New Medieval Books: The Killing Ground
A look at the area of Thermopylae in Greece, which according to the authors “might be the most blood-soaked ground in the world.” They detail twenty-seven military actions that took place here, including seven that took place in the Middle Ages.
Vikings and Cats
Did the Vikings keep cats as pets? A recent study reveals that felines were much more part of Norse society than previously believed.
Medieval Manuscripts: Scribes’ Secret Humor Revealed
How medieval scribes were leaving jokes, complaints and even complete nonsense in their manuscripts.
Medieval Charms with Katherine Storm Hindley
Like many people today, medieval people used charms, personal talismans, and amulets to help smooth their way through life. But just who used them? How did they use them? And what did the church think about such things? This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Katherine Storm Hindley about charms in the Middle Ages.
Unveiling Fake Medieval Art through Science
In 1962, the Taft Museum of Art received an artwork as part of a donation – a beautiful painting depicting the crucifixion of Jesus. For the next sixty years it was believed to have been the work of an Italian Renaissance master. In reality, it was a fake.
A Medieval Royal Wedding: How Much Could it Cost?
Just how lavish could a medieval royal wedding be? The nuptials of a 14th-century English princess offer some insights.
New Medieval Books: The Beauforts
A look into an important English family during the fifteenth century. As the children of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford, the Beauforts were major allies to the Lancastrian kings and played a key role in the politics and wars of the period.
The Battle of Edington (878)
The Vikings are attacking England, and it’s up to Alfred, King of Wessex, to stop them. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss this important battle in Anglo-Saxon England.
The Forgotten Crusaders
In the aftermath of the successful First Crusade, a new strategy was formulated on how to keep the Near East under Frankish control. The Siege of Caesarea was one of the first steps.
Rulers of the Carolingian Empire
Who were the Carolingians? Here is a look at 17 rulers from one of the most important empires of the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: Beowulf and the North Before the Vikings
How much history is there in the story of Beowulf? The author argues that we can learn more about the people and places mentioned in the poem than has been commonly accepted, and it also sheds light on the Viking raids that began at the end of the eighth century.
Birth Control and Abortion in the Middle Ages
Birth control and abortion did take place in the Middle Ages and, like today, there were many medical and ethical issues that medieval people had to contend with.
Medieval Castle for Sale in England
Appleby Castle includes the original 12th-century Norman keep known as Caesar’s Tower, a 13th-century round tower and a 15th-century house that was expanded into a mansion in the 17th century. S
A Medieval Map of the World with Meredith Small
With a team of dedicated monks and lay brothers to help him, fifteenth-century Venetian Fra Mauro attempted to create the most accurate map of the world. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Meredith Small about this incredible mappamundi, what it contained, and how this landed Fra Mauro on the moon.
What is a battleline?
In their ninth Q&A, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer listener questions about medieval military history. What do we mean when we talk about lines at a battle? Could those first into a battle survive? Are there campaigns that do not lead to battles or sieges? What was their favourite scene of medieval warfare from a film?
New Medieval Books: Arms and Armour of the Renaissance Joust
With the help of the fine collection of arms and armour from the Royal Armouries Museum, this book details the evolution of jousting and tournaments in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.
The Templar Catastrophe at Cresson
Steve Tibble tells us about the Battle of Cresson, which set the stage for a pivotal moment for the Crusaders..
Five Fun Facts About Robin Hood
Robin Hood has enthralled generations of readers and moviegoers. This English outlaw-hero has become of symbol of freedom against tyranny, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. But who was Robin Hood? How much is grounded in myth and how much is reality?
Sex in the Middle Ages
Here are some of the more spicy pieces of information we have uncovered about sex in the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: Middle Imperial China, 900-1350
An overview of Chinese history during the Song and Yuan dynasties, covering its politics, international relations, religion, economics and more. Offers a look into time when China was deeply interconnected with its neighbours and other parts of the medieval world.
New Medieval Books: Byzantine Military Rhetoric in the Ninth Century
Want to know what kind of speeches a military commander gave in the Middle Ages? This book is a ninth-century guide from Byzantium on just how to do that, with examples based on fighting for your faith or country, and how to endure pain.
The Medieval Art of Medicine: A Poem
What was it like to be a physician in the Middle Ages? A poem by a 14th-century doctor sheds a little light on the challenges of practicing medicine in medieval times.
The Battle of Poitiers (1356)
In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly take another look at this important battle from the Hundred Years’ War. How do a visit to the battlefield and the writings of an Italian chronicler change their views on how Edward the Black Prince gained his victory?
Medieval earthquakes brought this boulder down on Nepalese town, study finds
A massive boulder weighing 300 tons can be found in Pokhara, the second-largest city in Nepal. A study shows how this and other huge debris deposits came down on this area during catastrophic medieval earthquakes.
New Medieval Books: Rome and the Invention of the Papacy
A look at how the Papacy in Rome developed in the Early Middle Ages through the Liber pontificalis, a series of biographies of popes. This text is crucial to understanding how the Papacy came to dominate the Christian religion in Western Europe.