People in early medieval settlement had “very poor health,” study finds
New study on early medieval community reveals they suffered from many diseases and infections.
What we learned from a medieval Jewish cemetery in Erfurt
Last month we released a study examining the remains of the medieval Ashkenazi Jewish community in Erfurt, Germany. Our research has given us a better understanding of how this community lived in the Middle Ages.
A medieval chronicle written by a woman: The Annals of Quedlinburg
Relatively few surviving works from the Middle Ages were written by women. One of them is a monastic chronicle known as the Annals of Quedlinburg, created in the early eleventh century. A look into this work reveals some interesting insights into the writer and her abbey.
The story of a Rusian Princess who became a European Empress
Her story is a fascinating one, and one which sheds light not only on Rus and the German Empire, but on relations throughout Europe.
A Military History of the German Peasants’ Revolt
Examining the causes of German Peasants’ Revolt of 1524-5 as well the events and battles of the conflict.
Early Medieval graveyard discovered
Archaeologists in Germany have discovered 110 graves dating back to the sixth and seventh centuries. Their finds include gold and bronze objects, along with a decapitated horse.
The Ottonian Chancery: Whence and Whither?
Levi Roach talks about the Ottonian chancery and governmental documents, including the historiography about the topic dating back to the 19th century.
Canossa, 1077: Emperor vs Pope, with Blair Apgar
When it came to power in medieval Europe, much of it rested in the hands of kings and popes. But what happened when they decided not to share it? This week on The Medieval Podcast Danièle speaks with Blair Apgar about the dramatic clash of emperor versus pope at Canossa in 1077.
Using Isotopic Analysis to Investigate Diet and Disease in a Medieval German Poorhouse
This paper presents a bioarchaeological case study on a medieval poorhouse skeletal collection from Regensburg, Germany.
Medieval Jewish cemetery in Germany vandalized
A Jewish cemetery in the German city of Worms, which dates back to the 11th century, has been closed for several days after many of its medieval tombstones were vandalized.
The Saxon expeditions against the Wends and the foundation of Magdeburg during Otto I’s reign
This essay ask for the reasons why some rulers such as Otto I strove for an imperial agenda and how the expeditions of his margraves across Elbe were legitimized by contemporary writers.
A Fruitful Partnership: Jews and the Canons of St. Kilian in Twelfth-century Würzburg
Over the course of about a century, from around 1120 to around 1220, the canons of St. Kilian, caretakers of the Neumünster church in Würzburg had frequent – one might even say constant – business dealings with the Jews of that same city.
The Commerce of the German Alpine Passes During the Early Middle Ages
In addition to the inability of the manor to be self-sufficient, the human desire for luxuries, foreign goods, such as fine clothing, highly decorated weapons, and exceptional foods, especially foreign wines and spices, tended to keep commerce alive.
900 years ago she was artist – we know this because she has bits of blue stone in her teeth
A team of researchers examining the remains of a woman buried around the year 1100 AD have – to their surprise – discovered dozens of tiny bits of blue stone in her teeth. They soon realized that she was likely a painter of illuminated medieval manuscripts.
How the borders of Germany changed in the Middle Ages
Three videos showing the changing borders of what is now Germany and Austria, between the years 843 to 2018.
5 Things to Know about the Richest Person in History
Here are five things to know about Jakob Fugger, the richest person in history, who had a networth of $400 billion.
The Franks in the early Ideology of Frederick Barbarossa (1152-1158)
This article traces the Frankish legacy in the early years of Frederick Barbarossa’s reign, from his coronation to the diet of Roncaglia (1152-1158).
Parasites from medieval latrines tell a story of changing dietary habits
A radical new approach combining archaeology, genetics and microscopy can reveal long-forgotten secrets of human diet, sanitation and movement from studying parasites in medieval poo.
Nuremberg’s Noble Servant: Werner von Parsberg (d. 1455) between Town and Nobility in Late Medieval Germany
Through this appreciation of the factors supporting town–noble cooperation in the late Middle Ages we are better able to understand the formation and development of the dialectic of town and nobility as a way of understanding German society.
Researchers discover early medieval women with their skulls altered
A new palaeogenomic study of early medieval people in southern Germany has revealed the presence of women who had their skulls artificially altered.
The Medieval Magazine: (Volume 3: No. 18): Issue 101: Reformation 500
In this issue: 80+ pages of news, books, articles, exhibits, and events, with a focus on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation!
Medical and Dietetic References in Medieval German Cookbooks
Medical and Dietetic References in Medieval German Cookbooks By Marialuisa Caparrini I castelli di Yale online, Vol.5:1 (2017) Abstract: This article aims at…
DNA samples reveal Viking Age fish trade
It has been assumed that the Vikings were trading in cod, but so far solid evidence has been lacking. With new methods, it is possible to extract ancient DNA from fishbone remnants and this can provide some exciting new information!
The Walk to Canossa: The Tale of an Emperor and a Pope
Ever since it happened people have been debating what took place at Canossa. Some have called it a brilliant masterstroke by Emperor Henry IV, while others have termed it his humiliation.