Visions in a Ninth-Century Village: an Early Medieval Microhistory
This article however suggests that an account of a ninth-century peasant’s vision can be read to recover a microhistory of a rural priest in northern Francia, and draws out the implications for how the local societies of the period might be viewed.
“Now if this is your wish, I cannot blame you” – asking for a divorce in 1204
All day long I have a lonely heart and am pained by our separation. I feel that pain while writing these lines. But the choice is with you; the decision is in your hand: if you wish to carry the matter through, do so; if you wish to leave things as they are, do so.
Nothing Lovelier than Spring (Gardening) in 14th-century Paris
Wondering what to plant in your garden this year? Take some advice from an elderly gentleman living in a big city!
How to Party Like It’s 1399
The holiday season is upon us once again, which means that it’s time to get medieval and party like there’s no fifteenth century!
BOOK REVIEW: A Year in the Life of Medieval England by Toni Mount
Author Toni Mount is back again, but this time with an in-depth look at daily life in Medieval England. Her book, A Year in the Life of Medieval England, explores war, medicine, marriage, disputes, work, and cooking. A fascinating almanac of bits and bobs about Medieval England from the most most mundane, to the most important events in its history.
Medieval Cooking Tips
From boiling vegetables to smelly pots, here are 10 medieval cooking tips from the 10th century.
A Man Must Not Embelish Himself like a Woman: The Body and Gender in Renaissance Cosmetics
In pre-modern Italy, cosmetics’ ideal backdrop was a pale complexion, apparently untouched by the sun’s rays to give the impression that one had the luxury of avoiding going about outside on any daily labors.
Where You Should Live – a Medieval Guide
A civilized and intelligent man should choose, in the city as well as the country, the place most advantageous for the time of the year, pleasant, delightful, charming where he may build, where he may devote his efforts to farming, where he may relax with his artistic interests, where he may, in sum, commune with the gods themselves, an easy accomplishment for a man of the greatest integrity and learning.
Swan you say? Medieval Feasting!
Depending on where you lived, there might be wild boar, red deer, hares, red squirrel and other creatures in the forests to hunt for food, that is unless they were in a royal forest and you didn’t have the king’s permission to hunt there.
The Cathedral and the City
Another fantastic talk. Professor Caroline Bruzelius talks to us about medieval art, architecture, and the role of the cathedral in Medieval society.
The Healing Power of a Garden – A Medieval View
When it came to healthy living, medieval people were careful on what they ate. It was commonly believed that foods could offer good (and not-so-good) consequences to the body, but it was hard to remember what ailments a certain food could cure. In steps Henry of Huntingdon to offer us a poetic guide to the healthy and medicinal qualities of what you can find in a garden.
Women’s Work and Family in the Viking Age
A look at women’s work and family life in the Viking Age.
The Medieval Sense of Smell, Stench and Sanitation
We will see that in the medieval era, there was concern for the foul and the fragrant because smell had the ability to make people both literally sick and sick to their stomachs.
The Noisy Middle Ages
Let’s take five minutes to lend the Middle Ages an ear.
Textile Consumption in Late Medieval Castile: The Social, Economic, and Cultural Meaning of Clothing, 1200-1350
Focusing on the types of clothing imported into the realm, and using information from the royal accounts and tithes of a number of ports in the Bay of Biscay, I focus on issues of production and consumption in late medieval Castile and what this information tells us about the economic structures of the realm and on the exaggerated consumption of foreign cloth by certain groups within Castilian society.
Five Medieval Toothpaste Recipes
Need advice on how to keep your teeth clean and shiny white? Medieval writers have got you covered!
23 Medieval Uses for Rosemary
In the Middle Ages, Rosemary was considered a wonder plant, which could be used to treat many illnesses and keep you healthy. One 14th century writer found 23 uses for it, including keeping your hair beautiful and preventing nightmares!
Medieval Traffic Problems
The medieval city was seen as a crowded, bustling place, with people, horses, carts and wagons all moving around. Just as in our modern city, this would all lead to inevitable traffic problems.
Using Salt in the Middle Ages
Salt was an integral part of medieval life: not only is some salt a necessary part of a human diet, but it’s also essential for preserving food such as meat, seafood, and dairy products in the absence of refrigeration.
Anniversaries, Feasts and Commemoration in the Middle Ages
The medieval ways of commemorating and celebrating, and what their purpose was.
How did people sleep in the Middle Ages?
A recent book on the history of sleeping shows that during the Middle Ages people typically slept in two periods during the night.
Medieval Hangover Cures
Here are a few hangover cures from days gone by, because people who partied like it was 1399 also needed a little help the morning after.
Celebrating the New Year, Medieval Style
How did medieval people mark the passing of the New Year? Well, interestingly enough, it wasn’t always celebrated on January 1st.
Five Medieval Games to Get You Through Long Winter Nights
Here are five games that date back to the Middle Ages that you can stay in and play on these long nights of winter.