Medieval Chinese Surgeons Used Toxic Anaesthetic, Study Finds
Chemical analysis of surgical tools from a Ming Dynasty tomb has revealed traces of a toxic aconitine-based anaesthetic, offering rare physical evidence of sophisticated medieval Chinese medicine and surgery.
Upcoming Medieval Studies Online Courses for Summer and Fall 2026
Looking to learn more about the Middle Ages from home? Check out 15 online courses starting between June and October.
10 Peace Treaties That Shaped the Middle Ages
Ten major peace treaties from the Middle Ages that reshaped kingdoms, ended wars, and changed the course of medieval diplomacy and history.
Medieval Swear Words: What People Really Said in the Middle Ages
People in the Middle Ages swore very differently from us. Explore medieval swear words, insults, and religious oaths that shocked medieval society.
Q&A #14: Why were Infantry Defeating Knights in Battle?
In the latest Q&A episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly answer questions about infantry vs cavalry in late medieval battles, will there be archaeological excavations at Hundred Years’ War battlefields, favourite centuries and what our hosts will be doing this summer.
Julian Augustus and the Dream of a Platonic Roman Empire, with Jeremy Swist
A conversation with Jeremy Swist on the emperor Julian (361-363 AD) and how he tried to combine his love of philosophy with ruling the Roman Empire. We talk about why Julian continues to excite such passions, how in some ways he may have been more Roman than Greek, and how he read Roman history in light of the theurgical Neoplatonism that he espoused.
10 Hidden Details in the Bayeux Tapestry
Look closely at the Bayeux Tapestry and you will spot humorous, strange, and fascinating scenes hidden within one of the Middle Ages’ most famous works of art.
Medieval Manuscripts Reveal Hidden Animal DNA Archive
Researchers have developed a nondestructive way to extract DNA from medieval parchment manuscripts, revealing new insights into livestock, trade networks, and manuscript production across 1,300 years.
Medieval Beauty Secrets: Flowers, Cosmetics and Skincare
Medieval medical and cosmetic texts reveal how roses, violets, lilies and other flowers were used in skincare, haircare, perfumes and beauty remedies. These floral treatments were intended to cleanse the skin, whiten the complexion, scent the body and maintain healthy hair.
Were Carolingian Free Men Getting Poorer?
Did Charlemagne’s free landowners suffer widespread impoverishment? David Bachrach reexamines the evidence behind one of the most influential theories about Carolingian society, military service, and economic decline.
8 Medieval Latin Sayings About Money, Greed, and Desire
Explore eight medieval Latin sayings about money, greed, and human desire, revealing how writers in the Middle Ages viewed wealth, virtue, and moral character.
Online Course: Anointed Sounds: Exploring Political Power and Religion in Medieval Music Manuscripts
A six-week course exploring medieval music and the intertwined powers of politics and religion. Through vivid manuscripts and wild tales of saints, kings,…
Lost Medieval Manuscript Rejoins Heidelberg’s Famous Bibliotheca Palatina
A lost medieval manuscript has been reunited with Heidelberg’s famous Bibliotheca Palatina after researchers traced the codex’s centuries-long journey across Europe.
The World’s First Newspapers May Have Appeared in Medieval China
Long before newspapers appeared in Europe, medieval China had printed publications reporting on politics, government decisions, scandals, and military affairs during the Song Dynasty.
Byzantine Strategy and Geopolitics in the Tenth Century
Surrounded by rivals on every frontier, the Byzantine Empire of the tenth century relied on far more than battlefield victories to survive and expand. George Theotokis explores how emperors and diplomats used strategy, alliances, bribery, fortifications, and warfare to navigate a dangerous geopolitical world stretching from the Balkans to the Middle East.
Medieval Notebook Discovered in German Latrine
Archaeologists in Germany have uncovered a rare medieval notebook in a Paderborn latrine, preserving 700-year-old wax tablet writings that may reveal the life of a medieval merchant.
New Medieval Books: The Medieval Mediterranean between Islam and Christianity
If you are interested in the connections between Christian and Islamic cultures in the Middle Ages, physical objects can reveal remarkable stories of exchange and interaction. This book brings together ten essays exploring the materials, artifacts, and goods that moved between these two societies, shedding light on the cultural ties that linked the medieval Mediterranean world.
How Medieval Literature Built the Arthurian Legend
Explore how medieval literature built the Arthurian legend, from early Welsh tales and Geoffrey of Monmouth to Chrétien de Troyes and Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur.
Earth Wounds: Creative Explorations of Viking Age Funerary Customs
Archaeology, photography, and art come together in a new book covering death and burial in the Viking Age. Terri Barnes reviews a visually striking work that transforms Viking funerary customs into reflections on memory, loss, and mortality.
25 Great Quotes from the Middle Ages
Discover 25 great quotes from the Middle Ages, featuring medieval writers, rulers, philosophers, and thinkers from across the medieval world.
Avignon as Threat: How a Medieval Myth Became a Modern Weapon
Why is the Avignon Papacy still seen as a symbol of weakness and political captivity? Joëlle Rollo-Koster explores how a medieval “Black Legend” became a powerful modern myth.
The Past and Future of the Medieval Classroom: Teaching the Conflicts in Troubled Times
This paper by Richard Utz was delivered at this year’s International Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University.
More Medieval Coins Discovered, Adding to Norway’s Largest-Ever Hoard
Archaeologists in Norway have uncovered hundreds more coins from the Mørstad Hoard, now the country’s largest-ever Viking Age coin discovery, shedding new light on medieval trade and iron production.
New Medieval Books: Exhortation to the Monks by Hyperechios
In the Early Middle Ages, a monk named Hyperechios composed a collection of 160 sayings intended to guide Christians, especially those pursuing an ascetic life. This book presents a new edition and translation of these writings.