A Who’s Who of English Kings
In anticipation of the coronation of King Charles III, this week, Danièle goes through all of the medieval English kings in sequence from 1066 to 1509, highlighting some of their best and worst moments.
40 Jobs in the Middle Ages
Want to know what kind of jobs there were in the Middle Ages? A unique source from the 15th century gives us some beautiful images of medieval people at work.
The Mighty Cabbage Hurling Saint
What would you call a man who crosses a river by walking on water to throw a cabbage head at his opponent? A fool, for sure, but no ordinary fool. He is a fool of God.
The most popular names in Medieval England
If you lived in 13th-century England, there would be a good chance that William or Alice would be your first name.
New Medieval Books: Making a Medieval Stained Glass Window
Using a case study of the Great East Window at the York Minster, this book examines what we can learn about medieval glass windows through scientific research such as chemical analysis and x-ray fluorescence scans.
The Baburnama and Afghan history
In 1526, Zahiruddin Muhammad ‘Babur’ (d. 1530) established his rule over a swath of northern India and thus created what most readers will know as the Mughal dynasty, which after some early fits and starts would rule an immense, rich, and powerful empire until the 18th century, and remain the nominal rulers of most of the subcontinent until 1858.
New Medieval Books: Empires of the Normans
An overview of the Normans and their history, beginning with Rollo and his Vikings, and expanding to cover England, Italy, the First Crusade and more. It goes beyond the typical overview of the Normans to also cover their presence in Asia Minor, North Africa and Scotland.
Shakespeare and the Middle Ages
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle discusses the medieval stories that informed some of the world’s most famous plays, as well as the influence William Shakespeare has had on our collective memory of the Middle Ages.
Battle of Roncevaux Pass (778)
On August 15, 778, the forces of Charlemagne find themselves in battle with the Basques. Many years later, this encounter inspired a famous story known as the Song of Roland. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly discuss the historical and the legendary when it comes to this battle.
Elizabeth and John were the most popular names in 16th-century England
What were the most popular names in England during the 16th century? A study that examined over 100,000 baptismal records discovered that throughout this period the names Elizabeth and John usually took first place.
New Medieval Books: Wonders and Rarities
This book introduces us to the life and works of Zakariyyāʾ Qazwīnī, a 13th-century scholar from Iran. He wrote about the cosmos and the geography of the world, producing an influential book known as Wonders and Rarities.
The Story of Moses at the Mongol Court
The extant paintings prominently feature the life of Moses in a synthesis of stylistic sources, reflecting a unique cosmopolitan union of history and religion.
New Medieval Books: Merits of the Plague
Part of Penguin Classics, this is a translation of an early fifteenth-century work about the Black Death and plagues. Written in Egypt, it is a valuable addition to our understanding of the pandemic and how people reacted to it.
The Emerald Tablet and the Origins of Chemistry
A look at a mysterious medieval text and how it became an important text in the history of science.
Medieval Pet Names
People in the Middle Ages did keep pets – dogs, cats, and many other kinds of animals. They also found many interesting ways to give them names.
New Medieval Books: Tales of Merlin, Arthur, and the Magic Arts
Tales of Merlin, Arthur, and the Magic Arts: From the Welsh Chronicle of the Six Ages of the World By Elis Gruffydd, translated…
The Ordeal of Bread and Cheese: A Trial Like No Other
By Andrea Maraschi Although their origins were older, ordeals were still practiced in medieval Europe. Usually, they were aimed at verifying an individual’s…
Saint Colette with Renate Blumenfeld-Kosinski
Not every saint gets a contemporary biography, let alone two, but fifteenth-century French saint Colette is among them. This week, Danièle speaks with…
New Medieval Books: Kalīlah and Dimnah: Fables of Virtue and Vice
Kalīlah and Dimnah: Fables of Virtue and Vice By Ibn al-Muqaffaʿ Translated by Michael Fishbein and James E. Montgomery New York University Press…
The 13 Commandments of a Medieval Physician
What were the principles that medieval physicians used in their profession? A document from the 13th century offers a handy guide of 13…
The Five Faces of Chaucer
It is always hard to know what a person looked like if they lived in the Middle Ages. This is true for even…
New issue of Medieval World: Sicily in the Middle Ages
Issue 5 of Medieval World: Culture & Conflict looks at the connected and contested world of medieval Sicily! Strategically situated at the heart…
Balthazar with Bryan Keene
During the Middle Ages, one figure began to consistently symbolize the renowned wealth and wisdom of African kingdoms in European art: Balthazar. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Bryan Keene about this wise king, his evolution in medieval art, and his continuing impact in modern culture.
New Medieval Books: The Poetic Edda: A Dual-Language Edition (Open Access)
Having this work published, especially in Open Access, is a great service to readers and students of Norse mythology. The work is entertaining enough that anyone interested in the Middle Ages, especially the Viking world, should check it out.