10 Open-Access Medieval Studies Articles from May 2026
From the lead used in Notre-Dame de Paris to the age at which fosterage began in medieval Ireland, scholars continue to uncover new insights into the medieval world. Here are ten open-access articles published in May 2026 that medievalists can read for free.
Online Course: The Viking Age
This six-week course begins June 12th, with live sessions each Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm EST.
Effeminate Greeks or Sophisticated Romans? The Western View of Byzantium
Western Europeans often portrayed the Byzantines as deceitful, weak, and overly luxurious, dismissing them as “Greeks” rather than true Romans. Michael Goodyear writes on how behind these stereotypes stood one of the Middle Ages’ most sophisticated and resilient empires — a civilization that preserved ancient knowledge, amassed immense wealth, and defended Europe for centuries.
The Battle of Hattin (1187)
One of the pivotal battles of the Crusades, the Battle of Hattin was shaped by both brilliant strategy and disastrous decisions. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly explore how Saladin orchestrated a crushing defeat of the Crusader army, while also sharing insights into the film Kingdom of Heaven.
Online Course: Tolkien and his Medieval Sources
Tolkien and his Medieval Sources is a six-week online course starting on June 11th, with live sessions each Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm EST.
A Guide to Teaching and Learning Medieval Latin
Teachers and students of Medieval Latin often struggle to find the same range of learning materials available for Classical Latin. In this guide, Brigid Ehrmantraut highlights textbooks, anthologies, apps, and online resources that can help learners at every level engage more directly with medieval texts.
New Online Course: Norse Myth and Legend in The Saga of the Volsungs
This three-week course begins June 10th, with live sessions each Wednesday from 2:00 – 3:30 pm EST.
New Medieval Books: Medieval Mining and Power in Thirteenth-Century Europe
Silver mines, flooded tunnels, and fierce political rivalries lay at the heart of a medieval struggle for wealth and power in the Alps. This book reveals how controlling water and underground resources helped reshape society, technology, and economic life in thirteenth-century Europe.
New Online Course: The Art of War in Byzantium
This six-week course, beginning June 2nd, has live sessions each Tuesday from 12:00 – 2:00 pm EST.
How Medieval Craft Guilds Worked
Discover how medieval craft guilds regulated trade, trained apprentices, enforced quality standards, and shaped urban life across Europe during the Middle Ages.
The Medieval Anti-War Satire You’ve Never Heard Of
Medieval literature is often filled with heroic battles and noble knights. But one fourteenth-century poem turned war into absurd comedy, mocking the very idea of military glory.
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.
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.