New Medieval Books: Tajikistan’s National Epics
Here are translations of two works by a Tajik historian – the first deals with Al-Muqanna, an 8th-century military leader who rebelled against the Abbasid Caliphate, and the other is on Temur Malik, who fought against the Mongols in the 13th century. Both are important figures in medieval Central Asian history.
New Medieval Books: Gunpowder Technology in the Fifteenth Century
After examining what we know about the development of gunpowder in late medieval Europe, this book offers an edition and translation of an early 15th-century manuscript known as a Firework Book.
Lakenheath’s early medieval past uncovered in new book
Details of 1,500-year-old burial grounds at a Royal Air Force base in eastern England, including that of a medieval warrior, are included in a newly published book.
Medievalists.net’s Featured Book: Old Norse – Old Icelandic
The Medievalists.net Monthly Book Selection for June is Old Norse – Old Icelandic: Concise Introduction to the Language of the Sagas, by Jesse Byock and Randall Gordon.
New Medieval Books: A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages
A look at how travellers from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries went from Europe to other parts of the medieval world, ranging as far as Ethiopia and China. The book focuses on what the experience would have been like to visit various cities and places, kind of like a travel guide should be.
Medieval Books win awards
A trio of recent books in the field of medieval studies have been awarded prizes. Jonathan Lyon, Sarah Ifft Decker and Jody Enders have each been honoured for their works.
New Medieval Books: Cunning Folk
A look at everyday magic in England between the 14th and 17th centuries. It reveals how people from different backgrounds believed that magic could help them with various tasks, whether it be finding buried treasure or predicting the future.
New Medieval Books: Alfred’s Dynasty
Focusing on England in the ninth and tenth centuries, this book follows the various Kings of Wessex who became the Kings of England with the reign of Alfred the Great. It tells the story of an important dynasty in English history.
New Medieval Books: 21st Century Medievalisms
Fourteen essays that examine how the Middle Ages have been depicted in recent years. From pop culture to Peru, there are many ways the medieval past gets reinterpreted and explored in the present.
New Medieval Books: 1217: The Battles That Saved England
Covering the momentous events that took place in England between 1216 and 1217, this book focuses on the Siege of Dover Castle, the Battle of Lincoln and the naval Battle of Sandwich.
New Medieval Books: The Medieval Clergy, 800-1250
More than 70 sources are translated here to offer readers a look into the lives of priests, bishops and other clergy in the Middle Ages. It is a wide-ranging book, covering topics from how to do baptisms to bishops getting involved in wars.
New Medieval Books: Drugs in the Medieval Mediterranean
A collection of fourteen essays that deal with pharmaceutical medicines in Arabic, Byzantine, European and Jewish cultures. It reveals a lot of cross-cultural connections when it came sharing cures.
New book about medieval Ethiopia can be downloaded for free
The just-released book ‘Ethiopia’ and the World, 330–1500 CE, by Yonatan Binyam and Verena Krebs is available for free download until May 28th.
New Medieval Books: Fake History
Those who study history find that there are a lot of myths and misinformation being circulated, so books like this are very important in revealing what is fake. Of the 101 chapters inside, over 20 deal with medieval topics.
New Medieval Books: Cleaning Up Renaissance Italy
This book examines how Venice and Genoa dealt with environmental issues, including waste management, water supply and street congestion. It also reveals the mindset of the medieval Genoese and Venetians when it came to having a clean and healthy city.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New Medieval Books: Kassia the Nun in Context
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.
New Medieval Books: From Genghis Khan to Tamerlane
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.
New Medieval Books: Beards and Baldness in the Middle Ages
Translations of three medieval texts: In Praise of Baldness, On Bald Men, and A Defense of Beards. It reveals that male grooming was indeed a thing in the Middle Ages.