Privacy in the Middle Ages
Is privacy is a relatively new idea?
A Beginner’s Guide to Chivalry
Here’s a quick and easy beginner’s guide to chivalry as it was understood by the knights who lived it and wrote about it.
The Differences between Old English, Middle English and Modern English
The most noticeable difference between older forms of English and today’s English is the alphabet.
A Medieval Song for the Summer
One of the most famous pieces of music that has survived is a Middle English song about summer: “Sumer is Icumen In”.
Medieval Advice for Parents
A look at two Middle English texts that deal with advice: How the Goode Wife Taught Hyr Doughter and How the Goode Man Taught Hys Sone.
Love and Marriage: Medieval Style
I think the most widespread impression of medieval marriage is that of a cold, loveless, and practical union, made simply for the purpose of transferring real estate.
Five ways to get noticed by Historians
There are a few things that medieval people did that increased their odds of their names surviving, and they happen to be things moderns can do if they want to be remembered, too.
Five Things to Love About A Knight’s Tale
Yes, I’m talking about the 2001 movie starring the late Heath Ledger. Was it really just a sports movie set in the past? Yes. Was it edited until the plot seems a little less-than-coherent? Yes. But are there things we can love about it? Absolutely.
Copycat: The Life of a Medieval Scribe
Every book prior to the invention of the printing press was hand-copied from an original, which meant that it involved a lengthy process
Time and the Middle Ages
A look at time and time-keeping in the Middle Ages
Medieval Table Manners: The Messiest Myth?
Because medieval people ate with their hands, there is a common idea that they had no table manners at all.
Banquets in the Middle Ages
If the medieval meal you’re imagining looks a little bit like a modern wedding, you’re not too far off.
How Messages were sent in the Middle Ages
What it must have been like to try and communicate across long distances in the Middle Ages.
Education in the Middle Ages
Let’s have a five-minute look at medieval education.
The Myth of the Flat Earth
If they didn’t think it was flat, what did they think? And why are we all convinced otherwise?
Medieval Myth-Busting at the Movies
Here are five of the most common myths about the Middle Ages, busted.
An ExtraMedieval Crossover
This week, Danièle previews her new podcast ExtraMedieval in a crossover episode covering The Feast of the Swan, medieval guide dogs, and how modern research on animals can help us think more deeply about the Middle Ages.
Women in the Crusades with Helen Nicholson
From supplying food and medical treatment, to lending emotional and financial support, to occasionally engaging in combat, women were to be found in and around every major conflict of the Middle Ages. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Helen J. Nicholson about the role of women in the most famous clashes of the medieval period: the crusades.
The Decline of Serfdom with Mark Bailey
We know that many people were unfree serfs in the Middle Ages, but what does serfdom actually mean? This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Mark Bailey about medieval serfs, their place in society, and the true catalyst for the decline and fall of serfdom in England.
Islamic Gardens in the Middle Ages with D. Fairchild Ruggles
The Middle Ages was a time in which people were closely tied to plants and their environment, deeply aware of their potential as a source of food, healing and beauty. Islamic gardens were especially known for their creativity and innovation. This week, Danièle speaks with D. Fairchild Ruggles about their cultural significance and the ingenious ways they were cultivated.
The Scottish Wars of Independence with Iain MacInnes
In the mid-1990s, a little movie called Braveheart introduced a whole new generation to Scotland’s fight for freedom in the Middle Ages. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Iain MacInnes about Scotland’s Wars of Independence, why a sovereign kingdom had to fight for independence in the first place, and why the story doesn’t end with the Battle of Bannockburn.
A Gift Guide for Medievalists
As the holiday season approaches, many of us are looking for gifts for the history lovers in our lives, or worthy historical causes to donate to. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle shares some ideas for the medieval history enthusiasts on your list, no matter what your budget.
The Queen and the Mistress with Gemma Hollman
It’s not that easy being queen, especially when one of your ladies-in-waiting catches the eye of your husband. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Gemma Hollman about Philippa of Hainault and Alice Perrers, the wife and the mistress of Edward III.
Cathedrals with Howard Bloch
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with R. Howard Bloch about medieval cathedrals, those magnificent “total works of art” where people have gathered, worshipped, and offered their talents and prayers since the Middle Ages.