Białowieża Forest: Europe’s Last Medieval Woodland?
Is Białowieża Forest truly Europe’s last medieval woodland? A look at royal hunts, historic laws, and wild bison reveals how this ancient forest preserves a living link to the Middle Ages.
Why the First Polish State Collapsed: An Environmental and Political Breakdown
A new study uncovers why Poland’s first kingdom—the Piast state—collapsed so quickly, linking slave trade wealth, ecological intensification, and political fragility. Archaeology, pollen records, and coin hoards reveal the state’s rapid rise—and sudden unraveling.
New Medieval Books: The Vikings in Poland
Drawing on a wide range of archaeological evidence, this book offers a detailed reconstruction of the Norse presence in the region of present-day Poland. It sheds new light on their material culture, religion, and interactions with both local populations and the emerging Polish state.
Climate Chronicles: Transylvania’s Delayed Response to the Little Ice Age
New research reveals that Transylvania experienced a delayed impact of the Little Ice Age, with historical records describing extreme weather events that shaped communities in unexpected ways.
Medieval Farmers Showed Remarkable Efficiency in Land Use, New Study Reveals
Beneath the temperate forests of western Czechia lies evidence of medieval agricultural ingenuity, revealing how farmers prioritised cereal crops, practised fertilisation, and carefully organised their land. A new study has uncovered these insights through soil analysis, offering a unique glimpse into the economic and ecological practices of the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: Letters of the Princes of Wallachia
A collection of 76 letters and charters from 15th-century Wallachian rulers, including eight letters penned by Vlad III, the notorious prince who inspired the legend of ‘Dracula.’
Medieval Eastern Europe with Florin Curta
This week, Danièle speaks with Florin Curta about why it’s taken the field so long to address Eastern Europe, why we need to look at enslavement as part of our understanding of the European Middle Ages broadly, and how we can all get started including Eastern Europe in our scholarship, is coming up right after this.
Medieval Frescoes Discovered in Slovakia
In a surprising revelation, medieval frescoes have been uncovered in the Slovakian village of Sása. The frescoes were found in the sacristy of the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria, which was constructed in the 13th century.
New Medieval Books: Muslims on the Volga in the Viking Age
This collection of 19 essays delves into the 10th-century journey of Ibn Fadlan to the Rus’ and Volga Bulgarians. The essays offer an in-depth analysis of his text, shedding light on how medieval Arab perspectives shaped their understanding of the Vikings and other northern peoples.
New Medieval Books: Medieval Eastern Europe
Medieval Eastern Europe, 500-1300: A Reader Edited by Florin Curta University of Toronto Press ISBN: 978-4875-4487-4 This collection of translated sources delves into…
The Baltic and the Black Sea in Medieval Trade
The object of this paper is to give a short outline of the history of Black Sea and Baltic trade during the Middle Ages, and to examine the reciprocal action of these two important historical phenomena.
Over 2,000 medieval coins discovered in Czechia
Czech archaeologists are calling it one of the greatest finds of the last decade, as more than 2,000 silver coins have been discovered just outside of Prague.
New Medieval Books: The Ruling Families of Rus
A look at the history of Rus, Lithuania, Moscovy and Tver from the 11th through to the 15th century through the members of the Volodimerovich clan. Each chapter focuses on a ruler and their family.
New Medieval Books: The Utrecht Chronicle of the Teutonic Order
A chronicle written in the second half of the 15th century, which details the history of the Teutonic Knights, a military order that fought in the Near East and Baltic regions. The account came at a time when the order was in decline, but offers insights into how they viewed themselves and their mission.
Four ‘snake-eating-frog’ medieval buckles discovered
The discovery of an unusual early medieval buckle in Czechia has allowed researchers to make a connection with three almost identical objects. A new study reveals where and why they were made.
Crime and Punishment in the Reign of Vlad the Impaler
In the medieval stories, many made up by the Transylvanian Saxons at the end of the fifteenth century and sent to the Hungarian king, Vlad is presented as a vicious and bloody ruler who used to impale hundreds or thousands of people.
The Life of Vlad the Impaler: A Timeline (1429-1476)
A look at the events that took place in southeastern Europe during the fifteenth century and the role that Vlad III, Voivode of Wallachia, would play in its many conflicts.
Medieval kitchen discovered in Czech Republic
Archaeologists working in the Czech Republic have discovered the remains of a kitchen dating back to the 15th century. Many items have been found in remarkable condition, including pots with their lids intact and kitchen utensils.
Jan Hus and the Bohemian Reformation
Before Martin Luther, there was Jan Hus, a Czech firebrand whose death at the stake sparked off a fire that five Crusades could not extinguish.
Remembering a Wallachian Ruler: Neagoe Basarab
2021 marks 500 years since the death of Prince Neagoe Basarab who ruled the principality of Wallachia (now part of modern Romania) between 1512 and 1521.
The Emperor in Politics and Love: The Four Wives of Charles IV
Here are the stories of these four wives and their marriages to the emperor.
The Response of the West to the Mongol Invasion: 1241-1242
Examining the reports and events from the early years of the Mongol invasion into Europe.
The Protector of Mount Athos
The Moldavian rulers, and in particular Prince Stephen III (r. 1457–1504), took an increasingly active interest in the monastic communities on the Holy Mountain.
Christmas Traditions in the Hidden Corners of Europe
Celebrating the Christmas season in the Carpathian Mountains
