The Early Medieval Hospital
The birth and rise of a charitable institution in Europe during the Early Middle Ages.
The Battles of Fulford and Stamford Bridge
How Haraldr harðráði Sigurðarson invaded England in 1066, winning the Battle of Fulford but losing the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
The Mongol Conquest of Hungary in 1241-2
The story of the Mongol invasion in 1241, the Battle of Mohi, and why the Mongols withdrew from Hungary a year later.
The Medieval Origins of Pumpkin Spice
In a very real way, the Age of Exploration was fueled by the desire… for pumpkin spice.
The Franciscan Friar who went to the Mongol Empire
Miss travelling? Take a journey to thirteenth-century Asia with John of Plano Carpini.
The Struggle for Power within the Mamluk Sultanate
The Mamluks had a long tradition of deposing and/or killing their own rulers. Only a few sultans could meet the challenges posed by revolts, civil wars, and internal struggles.
Archaeologists discover Genghis Khan’s winter home
The location of the command post from where the Mongol leader staged his invasions has been the subject of lengthy debate among historians and archaeologists.
Hunting in the Middle Ages: Articles and Theses
Here is a list of articles, dissertations and theses about the hunting during the Middle Ages that you can access online for free:
Who were the peasants in the Middle Ages?
Our new columnist Lucie Laumonier explains the four common characteristics of what is a peasant in the Middle Ages.
Seeing and Hearing the ‘Scourge of God’: Attila the Hun in film, music and opera
Attila is a figure who has been treated in all manner of different ways, positive and negative in various art forms – from classical to contemporary music, sculpture, painting, opera, fiction, and film.
Diet, Prejudice and Non-Verbal Communication: Liutprand of Cremona’s Embassy to Constantinople
Thanks to Liutprand’s sharp (and biased) report, we have the chance to peer into the cultural prejudices which characterized the relationship between the eastern and the western hemispheres of Europe
Four Warriors Buried in 11th-century Poland came from Scandinavia, researchers find
The four warriors buried with rich grave offerings in a cemetery in the northern Polish town of Ciepłe came from Scandinavia, expert analyses show. This is proof that people of foreign origin were members of the Piast state elites, researchers suggest.
Gender equality and the Vikings
Modern-day Scandinavia is regarded as a model of equality between the sexes. A new study indicates that this may go back to the early Middle Ages.
Human Trafficking 1000 years ago
Human trafficking was taking place in the Mediterranean a thousand years ago. A recent article takes a look at how and why this business was taking place.
Which books about the Vikings should I read?
There are many books about the Vikings and the Norse world for someone to choose from. Here is a list of books we think are a good reads about the Vikings – ones that are both fairly new and relatively inexpensive.
Traces of the Past: Reenacting the Medieval Period in Argentina
What is the reason why more and more people participate in these events: historical curiosity, cultural immersion, entertainment, or all three of them?
Sultana Raziya of Delhi: Pillar of Women and Queen of the Eras
In the medieval world it was rare for a woman to hold power. It seems incredible to read the story of Raziya of Delhi, not only because she was chosen to lead a realm, but the way she fought to keep it.
Anglo-Saxon cemetery discovered
Archaeologists from the University of Sheffield have uncovered a previously unknown Anglo-Saxon cemetery.
How fruits spread along the Silk Road in the Middle Ages
New research reveals that many of the most familiar fruits in our kitchens today were cultivated in Central Asia over a millennium ago
Volcanic eruptions in the 6th century plunged Eurasia into hunger and disease
A recent study indicates that volcanic eruptions in the mid 500s resulted in an unusually gloomy and cold period, and that the years 536 and 541-544 CE were very difficult for many people.
Escaping the Mongols: A Survivor’s Account from the 13th century
In the year 1241, a Mongol army invaded eastern Europe, ravaging Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Romania.
Old Norse White Walkers?
Fear of the undead is by no means a new sensation to humankind; the Icelanders, for instance, knew it centuries ago.
Epiphany: Three Kings Day
A look at the history behind Epiphany and Twelfth Night.
Medieval Hangover Cures
Here are a few hangover cures from days gone by, because people who partied like it was 1399 also needed a little help the morning after.
What do Cod Bones from the Mary Rose tell us about the global fish trade?
New stable isotope and ancient DNA analysis of the bones of stored cod provisions recovered from the wreck of the Tudor warship Mary Rose, which sank off the coast of southern England in 1545, has revealed that the fish in the ship’s stores had been caught in surprisingly distant waters