Why Trees Mattered in the Middle Ages
Trees held deep meaning in medieval life, appearing in religion, mythology, literature, political gatherings and even the food served at wealthy tables.
The Fall of King Arthur of Britain in Giovanni Boccaccio’s On the Downfall of the Famous
Giovanni Boccaccio uses the tale of the rise and fall of King Arthur to teach the fickleness of fortune and the peril of pridefulness. Christopher Berard and Morris Tichenor provide a new translation of this once influential but now overlooked medieval retelling of Arthur’s downfall.
New Medieval Books: A Medieval Cabinet of Curiosities
It is often said that every object tells a story. This book brings that idea to life through fifty items from the Middle Ages, ranging from spoons to shields.
How the Crusaders Turned Gaza into a Medieval Frontier Fortress
Gaza became a Crusader fortress that isolated Fatimid-held Ascalon and reshaped the medieval struggle between the Kingdom of Jerusalem and Egypt.
Five Famous Horses from Medieval Legends
Meet five famous horses from medieval legends, including Bucephalus, Grani and the remarkable steeds associated with King Arthur.
When Medieval Fighting Men Owed Service to More Than One Lord
How did Carolingian and Ottonian rulers manage fighting men who owed military service to more than one lord?
Online Course: Introduction to Beowulf
This four-week course begins Saturday, August 15th, with live sessions 12:00 – 2:00pm Eastern U.S. time.
How Many People Did Bernard Gui Burn?
How many people did medieval inquisitor Bernard Gui condemn to death? His surviving judicial records reveal a more complex picture than popular culture suggests.
New Medieval Books: The First King of England
This biography tells the story of how Æthelstan rose from King of the Anglo-Saxons to King of the English. In doing so, he became a central figure in the creation of a new nation during the tenth century
What Does Forest Management Have to Do with Medieval Warfare?
How medieval Normandy’s carefully managed forests supplied the timber needed to build warships, repair castles and produce weapons during the Hundred Years’ War.
Our Lady of the Caves: A Medieval Icon from Kyiv
A late-thirteenth-century icon reveals the medieval origins, religious traditions and enduring cultural importance of Kyiv’s famous Caves Monastery.
10 Short-Lived Medieval States and Why They Rose and Fell
Ten short-lived medieval states reveal why new powers rose and fell, and how history might have changed had they survived.
10 Sayings from Odin: Medieval Norse Wisdom from the Hávamál
Discover ten sayings attributed to Odin in the Hávamál and what they reveal about wisdom, friendship and survival in the medieval Norse world.
New Medieval Books: Once Upon A (Stolen) Time
Step into a story of historical romance, magic and time travel, moving between the present day and the fifteenth century.
The Turbulent History of the Gothic Bible
Discover how the Gothic Bible survived religious persecution, imperial plunder, a shipwreck and theft during its turbulent 1,500-year history.
New Anime Set in the Medieval Mongol Empire Draws Praise
A new anime streaming on Crunchyroll brings medieval Persia and the Mongol Empire to life through the story of a girl who uses knowledge to survive.
New Medieval Books: Harald Hardrada
Perhaps the most famous figure of the Viking Age, Harald Hardrada led an eventful life that took him across much of the eleventh-century world. This book recounts his remarkable story while offering insights into the many lands and states through which he travelled.
Food, Feasts, and Fasting in the Byzantine Empire
Explore how food, imperial feasts and religious fasting shaped faith, health, social status and political power in the Byzantine world.
When Garlic Defeated the Magnet: The Long Life of a Medieval Natural Belief
Discover why medieval scholars believed garlic could weaken a magnet, and how this strange idea survived for centuries despite experimental challenges.
New Medieval Books: Natural and Supernatural in Early Medieval England
Were strange creatures believed to inhabit the lands just beyond the known world? Could an illness be cured by a plant or a magic spell? As this book reveals, people in medieval England grappled with questions such as these.
Did Medieval Castles Really Have Dungeons?
Dark underground dungeons are closely associated with medieval castles, but historical evidence reveals a very different story about imprisonment in the Middle Ages.
Were Medieval German Soldiers Really Vassals?
David Bachrach challenges the idea that the milites of pre-Crusade Germany were vassals, revealing a diverse class of professional soldiers.
Back to School Sale on Online Medieval Courses
From now until August 31st, use the coupon code BacktoSchool on any of our courses to get 15% off.
10 Open-Access Medieval Studies Articles Published in July 2026
Discover ten open-access medieval studies articles published in July 2026, covering the Voynich Manuscript, King Arthur, bear-bating, archaeology and more.