New Medieval Books: The Philokalia
This collection of texts may date from the eighteenth century, but the works it contains are all medieval in origin. Together, they offer a diverse glimpse into the Eastern Orthodox tradition that shaped the religious life of the Byzantine world.
Meet Caritas Pirckheimer: Scholar, Abbess, and Renaissance Writer
When the Protestant Reformation swept through Nuremberg, one abbess refused to surrender her convent. Caritas Pirckheimer used scholarship, political connections, and years of literary experience to defend her community against reformers and city officials.
Sumptuary Laws in Medieval Florence: The Fashion Rules Women Had to Follow
Medieval Florence enforced strict sumptuary laws that regulated women’s clothing, jewellery, fur, and luxury fashion in an effort to control status and behaviour.
New Medieval Books: The Genius of Invective
Have you ever watched a deep dive into a movie where someone explains all the hidden details and Easter eggs? This is the medieval equivalent: a famous eleventh-century letter that later inspired one particularly detailed analysis written three hundred years afterward.
British Museum Plans Immersive Bayeux Tapestry Experience
The British Museum has revealed details of its major new Bayeux Tapestry exhibition, featuring immersive displays, rare medieval loans, and the story of the Norman Conquest
The Viking Sea: Ships, Storms, and Adventure in Old Norse Poetry
Explore how Viking-age poets described ships, storms, and seafaring adventure in Old Norse poetry, revealing the central role of the sea in medieval Scandinavian life.
Teaching the Faith in Byzantine Christianity: The Catechetical Process
Explore how Byzantine Christians taught the faith through structured catechesis, liturgical instruction, and episcopal oversight, shaping the religious life and identity of the medieval Eastern Roman Empire.
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.
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 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,…
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.
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.