New Medieval Books: New Stories Told while Trimming the Wick
This collection of 22 short stories from the early Ming Dynasty holds the distinction of being the first work of fiction ever banned in China. Fortunately, these tales—ranging from tender romances to eerie encounters with the supernatural—have survived for us to enjoy today.
New Medieval Books: Al-Qata’i: Ibn Tulun’s City Without Walls
This novel brings to life the rise and fall of the ninth-century Egyptian capital founded by the ambitious governor-turned-ruler Ahmad Ibn Tulun. Blending historical detail with vivid storytelling, Bassiouney explores the city’s architecture, politics, and cultural legacy.
Baptism and Belonging: How Identity Was Shaped in Medieval Europe
Explore how baptism shaped faith, identity, and belonging in medieval Europe, influencing community ties, godparents, and views on the unbaptized.
10 Medieval Weapons That Changed the Course of the Middle Ages
Discover 10 iconic medieval weapons — from swords and longbows to trebuchets and Greek Fire — that shaped battles, toppled castles, and transformed warfare in the Middle Ages.
Fear and Loathing in Lebanon – Assassins, Templars and the World’s Most Toxic Landlord-Tenant Relationship
On the volatile crusader frontier of Tripoli, the Templars became the new “landlords,” taking over castles and villages to defend Christendom. Their unwilling neighbours—the Nizari Assassins—responded with a century of assassinations, raids, and uneasy tribute in one of history’s most toxic landlord-tenant relationships.
10 Medieval Studies’ Articles Published Last Month
What’s new in medieval studies? Here are ten open-access articles published in September, which include pieces focusing on medieval England and Poland.
A Medieval Book Lover Explains Why We Love Books
Discover why a medieval bishop loved books—Richard de Bury’s Philobiblon reveals timeless wisdom and passion for preserving knowledge.
A New History of the Fourteenth Century with Helen Carr
The fourteenth-century is one of the most turbulent periods in European history. Famine, war, plague, royal depositions – you name it, this century’s got it. This week, Danièle speaks with Helen Carr about how England fared in these wild times, what her take is on some famous Plantagenets, and why we need to take a fresh look at this calamitous century.
Medieval Manuscripts in Living Colour
Discover how medieval scribes turned manuscripts into vibrant works of art — from rare pigments and gold leaf to enduring brilliance a millennium later.
Writing a World History of Warfare
A behind-the-scenes look at writing Warfare in the Global Middle Ages by one of its co-authors.
Sana’i’s Sharp-Tongued Portrait of 12th-Century Ghaznavid Society
Discover how the Persian poet Sana’i captured the splendour and scandals of the Ghaznavid Empire. His verses celebrate kings and mystics yet mercilessly lampoon scholars, courtiers, and even the city itself.
How to Be a Medieval Hitman – What It Took to Be an Assassin Fidais
The medieval Assassin fidais were elite Nizari killers whose fearsome reputation blended myth, legend and the stark reality of their missions.
Online Course: Dark Age Britain
A five-week course exploring Britain between the 5th and 8th centuries, traditionally referred to as the ‘Dark Ages’. Discover some of the lesser known aspects, themes, evidence, and figures of this interesting period, which was anything but ‘dark’.
New Medieval Books: Routledge Handbook of Medieval Military Strategy
This collection of 31 essays sheds light on the strategies and tactics of a wide range of medieval states and kingdoms. As a truly global history, it brings attention to subjects often overlooked by military historians.
20 Medieval Riddles: Can You Solve Them All?
Take our quiz of 20 medieval riddles by the monk Claret and test your wits against these centuries-old puzzles.
Knighthood Before the Crusades: Bishop Gerard of Cambrai’s Vision of Medieval Society
This article examines Bishop Gerard of Cambrai’s vision of medieval society, contrasting it with Georges Duby’s influential model of knighthood and the three orders before the Crusades.
Medieval Wills and Testaments with Robert A. Wood
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Robert A. Wood about medieval wills, funerals, and some memorable bequests
Childhood in the Middle Ages
What was childhood like in the Middle Ages?
Sinan: The Old Man of the Mountain
Meet Rashid al-Din Sinan, the Nizari Ismaili leader remembered as the “Old Man of the Mountain,” who built fortresses, trained the Assassins, and shaped one of the most feared movements of the medieval Middle East.
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.
The Voice of a Medieval Duchess: Matilda of Głogów and Her Charters
Matilda of Głogów’s charters reveal how a medieval duchess asserted authority, supported religious women, and invoked female saints to shape her rule in Silesia.
Castle for Sale in Scotland
Overlooking the dramatic cliffs of Scotland’s southwest coast, Dunskey Castle is now on the market, offering eight acres of land and a ruin steeped in history.
The Making of Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Chaos, Castles, and Comedy
Explore the chaotic, low-budget making of Monty Python and the Holy Grail—from castles and coconuts to comedy legends and cult success.
Assassins and the Strategy of the Underdog
The Assassins of medieval Persia were a small, unpopular sect, but they developed a strategy that allowed them to punch far above their weight. By seizing castles, cultivating converts, and carrying out targeted killings, they created a network of power that defied even the Seljuk Turks
