Medieval Swear Words: What People Really Said in the Middle Ages
People in the Middle Ages swore very differently from us. Explore medieval swear words, insults, and religious oaths that shocked medieval society.
Latest Posts
A Medieval Map of the World with Meredith Small
With a team of dedicated monks and lay brothers to help him, fifteenth-century Venetian Fra Mauro attempted to create the most accurate map of the world. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Meredith Small about this incredible mappamundi, what it contained, and how this landed Fra Mauro on the moon.
What’s So Great About Albert the Great? His Life, Times, and Contributions to Western Civilization
He was not only an important church leader and accomplished theologian, but he was also the central figure in the medieval scientific revolution that gave rise to the tradition of experimental research that continues today.
Deciphering medieval shorthand – can a digital tool solve the ‘Tironian Notes’?
Medieval manuscript writers created a system of shorthand known as ‘Tironian Notes’. A new project hopes to develop a digital tool to decipher it.
Dr. Jörn Günther Rare Books returns to TEFAF Maastricht 2024
Dr. Jörn Günther Rare Books returns to The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht this year with a splendid selection of precious manuscripts and rare books. Their highlights this year the Pèlerinage de la Vie Humaine, the Histoire Ancienne, and the Liechtenstein Tacuinum Sanitatis. All three are outstanding, historically significant books that convey the breadth and beauty of medieval manuscript illumination.
Ibn Hamdis of Sicily: A Medieval Life in Modern Circumstances
Ibn Hamdis is the only Muslim Sicilian whose voice we hear from in medieval times. His poetry – about 370 poems survive – is autobiographical and tells us much about his life and experiences.
What is a battleline?
In their ninth Q&A, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer listener questions about medieval military history. What do we mean when we talk about lines at a battle? Could those first into a battle survive? Are there campaigns that do not lead to battles or sieges? What was their favourite scene of medieval warfare from a film?
Cranial modification took place in early medieval Japan, study finds
The Hirota people, who lived on the southern Japanese island of Tanegashima between the 3rd to 7th century CE, practiced cranial modification, according to a new study.
New Medieval Books: Arms and Armour of the Renaissance Joust
With the help of the fine collection of arms and armour from the Royal Armouries Museum, this book details the evolution of jousting and tournaments in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.
LEGO unveils ‘Medieval Town Square’ set
Fans of the Middle Ages and LEGO will have another reason to be happy, as the Danish company has created a new set: Medieval Town Square.
Face of Mary, Queen of Scots, revealed
To mark the anniversary of Mary Queen of Scots’ death, Historic Environment Scotland has released a digital 3D model of Mary’s face based on her death mask.
The Templar Catastrophe at Cresson
Steve Tibble tells us about the Battle of Cresson, which set the stage for a pivotal moment for the Crusaders..
Ruins of medieval monastery explored by archaeologists in Germany
For hundreds of years during the Middle Ages, Kaltenborn monastery was thriving in central Germany. Archaeologists are now exploring the ruins of that monastery to help understand its downfall in the 16th century.
Five Fun Facts About Robin Hood
Robin Hood has enthralled generations of readers and moviegoers. This English outlaw-hero has become of symbol of freedom against tyranny, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. But who was Robin Hood? How much is grounded in myth and how much is reality?
Sex in the Middle Ages
Here are some of the more spicy pieces of information we have uncovered about sex in the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: Middle Imperial China, 900-1350
An overview of Chinese history during the Song and Yuan dynasties, covering its politics, international relations, religion, economics and more. Offers a look into time when China was deeply interconnected with its neighbours and other parts of the medieval world.
Justinian: statecraft, law, and self-glorification, with Peter Sarris
A conversation with Peter Sarris about the emperor Justinian (527-565), on the 401st anniversary of the rediscovery of Prokopios’ Secret History. We talk about Justinian’s goals, accomplishments, and victims, all of which continue to spark debate and controversy, just as they did during his own lifetime.
