on Darkness
For the uninitiated, the rituals, prayers, and music of the Catholic Church can seem difficult to understand. This book provides an accessible introduction to liturgy in Western Europe, showing what these rituals were meant to convey from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The Afterlife of a Medieval Persian Text: The Qalandar-nama of Abdullah Ansari
Timur Khan explores the Qalandar-nama, a medieval Persian text attributed to Abdullah Ansari, and the challenges of tracing its manuscripts and authorship.
Who Lies in Winchester’s Medieval Mortuary Chests?
Researchers at Winchester Cathedral are using DNA, radiocarbon dating, and osteology to uncover the identities of medieval kings and bishops buried in its mortuary chests.
New Medieval Books: Basics of Bloomery Iron Smelting
In the ancient and medieval worlds, blacksmiths had to transform raw iron ore into workable metal. This book provides a practical guide to that process, focusing on the use of a furnace known as a bloomery.
Medieval Goths and Goth Music: The Surprising Connection
How did an early medieval tribe give its name to gothic architecture, literature, and music? Discover the surprising origins of the Gothic style.
Scientists Confirm Remains of Medieval Emperor Otto the Great
Scientists confirm that the remains in Magdeburg Cathedral belong to Otto the Great, using DNA, archaeology, and scientific analysis to identify the medieval emperor.
Viking High Seat Recreated in Norway for Museum Exhibition
A Viking high seat has been recreated in Trondheim, offering new insights into power, farming, and daily life in early medieval Norway.
How Many Workers Built a Medieval Cathedral?
Building a medieval cathedral didn’t take thousands. Discover how small teams at Girona Cathedral carried out this monumental task.
Stepping Into the Viking Age on a Winter Weekend in Massachusetts
Kelly Broderick visits North Folk Night Market in Massachusetts, where firelit performances, Beowulf, handcrafted wares, and winter storytelling bring the Viking Age to life.
Medieval Knight with Rare Genetic Disorder Identified in Spain
Archaeologists in Spain identify a medieval knight with Crouzon syndrome who lived to adulthood and died in battle, offering rare insight into life with a genetic disorder in the Middle Ages.
The Size of Armies in Early Medieval Warfare
Were early medieval armies small warbands or much larger fighting forces? David Bachrach examines the fierce scholarly debate over army size and what it reveals about warfare after the fall of Rome.
Did King Harold Sail to Hastings? New Study Sparks Debate Among Historians
A new study argues that King Harold sailed south in 1066 rather than marching to Hastings, but the theory is already drawing criticism from historians.
Medieval Iceland’s Most Unusual Export: Sulphur
Discover how sulphur became one of medieval Iceland’s most important exports, linking the island to trade, warfare, and industry across Europe.
New Medieval Books: African Landings
Egypt was one of the great crossroads of the medieval world. This book examines the many travellers who journeyed there and recorded their impressions of the country and its people.
When Charlemagne Became a Thief: A Medieval Tale Retold
A medieval tale reveals an unexpected side of Charlemagne, as the emperor joins a thief in a strange story preserved in sagas and later poems.
Early Medieval Mosaic with Playful Inscription Discovered in Turkey
A 1,500-year-old mosaic discovered in Syedra, Turkey, features a playful inscription warning the envious, offering insight into daily life in late antiquity.
Medieval Chess Reveals a More Diverse Middle Ages, Study Finds
A new study reveals how medieval chess created a rare space for players of different cultures to compete as equals, offering fresh insight into race, identity, and intellectual exchange in the Middle Ages.
Medieval Words That Became Slang
Discover how medieval words took on new meanings and became slang over time, from surprising insults to unexpected expressions.
Lost Archimedes Page from Medieval Manuscript Discovered in France
A lost page from the Archimedes Palimpsest, a famous medieval manuscript, has been identified in a French museum, shedding new light on ancient mathematics.
Job Posting: Editor of Medieval World magazine
Are you a historian specializing in the Middle Ages with strong editorial skills? Are you a creative storyteller willing to share your knowledge of the medieval world with a broad audience? Then you might be the future editor of Medieval World: Culture & Conflict
Heresiology in the Twelfth Century, with Alessandra Bucossi
On Byzantium & Friends, a conversation with Alessandra Bucossi on the preoccupation with heresy in the twelfth century, which resulted in the production of a number of massive anti-heretical treatises.
Two Medieval Men Found Buried in Prehistoric Site
DNA analysis of two medieval men buried at the prehistoric Menga dolmen in Spain reveals new insights into ancestry, religion, and the long reuse of ancient monuments.
10 Men Who Nearly Became King of England
Meet ten men who nearly became king of England in the Middle Ages, including Edward the Black Prince, Arthur of Brittany, and Louis VIII.