Why Being a Medieval Priest Wasn’t as Easy as You Think
Here are a few drawbacks to being a medieval priest.
How Medieval Navies Recruited Sailors Who Didn’t Want to Sail
Medieval navies struggled to find willing sailors, often resorting to bribes, deception, and even forced service to fill their ranks. From staged sea battles to promises of silver and spoils, recruiters used every trick in the book to turn reluctant men into seafarers.
Surprising Medieval Inventions: Nine Things You Didn’t Expect from the Middle Ages
From vegetarian meat substitutes to beach parties – find out what came from the Middle Ages!
The Surprising Talents of Medieval Dogs
Can your dog dig up rings, dance to music, or tell if a lady is pregnant?
Medieval Fitness: How to Exercise Like a 15th-Century University Student
Looking for fitness tips? Here’s how people stayed in shape in the 15th century.
7 Surprising Facts About Dragons in the Middle Ages
Why were dragons so popular—and what was a dragon in the Middle Ages, anyway? Here are a few things you might not know about medieval dragons
10 Quirky and Fascinating Medieval Book Titles
We all know that for a book to get noticed it needs a catchy title. Apparently, in the Middle Ages authors could think of some really great titles too! Here are ten of the best.
The Struggles of Travel in the Middle Ages
Travel in the Middle Ages was anything but easy. From grueling journeys on foot to muddy, impassable roads and slow-moving carts, medieval travelers faced challenges that make modern road trips seem luxurious.
What Your Birthstone Meant in the Middle Ages
Most of us today are probably familiar with the concept of birthstones—precious gems associated with each month, like a petrological Zodiac. It turns out birthstones are more or less an invention of modern jewelry manufacturers, whose meanings all boil down to “Buy this ring.” But this is boring. So I thought, why not make birthstones mean something today by looking at their superpowers according to the Middle Ages?
10 Fake (But Also Real) Medieval Proverbs
Ever wondered if medieval wisdom was just old wives’ tales or something more? Dive into the quirky world of the Distaff Gospels, where satire meets surprising truths in these so-called “fake” proverbs.
Top 10 Most Brutal Medieval Deaths: Gruesome Tales from the Dark Ages
Even though some reports may blur the lines between truth, rumour, and legend, these tales of brutal medieval deaths are worth exploring.
Dueling Divas and Celebrity Fandoms in Medieval Samarra
In the 850s, ‘Arib of Samarra had a problem, and her name was Shariya. Shariya likewise had a problem, and her name was ‘Arib.
You Might Be a Medieval Redneck If…
Call it hick, hayseed, or hillbilly: if you’re one of the rustici, you might be a medieval redneck.
How medieval children got their names
It is not, strictly speaking, true that every Christian in late medieval Europe had the same six names.
Jesus the Shopkeeper
The striking vision of Christ as a cook, a pharmacist, and a merchant fits right into Blannbekin’s physical world of Vienna and spiritual world of religious instruction.
O Fortuna: The story of one of the great poems (and songs) of the Middle Ages
What comes to mind when you think of medieval music?
What was it like to travel during the Middle Ages? Part 1: Going by Road
Road travel in the Middle Ages was basically awful.
The Holy Spirit in Female Form: Medieval Tales of Faith and Heresy
The stories of Guglielma of Milan and Na Prous Boneta of Montpelier – how they became associated with the Holy Spirit – and how the Catholic Church responded to them.
Ten Fabulous Medieval Book Titles
We all know that for a book to get noticed it needs a catchy title. Apparently, in the Middle Ages authors could think of some really great titles too!
So You Want to Be a Medieval Priest
It might seem like one of the more glamorous professions in the Middle Ages – as a priest you could run a church and offer moral leadership to your parishioners. But here are a few drawbacks to being a medieval priest.
Join the Navy! The Medieval version
How do you convince men to take a job on a medieval warship?
Swimming in the Middle Ages
Did medieval Europeans swim for fun?
Mothers Who Weren’t: Wet Nurses in the Medieval Mediterranean
By Cait Stevenson The mother’s traditional role as first teacher of virtue and religion began with suckling. It’s no wonder, then, that later…
Why is this Knight Different than Other Knights?
Taking a look at where we else can find the Jewish community in the Middle Ages: the heart of battle.
“From what is earthly to what is divine”: The Story of Caritas Pirckheimer, Renaissance Woman
An abbess fighting for her nuns, a scholar of humanism, and a historian of the Franciscans.