Where the Middle Ages Begin
A section of the 13th-century Torre dei Conti in Rome collapsed during restoration work, killing one worker and injuring others. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse at the historic medieval tower.
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.
A set of translated documents from the mid-15th century related to inter-Christian relations and attempts to bring a union between the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Armenian, Coptic and Ethiopian churches.
A ‘remarkable’ Pictish ring, featuring an intricate setting and believed from the Early Middle Ages, has been discovered in northern Scotland.
A unique medieval coin from the reign of David I of Scotland (1124-1153) will be going up for auction next week. It is expected to fetch between £15,000-20,000.
Cutting-edge technology has just uncovered hidden secrets within one of the world’s most mysterious medieval texts. Multispectral imaging has revealed previously invisible details in the Voynich manuscript, offering new clues about this undeciphered enigma that has baffled scholars for centuries.
St Brendan the Navigator is one of the most famous saints from the Early Middle Ages. This book translates his Vita, which recounts Brendan’s life, and a prayer of protection that he supposedly created.
The story of Manuel II Palaiologos, whose travels would take him to Paris and London, and his efforts to protect his empire.
The Knights Templar, renowned for their military prowess and mystique, may have had an unusual companion at their headquarters in Acre—a pet crocodile.…
Five simple medieval do-it-yourself projects you can try out to impress your friends
Serving as ‘an invitation to the study of Carolingian civilization,’ this book examines the political and societal changes that took place in Western Europe in the 8th and 9th centuries. It is mostly a guide to how this empire came about, the family that ruled it, and its quick end.
New research and conservation efforts have unveiled the Iranian origin of a lidded vessel that held many of the unique treasures in the Galloway Hoard. This revelation comes just in time for the vessel’s public debut, marking the 10th anniversary of the hoard’s discovery.
Many crimes in the crusader states were very visible—and often shockingly so. But there were other crimes that were far more discreet—and insidious.
Discover how Robert the Bruce transformed his victory at Bannockburn into lasting dominance over Scotland. Learn how strategic alliances, land redistribution, and continued warfare helped him secure the Scottish throne and solidify his dynasty’s future.
In the eleventh-century, Iberia was in the process of evolving networks of tiny villages into the powerful kingdoms we recognize from the end of the medieval period – sometimes by any means necessary. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Simon Doubleday about the ways in which Queen Sancha and King Fernando I shaped northern Spain and Portugal.
Excavations at Tinnis Fort, which overlooks Merlin’s Grave, revealed that this prominent hillfort was occupied around the late sixth and early seventh centuries AD.
I’ve heard there’s a new Robin Hood movie in the works, and I am stoked.
What’s new in medieval studies? Here are ten open-access articles published in August, which tell us about topics including weddings in manuscripts and how the Middle Ages is reflected in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Medieval scholar Amy S. Kaufman has written her first novel. Check out the cover to The Traitor of Sherwood Forest.
Why did the Ming Dynasty collapse in the 17th century? This book offers an answer by looking at grain prices and how they were affected by climate change.
In the heat of battle, when swords clashed and armies trembled, a few powerful words could tip the balance between victory and defeat.
The Medievalists.net Monthly Book Selection for September is The Doctors’ Dinner Party, by Ibn Butlan, translated by Philip F. Kennedy and Jeremy Farrell.
Our online course on The Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest is now released.
Every knight on the battlefield faced a critical decision: should they fight to the death or choose the shame of fleeing to save…
An integral part of this tangible form of faith was the pilgrimage: a spiritual journey to visit a holy site.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Usha Vishnuvajjala about some of the surprising places the medieval world pops up in the modern world, and how it’s perfectly okay to love medieval fiction.
Art and artefacts from the Middle Ages offer a vivid window into the values, fears, and imaginations of medieval society. This updated edition explores how these objects reflect beliefs and folklore—both devout and delightfully strange.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with John Blair about who refused to rest in peace in the Middle Ages, how medieval people attempted to keep the dead buried, and why some hauntings reached epidemic proportions.
A conversation with James Rives on the history of ancient animal sacrifice in the Roman world. We focus on its decline and eventual demise in the third and fourth centuries. Animal sacrifice was caught up in the conflicts between the Roman emperors and the Christian Church, which endowed it with an importance it had not had before.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Michael Livingston about why the Hundred Years’ War should actually be called the Two Hundred Years’ War, what actually touched off the conflict, and why we should question everything.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Ben Parsons about what medieval people named their pets and working animals, how we know about them, and which animals are still called by their medieval nicknames.
As the Eternal City’s power waned, enemies closed in. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly delve into two devastating sieges of Rome — one led by the Goths, the other by the Vandals.
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.