Ancient DNA reveals a multiethnic empire on the Steppe
Eurasia’s ancient and medieval history has seen several empires emerging out of the Steppe. A new study explores the rise of the Xiongnu, who foreshadowed the coming of the Huns and the Mongols.
Early medieval site discovered under National Gallery in London
Early medieval London extended further west than previously thought, as archaeologists have uncovered remains of buildings underneath the National Gallery at the north end of Trafalgar Square.
New Medieval Books: Byzantine Military Rhetoric in the Ninth Century
Want to know what kind of speeches a military commander gave in the Middle Ages? This book is a ninth-century guide from Byzantium on just how to do that, with examples based on fighting for your faith or country, and how to endure pain.
Arms and Armor exhibition at the Bruce Museum
The Bruce Museum is creating a novel way of looking at arms and armor. Their upcoming exhibition pairs man-made items with those created in nature.
The Medieval Art of Medicine: A Poem
What was it like to be a physician in the Middle Ages? A poem by a 14th-century doctor sheds a little light on the challenges of practicing medicine in medieval times.
Why do civilizations collapse? New study points to the risks of aging
How states and civilizations rise and fall has been an enigma that has puzzled historians for years. An analysis of hundreds of ancient and medieval societies reveals that they become more fragile as they age.
2000 medieval coins discovered in France
French archaeologists have identified more than 2,000 medieval coins from four different caches in the city of Guérande, about 330 miles southwest of Paris.
The Battle of Poitiers (1356)
In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly take another look at this important battle from the Hundred Years’ War. How do a visit to the battlefield and the writings of an Italian chronicler change their views on how Edward the Black Prince gained his victory?
BooksAll posts
New Medieval Books: The Medieval Mediterranean between Islam and Christianity
If you are interested in the connections between Christian and Islamic cultures in the Middle Ages, physical objects can reveal remarkable stories of exchange and interaction. This book brings together ten essays exploring the materials, artifacts, and goods that moved between these two societies, shedding light on the cultural ties that linked the medieval Mediterranean world.
Earth Wounds: Creative Explorations of Viking Age Funerary Customs
New Medieval Books: Exhortation to the Monks by Hyperechios
New Cambridge History Explores the Arthurian Legend from the Middle Ages to Modern Media
New Medieval Books: The People’s Princes
New Medieval Books: Chinese Characters across Asia
New Medieval Books: Medieval German Tales
New Medieval Books: The Art of Making Verses
New Medieval Books: Vikings, Knights, Elves, and Ogres
Latest Podcast EpisodesAll posts
Q&A #14: Why were Infantry Defeating Knights in Battle?
In the latest Q&A episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly answer questions about infantry vs cavalry in late medieval battles, will there be archaeological excavations at Hundred Years’ War battlefields, favourite centuries and what our hosts will be doing this summer.
Julian Augustus and the Dream of a Platonic Roman Empire, with Jeremy Swist
A conversation with Jeremy Swist on the emperor Julian (361-363 AD) and how he tried to combine his love of philosophy with ruling the Roman Empire. We talk about why Julian continues to excite such passions, how in some ways he may have been more Roman than Greek, and how he read Roman history in light of the theurgical Neoplatonism that he espoused.
The Battle of Grandson (1476)
Charles the Bold was building his Duchy of Burgundy into a European power when he faced the Old Swiss Confederacy. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly talk about the Battle of Grandson, a key event of the Burgundian Wars.
The Menologion of Basil II, with Charlie Kuper
A conversation with Charlie Kuper about the Menologion of Basil II, a lavishly illustrated manuscript pairing brief notices about the saints with images of them and their ordeals, arranged according to the liturgical calendar.
The Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, with Nicole Eddy
A conversation with Nicole Eddy about the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, one of the most important publishing ventures of recent times when it comes to medieval texts and literature.
How and Why We Teach Roman History, with Beth Digeser
A conversation with Beth Digeser about pedagogy, specifically about what we are hoping to accomplish by teaching Roman history.