New Medieval Books: The King’s Road
‘A Bottom-Up History of Diplomacy’ along the Silk Road between China and Central Asia, this book focuses on the years 850 to 1000. It aims to show the Silk Road was just as important a route for envoys as it was for merchants.
From Modified Skulls to Schools of Knights: 10 Medieval Studies’ Articles Published Last Month
What’s new in medieval studies? Here are ten articles published in February, which tell us about topics including Viking filed teeth, Japanese ghosts and Gothic church towers.
Eyeglasses’ Arrival: How Immigrants Transformed Medieval England’s Vision
Eyeglasses can be considered one of the most important inventions of the Middle Ages. A recent study shows that by the 1440s people in England could buy their own spectacles, thanks to a group of immigrants living just outside of London.
The Most Dramatic Moment of the Middle Ages!
The Middle Ages had its share of dramatic moments with excitement and historical importance. However, what happened on the 23rd of March, 1369, has a truly epic quality to it.
Crusader Fleets: A Missing Ingredient
We tend to associate the Crusaders with all the bold, visually striking, images of medieval warfare. Charging knights and crossbowmen. Castles and siege towers. What we do not often think of is sailors and fleets
Medievalists.net’s Featured Book: The Crusader Strategy
The Medievalists.net Monthly Book Selection for March is The Crusader Strategy: Defending the Holy Land, by Steve Tibble.
New Medieval Books: Africanism
A groundbreaking book that examines the history between Arab and African peoples in the Middle Ages, focusing on Arab depictions of Black people in literature.
Rome and the Papacy with Jessica Wärnberg
He’s one of the most powerful figures in all of Western history, with influence not only over life and death, but over the immortal souls of billions of people over thousands of years. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Jessica Wärnberg about the role of the pope, his influence on Rome, and what happens when the holiest of men isn’t quite so holy.
Medieval Ireland: Ten Articles
Are you interested in Ireland in the Middle Ages? Here are ten recent articles that examine Ireland’s medieval history, all of which can be read for free.
Escaping the Mongols: A Survivor’s Account from the 13th century
The story of Master Roger, one of the many people caught up in the Mongol invasion of Hungary in 1241.
Monthly Tasks on Medieval Farms
What did medieval farmers need to do each year? A fourteenth-century guide breaks down their tasks month by month.
Seven videos on making medieval manuscripts
What goes into making a medieval manuscript? Here are seven videos from The British Library where Patricia Lovett, a professional calligrapher and illuminator explains the process, tools and techniques used in designing an illuminated page.
The Humour of Medieval Scribes
Thanks to new research, we are now finding many more examples of medieval scribes’ sense of humour, as they wrote jokes, complaints and even complete nonsense.
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.