“Standing on the Shoulders of Giants”: Revisiting Bernard of Chartres’ Metaphor and Its Hidden Legacy
A look at the medieval origins and deeper meaning behind the metaphor of standing on the shoulders of giants.
Latest Posts
Temples of Medieval Deccan India
The Deccan plateau of peninsular India witnessed an unparalleled efflorescence in sacred Hindu and Jain architecture and art in the medieval age.
Recent research on the early medieval monastery of Lindisfarne (Holy Island)
In this lecture David Petts will explore the results coming out from research by Durham University and DigVentures at the site of the early medieval monastery of Lindisarne. This has been the first sustained excavation on this major centre of British Christianity and has revealed evidence for burial, craft and industry.
”A most marvelous deed of arms which should never be forgotten…”: The Combat of the Thirty
A perfect example of the Hundred Years’ War in microcosm, the Combat of the Thirty is a tale of patriotism, pride, and the glory and folly of fourteenth-century chivalry.
How the movie Willow got so many things right
It’s an excellent time to revisit one of my all-time favorite ‘80s swords-and-sorcery films: 1988’s Willow, starring Warwick Davis as the titular character.
Viking shipyard discovered at Birka
Archaeologists in Sweden have located a unique Viking Age shipyard site at Birka, an important Norse town. The discovery challenges previous theories about how the maritime activities of the Viking Age were organised.
The Black Death originated in present-day Kyrgyzstan, study finds
One of the most important questions about the Black Death, the pandemic that caused millions of deaths in the 14th century, is where and when did it begin. Now a new study is pointing to a trading community in Lake Issyk Kul, in what is now Kyrgyzstan, as the place where the pandemic started in the years 1338 and 1339.
The Hidden Hands Behind Medieval Manuscripts with Mary Wellesley
Survivors of time, neglect, and sometimes disasters, medieval manuscripts are the work of countless authors, scribes, artists, and craftspeople, many of whom remain anonymous. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Mary Wellesley shares the stories behind some of the most famous manuscripts of the Middle Ages and the hidden hands behind them.
1003: The Year in Review
This particular year saw the death of a pope, a miraculous battle at a monastery, and the first rumblings of war in China.
The Battle of Zonchio (1499)
In the first naval battle covered by Bow and Blade, Kelly and Michael discuss the Battle of Zonchio, fought on four separate days in August of 1499. The Ottoman and Venetian fleets fight off the coast of Greece in the Ionian Sea to determine who would control the waters of the eastern Mediterranean.
Government Jobs in the Middle Ages: 14th-century London
What were the kinds of jobs that medieval people did in a city government? A book from 14th-century London offers details about the positions and roles of civic officials in that city, ranging from the Mayor to Scavengers.
Medieval manuscript discovered in Spain after going missing for over 80 years
A medieval manuscript, which has been missing since the Spanish Civil War, has been found and returned to the town of Brihuega. The manuscript contains 13th-century laws for the town that were written by Rodrigo Ximénez de Rada.
Medieval Holy Wars
Holy wars have come in all sizes and shapes, but overall they have fallen into four categories: ritual holy wars; holy wars of conquest and conversion; defensive holy wars; and millenarian holy wars.
New Medieval Books: Here Be Dragons and City Politics
Five new books about the Middle Ages, taking you from Byzantine literature to how manuscripts were made.
Umayyad-era graves discovered in Syria
A new study combining archaeological, historical and bioarchaeological data provides new insights into the early Islamic period in modern-day Syria. The research team was planning to focus on a much older time period but came across what they believe to be the remains of early Muslims in the Syrian countryside.
When did women “bind up” their hair, and why?, with Gabriel Radle
Byzantium & Friends is hosted by Anthony Kaldellis, Professor and Chair of the Department of Classics at The Ohio State University. You can follow him on his personal website.
You can listen to more episodes of Byzantium & Friends through Podbean, Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Top Image:
The Early Medieval Hospital
The birth and rise of a charitable institution in Europe during the Early Middle Ages.
Deception in Medieval Warfare with James Titterton
In the Middle Ages, warfare meant tactics, strategy, and a hefty dose of cunning. This week, Danièle speaks with James Titterton about the place of deception in medieval warfare and the morality of tricking your enemies.
Man’s Best Friend: Love for Dogs in the 10th century
Dogs are often praised for their loyalty and friendship – the same was true 1100 years ago, according to The Book on The Superiority of Dogs over many of Those who wear Clothes.
Medieval thimble discovered in England
A fifteenth-century thimble is one of the objects recently discovered and reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Other recent finds include a 13th-century seal, a pilgrim badge in the shape of a purse, and a Venetian silver coin.
Castle for Sale: Château de Montmort
Château de Montmort is a sixteenth-century castle built on the foundations of a medieval fortress.
British authorities seize medieval metalwork smuggled from Ukraine
A collection of medieval metalwork that was smuggled from Ukraine has been seized by the British government. It is now on display at the British Museum and will eventually be sent to the National Museum of History of Ukraine in Kyiv.
Old Barrels and Networks of Trade
How urban and marine archaeology allows us to dive into medieval international commerce.
Advice from the 12th century
Are you looking for some medieval words of wisdom? Alain de Lille wrote a whole book of them, and here are some of our favourites.
How Did Deaf and Non-Speaking People Communicate in Medieval Iceland?
In my research on deaf and non-speaking people in medieval Iceland, one question that particularly stuck with me was whether those who could not or did not want to engage in verbal communication had any other tools at their disposal.
BooksAll posts
New Medieval Books: The Warhorse in England
Horses played a vital role in medieval warfare, and this book draws on the governmental records of Kings Edward I and Edward II to reveal how these animals were raised, trained for combat, and managed during military campaigns.
New Medieval Books: Images of Thomas Becket in the Middle Ages and Beyond
New Medieval Books: Frederick Barbarossa
New Medieval Books: Huon d’Auvergne
New Medieval Books: Crescent Dawn
New Medieval Books: History of the Venetian Dukes (1102-1229)
New Medieval Books: Lionessheart
New Medieval Books: The Making of Medieval Central Europe
New Medieval Books: Annals of Margam
Latest Podcast EpisodesAll posts
The Renaissance and Byzantium are characters in the same play, with Ada Palmer
A conversation with Ada Palmer about the invention of the idea of the Italian Renaissance and the functions that it serves in the western historical imagination. “Byzantium” is a similarly invented category that often works in tandem with “the Renaissance” to mark good and bad moments in the history of culture.
The Medieval Podcast: Episode 300!
This week, in celebration of Episode 300, Danièle answers your questions on everything from Hastings to hose, with a couple of surprises along the way.
A newly identified portrait of Konstantinos XI Palaiologos (1448-1453), with Anastasia Koumousi
A conversation with Anastasia Koumousi about the recently identified portrait of the last emperor of the Romans in Constantinople, Konstantinos XI Palaiologos, in a monastery church in the northern Peloponnese.
Vikings Behaving Reasonably with Robert Lively
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Robert Lively about how a person became a Viking lawyer, what the process was for solving disputes, and how fixing bad behaviour worked in this shame-based culture.
Elephants and Ivory with John Beusterien
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with John Beusterien about elephants and ivory in medieval China and Spain, including how elephants were put into service, and how ivory was used and traded across the world.
Captivity and Enslavement in the Late Medieval Aegean, with Alasdair Grant
A conversation with Alasdair Grant about the captivity and enslavement that many Greeks (Romaioi) experienced in the late medieval period, a period of state collapse during which they were subject to Italian and Turkish raids and attacks.