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. Through vivid manuscripts and wild tales of saints, kings,…
The World’s First Newspapers May Have Appeared in Medieval China
Long before newspapers appeared in Europe, medieval China had printed publications reporting on politics, government decisions, scandals, and military affairs during the Song Dynasty.
Byzantine Strategy and Geopolitics in the Tenth Century
Surrounded by rivals on every frontier, the Byzantine Empire of the tenth century relied on far more than battlefield victories to survive and expand. George Theotokis explores how emperors and diplomats used strategy, alliances, bribery, fortifications, and warfare to navigate a dangerous geopolitical world stretching from the Balkans to the Middle East.
New Medieval Books: The Medieval Mediterranean between Islam and Christianity
If you are interested in the connections between Christian and Islamic cultures in the Middle Ages, physical objects can reveal remarkable stories of exchange and interaction. This book brings together ten essays exploring the materials, artifacts, and goods that moved between these two societies, shedding light on the cultural ties that linked the medieval Mediterranean world.
How Medieval Literature Built the Arthurian Legend
Explore how medieval literature built the Arthurian legend, from early Welsh tales and Geoffrey of Monmouth to Chrétien de Troyes and Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur.
Earth Wounds: Creative Explorations of Viking Age Funerary Customs
Archaeology, photography, and art come together in a new book covering death and burial in the Viking Age. Terri Barnes reviews a visually striking work that transforms Viking funerary customs into reflections on memory, loss, and mortality.
25 Great Quotes from the Middle Ages
Discover 25 great quotes from the Middle Ages, featuring medieval writers, rulers, philosophers, and thinkers from across the medieval world.
Avignon as Threat: How a Medieval Myth Became a Modern Weapon
Why is the Avignon Papacy still seen as a symbol of weakness and political captivity? Joëlle Rollo-Koster explores how a medieval “Black Legend” became a powerful modern myth.
The Past and Future of the Medieval Classroom: Teaching the Conflicts in Troubled Times
This paper by Richard Utz was delivered at this year’s International Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University.
New Medieval Books: Exhortation to the Monks by Hyperechios
In the Early Middle Ages, a monk named Hyperechios composed a collection of 160 sayings intended to guide Christians, especially those pursuing an ascetic life. This book presents a new edition and translation of these writings.
Icons, Riots, and Theology: Why Iconoclasm Nearly Tore the Byzantine Empire Apart
Byzantine iconoclasm sparked riots, persecutions, and political turmoil as emperors, monks, and ordinary believers fought over the role of sacred images in the medieval Roman Empire.
The Battle of Grandson (1476)
Charles the Bold was building his Duchy of Burgundy into a European power when he faced the Old Swiss Confederacy. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about the Battle of Grandson, a key event of the Burgundian Wars.
Le Roman de Fauvel: Corruption and Power in Medieval France
A corrupt horse rises from a stable to the royal palace, winning the admiration of kings, clergy, and courtiers alike. Sonja Maurer-Dass tells us about Le Roman de Fauvel, one of the sharpest political satires of the Middle Ages, exposing the greed, ambition, and moral decay they saw in fourteenth-century France.
Did Medieval People Drink Water?
Did medieval people drink water? Explore the myth that people in the Middle Ages avoided water, and discover what medieval texts, city records, and religious writings reveal about drinking habits.
Who Controlled Fortress-Building in Early Medieval Europe?
Did medieval kings really lose control over fortress-building after the collapse of the Roman Empire? David Bachrach explores how rulers in the Carolingian…
10 Open-Access Medieval Studies Articles from April 2026
Discover ten open-access medieval studies articles published in April 2026, featuring new research on archaeology, genetics, trade, kingship, literature, and the strange world of smells.
Who Were the Medieval Peasants?
Medieval peasants made up the vast majority of Europe’s population during the Middle Ages, yet their lives were far more varied than many people imagine. Lucie Laumonier shows how from farming and village life to serfdom and social tensions, medieval peasants played a central role in shaping medieval society.
Save 15% on Medieval Online Courses with Our Spring Sale
Spring has arrived, and so has our biggest Medieval Studies Online Courses sale of the season! For a limited time, get 15% off any course — live or self-paced!
The Menologion of Basil II, with Charlie Kuper
A conversation with Charlie Kuper about the Menologion of Basil II, a lavishly illustrated manuscript pairing brief notices about the saints with images of them and their ordeals, arranged according to the liturgical calendar.
What Made a Good Ambassador in the Medieval Islamic World?
Discover how ambassadors were chosen, tested, and trained in the medieval Islamic world through the writings of Ibn al-Farrāʾ, whose rare treatise reveals the art of diplomacy shaped by Iranian and Byzantine traditions.
A Man for all Centuries: The Changing Myth of King Arthur
How the legend of King Arthur has changed from the Middle Ages to today, adapting to new audiences while remaining one of the most enduring figures in Western storytelling.
How Thomas Becket Was Really Murdered in Canterbury Cathedral
Thomas Becket’s murder inside Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 shocked medieval England and quickly turned him into a saint. But what actually happened in those final moments—and why did his death come to be seen as something more than a brutal killing?
The Daily Life of a Medieval King
Discover the daily life of a medieval king through Christine de Pizan’s account of Charles V of France, revealing his routine, duties, and court life.
When Cities Hired Nobles: Military Alliances in Medieval Germany
David Bachrach examines how medieval German cities formed military alliances with nobles, revealing how urban communities managed war, trade, and political power in the thirteenth century.