Where the Middle Ages Begin
Can a historian from over 600 years ago still guide us today? This book explores Ibn Khaldun’s groundbreaking ideas on global history and reveals how his insights continue to inform modern historical thinking.
What everyday objects did people use in the Middle Ages? From clothing and household necessities to tools for work and warfare, these 25 medieval items were essential to daily life and shaped how people lived, ate, and survived.
Delve into the pivotal figures of the Middle Ages whose enduring legacies shaped the course of history. From visionary leaders and profound scholars to prolific writers and formidable warriors, these individuals left an indelible mark on medieval society.
Discover the 50 most significant events of the Middle Ages, spanning the years 500 to 1500.
Here are seven vivid facts about colour in the Middle Ages
In medieval times, many unique jobs, such as Ale-wife and Groom of the Stool, were essential but have since vanished. Discover these obsolete occupations and how historical changes led to their disappearance.
Are you wanting to talk more like someone from the Middle Ages? We have a list of 30 great sayings and proverbs that you can use in your conversations.
Have you wondered what a medieval king did on a typical day? Thanks to Christine de Pizan, we have an account of what daily life was like for King Charles V of France.
Some of our most popular phrases have a long history, including some that go back to 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.
This book explores medieval East Africa and its integration into the vast trade networks of the Indian Ocean. It sheds light on the movement of people and goods, offering insight into the interconnected world of the ‘Global Middle Ages’.
How often do you think about medieval Spain? For many, the answer is often—though as it turns out, it is not only scholars but also gamers, readers, and streamers who have turned this historical period into their “Roman Empire.”
What everyday objects did people use in the Middle Ages? From clothing and household necessities to tools for work and warfare, these 25 medieval items were essential to daily life and shaped how people lived, ate, and survived.
Archaeologists are once again uncovering the secrets of the Danevirke, one of the most significant fortification systems of the early medieval period, as preparations continue for the development of the Danevirke Archaeological Park.
In the 13th century, noblewomen like Eleanor de Montfort used fashion to display power, status, and wealth. From rich wool and fine linen to opulent furs and intricate accessories, her medieval wardrobe was a statement of prestige and influence.
The winners of the 2025 Current Archaeology Awards have been announced, celebrating outstanding contributions to the field. This year’s top honours included Crypt: Life, Death, and Disease in the Middle Ages and Beyond by Alice Roberts for Book of the Year, and the excavation of Sheffield Castle for Rescue Project of the Year.
A conversation with Sverrir Jakobsson about the experiences of Northmen — especially Varangians — who traveled to Constantinople and the south and returned home with stories, swords, riches, and prestige.
Medieval history is filled with powerful women who ruled as queens, empresses, and sultanas, shaping kingdoms and empires despite the challenges they faced. From warrior rulers to master diplomats, these 25 medieval women defied expectations and left a lasting impact on history.
In the mid-twelfth century, Guillaume de St. Paier decided to write a history of the famous abbey of Mont St.Michel in verse. This book offers the first complete translation of this text which relates the miracles and legends associated with this monastery.
Between the mid-11th and late-15th centuries, a historically specific configuration of material and ideational factors gave rise to a constellation of religious wars now known as “the Crusades.”
In 1400, a monastic power struggle at Amesbury Priory took a shocking turn when the ousted prior hired a gang to kidnap the prioress. What followed was a scandal of betrayal, lawsuits, and royal intervention—one of the wildest church disputes of the Middle Ages.
Whether it’s Joan of Arc donning armor or women disguising themselves as monks to enter monasteries, gender-crossing attire appears in medieval history more often than you might expect. This book explores the subject in depth.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Thomas J. Mazanec about the Buddhist poet-monks of medieval China, why they chose to write poetry, and why their art was so controversial.
The Swedish History Museum is offering visitors a unique glimpse into medieval fashion with its ongoing exhibition, Medieval Fashion.
Discover how medieval artisans crafted their own soap with this detailed 14th-century recipe, straight from a rare medieval manuscript.
Beneath a German parking lot, archaeologists have uncovered the forgotten remains of a medieval church—and a heartbreaking burial site of at least 30 children. The discovery sheds light on a little-known medieval burial practice meant to safeguard unbaptized souls.
Medieval Icelanders had a deep fascination with their ancestors, a theme vividly reflected in the sagas they wrote. This book explores four sagas set in Iceland’s early days, examining how these stories were preserved and passed down through generations.
What’s new in medieval studies? Here are ten open-access articles published in February, which range from plague in Baghdad to the inquisition in Bologna.
Archaeologists in Belgium have uncovered traces of weld, madder, and woad—the three primary dye plants used in medieval textile production—during excavations in Brussels and Mechelen.
The Sarum Master Bible, a rare and exquisitely illuminated 13th-century manuscript, has returned to Salisbury Cathedral in England nearly 800 years after it was created.
Maritime archaeologists have uncovered what may be the oldest known carvel-built ship from the Nordic region. The wreck, found in Landfjärden near Häringe, south of Stockholm, dates back to the late Middle Ages and offers new insights into the evolution of shipbuilding in northern Europe.
New DNA research has uncovered a direct genetic link between some European Huns and the elite of the earlier Xiongnu Empire, a powerful nomadic state from the Mongolian steppe. The findings challenge long-standing debates on the Huns’ origins, revealing a complex web of ancestry and migration across Eurasia.
This early medieval epic, set during the time of Attila the Hun, follows three hostages—two men and a woman—who are sent to his court. Both in its original Latin and in English translation, the tale weaves together themes of violence, friendship, and loyalty.
What if knights fought battles not with swords and lances, but with fresh cheeses and rotten apples? The Battle of Torelore in Aucassin et Nicolette turns medieval chivalry on its head in one of literature’s most absurd and subversive parodies.
Can a historian from over 600 years ago still guide us today? This book explores Ibn Khaldun’s groundbreaking ideas on global history and reveals how his insights continue to inform modern historical thinking.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Elizabeth Marshall about where we find wolves in medieval sources, how early English writers saw them, and how wolves both add to – and steal – language.
The fourteenth-century is one of the most turbulent periods in European history. Famine, war, plague, royal depositions – you name it, this century’s got it. This week, Danièle speaks with Helen Carr about how England fared in these wild times, what her take is on some famous Plantagenets, and why we need to take a fresh look at this calamitous century.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Robert A. Wood about medieval wills, funerals, and some memorable bequests
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Sara Butler about forensic medicine, and how death investigation was conducted in medieval England.
In this episode of the podcast, Michael and Kelly let us know where they have been the last few months – and this includes going to a lot of medieval castles and cities.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Robert Bartlett about the manuscripts we’ve lost by accident and by design, and how these precious documents are being preserved today.
