The Yule Cat of Iceland: A Different Kind of Christmas Tradition
By Minjie Su You know the Christmas Cat, – That cat was enormous. People know not where he came from Nor to what…
Five Japanese Anime series inspired by Medieval Europe
In the realm of Japanese animation, medievalism also blossoms and flourishes. Here are five animation series that are inspired by Medieval Europe and, out of its myth, legend, and literature, have created something new.
New Medieval Books: Byzantine History Books from 2019
Here are nine books that look at the Byzantine world, published in 2019.
The medieval world of Star Wars
Star Wars world has several connections to some very medieval ideas: (Jedi) knights and their swords, their code of conduct, Arthurian myth with the special boy who is unaware of his ancestry…
The White Ship Disaster
The sinking of the White Ship in 1120 had far reaching repercussions for the Anglo-Norman hegemony, sparking a succession crisis and sowing the seeds of three decades of dynastic strife between the Conqueror’s grandchildren.
Medieval Reads: Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott
Right near the beginning of Ivanhoe, Scott gives a description of the Norman in England and the Saxon. His description sets the Normans in England up very clearly as the evil colonisers and Anglo-Norman as the imposed language of colonisers.
Camino de Santiago: The Medieval Route from Oviedo
‘He who visits Santiago but not San Salvador visits the servant but not the Lord’
Medieval Manuscripts: Prayer or Propaganda? The Hidden Meanings of a Renaissance Bible
Its thousand pages are rich in everyday objects, farming tools, real and imaginary animals, which all conceal a hidden message!
Christine de Pizan
This week, Danièle explores the life and writings of one of the most outspoken women of the Middle Ages: Christine de Pizan.
The Berber Queen who defied the Caliphate: Al-Kahina and the Islamic Conquest of North Africa
Seventh-century North Africa would see the rise of a warrior queen named al-Kahina. Who was she and how was she able to wage a war against the Umayyad Caliphate?
Getting medieval on your mail
The US Postal Service has designed a series of stamps which hearken back to medieval legend in the form of dragons.
Was 751 the most important year in history?
Would you consider the year 751 CE one of the most important dates in human history?
Eat Sh*t and (Don’t) Die
Sometimes, when we get sick, it can feel like we’d do anything to get better. But what if the remedy we needed required us to swallow animal dung?
Tales from the Hundred Years’ War: Try with me some feat of arms?
Gauvain Micaille challenges the English to a feat of arms.
Hagiography: Medieval Fanfiction
Medieval people had their own form of fanfiction – and it retold the story of Mary Magdalene.
Genghis Khan on Film
How has the ruler of the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan, been depicted in film?
New Medieval Books: Historical Fiction in 2019
Here are five novels published in 2019 to take you back to the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: Vikings and the Norse World
Ten books published in 2019 that tells us all about the Vikings and the Norse World.
Lanval: A Tale of a Knight of the Round Table
Listen to the story of Lanval, a knight of the Round Table who is loved by a mysterious lady of the Otherworld – for better and for worse.
How to get free issues of Medieval Warfare and Ancient History magazines
If you want to try out the magazines Medieval Warfare and Ancient History, here is how you can do it for free!
Medieval Geopolitics: A Full-Fledged Theory of Medieval Papal Power
Hostiensis argued that the pope did not govern by divine mandate; rather he governed as a divine agent.
New Medieval Books: England
Here are five new books on England in the Middle Ages, including one which you can download for free.
The Werewolf’s Wife: The She-Wolves in Medieval Literature
Whereas the werewolves grieve over their fate, the she-wolves use the power of metamorphosis to deal with those who get in their way, turning this whole wolf thing to their advantage.
Medieval Movie Review: The Knight Before Christmas
No one who clicks on Netflix’s new movie The Knight Before Christmas is looking to find a realistic depiction of a medieval knight.
Medieval Medicine with Winston E. Black
What happened when someone got sick in the Middle Ages? Medieval medicine and healthcare might be two of the most misunderstood aspects of the whole era. This week Danièle speaks with Winston E. Black about some of the myths we have about medicine in the Middle Ages.