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.
The Mysterious Owl on the Cathedral Notre-Dame of Dijon
A look into a mysterious medieval carving at a French cathedral. Why was it put there?
Medieval Coins with Rory Naismith
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Rory Naismith about the complex world of medieval coins.
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.
Chariot Race described in medieval poem
While chariot races are usually associated with Ancient Rome, they were still taking place long into the Middle Ages. A poem from the twelfth century gives us an exciting look at this sport.
Why do we sleep? Scientific Questions Answered in the Sixth Century
The Byzantine philosopher Priscian of Lydia offers these answers to some common questions.
“Next Year in Jerusalem”: The Medieval Origins of the Jewish Longing for a Homeland
First attested in the Middle Ages, the phrase has become part of not only the Passover liturgy, but also the concluding service for Yom Kippur, and has long testified to the longing of the scattered Jewish people for a homeland where they could be free from persecution.
Medieval journal has left us 7,000 weather reports
Historians are very interested in understanding environmental and climate conditions from the past. However, sources that can shed light on this information are hard to find, so being able to access over 20 years of records from a medieval writer is a gold mine of details.
New Medieval Books: The Genius of Their Age
A double biography of two of the most important scholars from the Middle Ages. Working out of Central Asia in the 11th century, Ibn Sina and Biruni both made significant impacts on several scientific fields.
14 Reasons Why Medieval Florence was Great
Medieval Florentines were very proud of their city. One 15th-century citizen even wrote down 14 reasons why.
Getting High in the Middle Ages: Drug Use in Medieval Egypt
In recent years, a contentious debate has emerged regarding how society should address drugs such as marijuana. Should they be legalized and accepted? What are the harms or benefits associated with these drugs? Interestingly, similar questions were raised in medieval Egypt.
Medieval Fish with Richard Hoffmann
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Richard Hoffmann about what people were eating, how they caught it, and how fish farming evolved over time.
How to be a Shepherd in the Middle Ages
What was it like to work on a farm in the Middle Ages? A fourteenth-century shepherd named Jean de Brie offers some insights into his daily life and tips to help you do a good job.
New Medieval Books: Alexandria
A history of this Egyptian metropolis from its founding by Alexander the Great to our own day. Close to a hundred pages are devoted to the medieval era.
The Siege of Constantinople (1453)
One of the key dates from the Middle Ages is the year 1453. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss how the Ottomans were able to conquer the city of Constantinople and bring an end to the Byzantine Empire.
Medieval Executions: The View from the Scaffold
Let’s take a brief look at what judicial execution was really like in the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: The Wars of the Roses: The Medieval Art of Graham Turner
An overview of the civil war in 15th-century England, this book showcases the artwork of Graham Turner, a leading modern-day artist who focuses on recreating historical scenes.
Leadership Lessons from a Medieval Abbot
Abbot Samson of Bury St Edmunds is a good case study of leadership during times of trouble – in this case when a monastery was drowning in debt.
The Battle of Dupplin Moor
James Turner analyses this 14th-century battle in Scotland.
William Marshal and Richard the Lionheart: Two fierce knights in the 12th century
What happens when William Marshall and King Richard I take part in the same siege?
New Medieval Books: The Mongol Storm
This book examines how the medieval Middle East was reshaped by the invasion of the Mongol Empire in the thirteenth century. In this story of war and politics, new groups would emerge while others, including the Crusaders, would lose it all.
From Flails to Scandals: 10 Medieval Studies’ Articles Published Last Month
What’s new in medieval studies? Here are ten articles published in March, which tell us about topics including the Bayeux Tapestry and Louis the Stammerer.
The Art of Medieval Anatomy with Taylor McCall
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Taylor McCall about what medieval people knew about internal medicine, where they learned it, and how they illustrated it.
New Medieval Books: Becoming a Witch
A collection of eleven articles about how witches and witchcraft were depicted in the Middle Ages. Many of the articles focus on the connections between women and magic and how this gradually troubled medieval society.
Richer of Saint-Rémi’s bad medieval road trip
“Those who have ever suffered similar misfortunes can judge from their own experiences how great my agitation and anxiety were at the moment.”