Anastasius the Librarian, the greatest enemy of Byzantium you probably haven’t heard of, with Réka Forrai
Meet Anastasius the Librarian, one of the most fascinating controversialists of the ninth century. A native of Rome, scholar of Greek, and (probably) anti-pope for all of three days, he was no friend of Byzantium. He disliked and mistrusted “the Greeks” and argued that they were not Romans as they thought. His arguments have held sway in the west ever since.
Robin Hood – The Man, The Myth, and The History – Part 2: The Outlaws of Medieval England
14th century English outlaw was vastly more violent and cruel than the myths would have us believe
Buying a medieval manuscript leaf
Watch this video as Bridget Barbara visits the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair and buys a leaf from a fifteenth-century manuscript.
Medieval Rabbit Farming
How rabbit farming was a lucrative business in the Middle Ages.
The Colonial Fourth Crusade, with George Demacopoulos
Was the Fourth Crusade an act of colonialism? This episode of Byzantium & Friends features an interview with George Demacopoulos, author of Colonizing Christianity: Greek and Latin Religious Identity in the Era of the Fourth Crusade.
Dreaming of Constantinople after the Failed Ottoman Siege of Vienna
The failure of the Ottoman campaign against Vienna in 1529 had further consequences beyond the center of the conflict. This event seems to have given new hope to traumatized Christian rulers and their subjects that perhaps the Ottoman armies could be halted from their steady advances into Europe.
Books about the Middle Ages – Favourite Series
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle recommends her favourite series of primary sources for those people who want to read the voices of the Middle Ages in friendly editions. From Latin sources, to Middle English, to modern English translations, these recommended series bring medieval writers to modern readers.
The Medieval Journeys of Alexander the Great
Going into the heavens and under the sea with Alexander the Great.
Scottish Charters: A Window to Medieval Personal Lives
Kate Buchanan is joined by Linsey Hunter to discuss Linsey’s journey to studying medieval Scottish history her work on charters and some recent research focusing on the Mearns.
The Medieval Cinderella
It takes place within a community of rural “cave-dwellers,” features magical fish bones, presents a prince who is both violent and greedy, and stars a heroine who is much more disobedient and ambitious than the European version.
Robin Hood – The Man, The Myth, and The History – Part 1: Of Tales and Legends
This series will seek to delve into the history behind the legends and to investigate the critical questions that they raise: who was the real Robin Hood?
The Vikings in the eyes of a Byzantine Emperor
De Administrando Imperio is one of the first Byzantine accounts of contact between their empire and the Vikings.
Ethnicity and empire in China and Byzantium, with Shao-yun Yang and Ying Zhang
How do imperial societies talk about barbarian or ethnic groups?
Medieval Inventions
Many people seem to have the misguided idea that the medieval era was a time in which science and technology were all but forgotten. For the 75th episode of the podcast, Danièle talks with Peter Konieczny about ten medieval inventions that changed the world.
Gilote and Johane: Promiscuous Preachers
In a lighthearted poem called Gilote and Johane, two women argue both for and against virginity.
Medieval Scandinavia: The Formation of the Kingdom of Norway
The transformation of Norway from a sheltered sailing route to the most centralised kingdom in medieval Scandinavia.
What was a (royal) bastard good for, anyways?
As we have explored throughout this series that family was of paramount importance to the twelfth century English aristocracy.
A Journey to Medieval Scottish History, with Lucy Dean
In the first episode of Scotichronicast, Kate Buchanan is joined by Lucy Dean to discuss Lucy’s journey to studying medieval Scottish history and her current work on masculinity in the medieval Scottish court.
Imagining the Moment of Death, with Ellen Muehlberger
A conversation about death and the imagination with Ellen Muehlberger, based on her book Moment of Reckoning: Imagined Death and its Consequences in Late Antique Christianity.
16th century Castle for Sale in Scotland
Dating back to the 16th century, Fernie Castle is now used as a hotel and wedding venue. It also has a luxury treehouse.
Margery Kempe
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle explores the life of Margery Kempe: a 15th-century mystic said to be the first female autobiographer in English, and one of medieval Europe’s most colourful – and memorable – figures.
How to Make a King Fall in Love
Remember that it’s treason to mess with a king’s head or heart, so read on at your own risk.
Tales from the Hundred Years’ War: The Story of the Bascot de Mauleon
I have at times been so miserably poor that I had not a horse to mount, at other times rich enough, just as good fortune befell me.
Medieval Reads: Perfectly Preventable Deaths, by Deirdre Sullivan
Deirdre Sullivan gives an excellent example of bringing the Middle Ages into a Young Adult fantasy in the 2019 novel Perfectly Preventable Deaths.
The Middle Ages in Penguin Classics: 10 Little-Known Gems
10 books about the Middle Ages from Penguin Classics – they are not widely known, but are great reads.