The “Mona Lisa” of Medieval Art
Medieval art has its own enigma: the woman featured in the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. This tapestry set contains some of the most well-known images from medieval art, yet many details about the six textiles are still unknown.
Getting High in the Middle Ages: Hashish in Medieval Egypt
In recent years, there has been a contentious debate on how should society deal with drugs like marijuana. Should it be legalized and accepted? What is the harm or benefits of these drugs? The same questions were being raised in medieval Egypt.
Medieval Sources of Sovereignty: The Idea of Supreme Authority in Quanto Personam and its Glosses
Pope Innocent III’s decretal Quanto personam, issued on 21 August 1198, makes a number of claims regarding the locus, source and character of supreme authority within the Church.
Medieval Hazing: Freshmen Orientation in the Middle Ages
Anchoresses and beguines simply do not get drunk, break into lecture rooms…and play tennis. Yet this was a recurring problem at the University of Paris.
Medieval Fun: Joking about the Church in the Middle Ages
Were medieval people funny? Could they tell a good joke? Check out these stories from Poggio Bracciolini and see if you will laugh!
Fish on Friday III: From Fish Weir to Table
It’s no mystery that medieval people ate fish. The fish industry was a vital element of the medieval European economy, and fueled lots of movement around the continent. However how did they get onto the trestle tables and trenchers?
Ten Things We Learned at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Medieval Academy of America
From names of ships to mass expulsion – ten things we learned about the Middle Ages at #MAA2017
“I do medieval”: How Mechthild of Magdeburg led me into the Middle Ages
I can still remember sitting on my couch in the cold of a Midwest winter, wrapped up in six blankets, randomly picking Flowing Light of the Godhead as my first book.
Fish on Friday II: Monastic Meals
In the Middle Ages, fasting and Lenten traditions were highly evident in the monastic houses. The different Rules and Orders (take your pick…
The Peasant Doctor: A Medieval Turnaround Tale
One of the best ways to learn about a culture is to figure out its sense of humour. In medieval Europe, this means looking at fabliaux: short, funny tales that demonstrate common stereotypes and jokes – usually sexual, violent, and containing a clear scapegoat.
One Year Anniversary of The Five-Minute Medievalist Book
I’m so excited to announce that this Thursday, April 6th, marks the first anniversary of my little book, The Five-Minute Medievalist!
The prank that tore apart the family of William the Conqueror
It is not surprising to hear of brothers playing pranks on each other. However, when your father is King of England, the ramifications could lead to more trouble than anyone would realize.
A Medieval Cure for Baldness
Medieval men also worried about losing their hair. They could turn to Hildegard of Bingen to provide them with a cure for baldness.
How Much Did It Cost to Build the Great Wall of China?
Admired the world over, the Great Wall of China’s construction came at a cost both in term of finances over the 2,000-year construction period, and in the lives of the military and civilians who built it.
Fish on Friday I: Economic Blessing or Dietary Sacrifice?
A lack of red meat on the medieval table meant the diners were having a humble meal, and fish was a convenient substitute protein.
Intercession and Motherhood: The Queenships of Philippa of Hainault and Anne of Bohemia
In this post, author Conor Byrne discusses the rule of two medieval queens: Anne of Bohemia and Philippa of Hainault.
10 Medieval Women You Should Know More About
Here are ten medieval women whose fascinating contributions deserve more recognition.
“One Freedom to All Human Beings”: Laura Cereta, Fifteenth-Century Women’s Champion
In medieval Italy, the nature and capabilities of women were being debated by both women and men, who fell on both sides of the argument. One voice among those was Laura Cereta’s.
Complaining about doctors in the 12th century
Doctors were around in the Middle Ages too, and according to one twelfth-century writer, many of them were failing their patients.
New Medieval Books: Boucicaut to Art Recipes
This week’s five new books goes into politics, making art and one of the greatest knights of the Middle Ages.
Leprosy and Plague in St Giles in the Fields
Author and historian, Rebecca Rideal, on leprosy in London during the Middles Ages and Early Modern period.
“Now if this is your wish, I cannot blame you” – asking for a divorce in 1204
All day long I have a lonely heart and am pained by our separation. I feel that pain while writing these lines. But the choice is with you; the decision is in your hand: if you wish to carry the matter through, do so; if you wish to leave things as they are, do so.
New Medieval Books: From Ryukyu to Valhalla
This week’s five new books take you across the medieval world, exploring its sciences, myths and wars.
When St Andrews was the heart of medieval Scotland
Medieval St Andrews provides a pathway to an increased understanding of the medieval world.
