The Differences between Christians and Muslims in the Middle Ages
The big differences were in the clothes you wear, the food you ate, and the kind of pet you liked.
New Medieval Books: The Fabric of the City: A Social History of Cloth Manufacture in Medieval Ypres
This is a very interesting book if you want to know more about how business and trade worked in the Middle Ages. It covers a full range of individuals and groups involved in this industry, from the owners to the workers, including some case studies.
Running Naked in the Streets: Repression of Adultery in the Later Middle Ages
Adultery was a serious crime in the Middle Ages, where marriage was sacred, indissoluble, and monogamous.
The Kidnapping of Baby Bonafilla: Jewish guardianship, conversion, and mixed families in the aftermath of 1391 in Girona
In early 1417, the Jewish guardians of Bonafilla, the daughter of Nacim Roven, kidnapped the young toddler to prevent her conversa mother and stepfather from converting the child
Rebels and Renegades: Lisān al-Dīn ibn al-Khaṭīb (d. 1374) and the Christians of Medieval Granada
This paper seeks to demonstrate the convergence between Nasrid discourses about ethno-religious identity and the complex borderland realities of the Muslim-Christian frontier in 14th-century Iberia.
New Medieval Books: Message in a Bottle: Merchants’ letters, merchants’ marks and conflict management in 1533-34
This open-access book tells the story of a ship captured by pirates in 1533, and a batch of letters to Londoners that was recently rediscovered.
Medieval prostitutes, concubines, and their relationships – their story told in new research
In late medieval Valencia, city authorities would not punish a woman for being a prostitute or being a concubine, but she could not be both.
New study reveals height of medieval Norwegians
How tall were people in the Middle Ages? A new study from the University of Oslo has examined the height of 227 people who lived in medieval Norway, revealing that elite members of that society tended to be taller and had stronger bones.
Affection, Indifference, Violence: The Bonds between Servants and Masters in Medieval Montpellier
The records from southern France can reveal much about domestic servants in the Middle Ages. What can they tell us about the relationship between these servants and their masters?
Working Conditions in a Medieval City: Employers and Domestic Workers in Montpellier
Who employed domestic servants? And under what terms?
New Archival Evidence Raises Questions About Geoffrey Chaucer’s Rape of Cecily Chaumpaigne
Tuesday, October 10th was a momentous day in the field of Chaucer studies.
Who worked as servants in the Middle Ages?
A look at the women, men and children who worked as domestic servants in medieval southern France, based on hundreds of records from in and around the city of Montpellier.
The Mongol Khans and Alcohol
A look at the Mongol royal courts and their relationship with alcohol.
Blacks Britannica: Diversity in Medieval and Early Modern England
This lecture will critically assess the myth of England’s story as a ‘sacred white space’ and examine the evidence for diversity in medieval and early modern history.
How to be philanthropic in early Byzantine Christianity, with Dan Caner
A conversation with Dan Caner about the different kinds of charitable giving in early Byzantium. We talk about the pre-Christian background, the role of institutions, and views about wealth. Was giving primarily good for the soul of the giver, and under what conditions, or for the material assistance of the needy? How could one give to ascetics, who had renounced such needs?
How a City Burned from Inter-Religious Violence: Cairo in 1321
The story of what took place in Cairo in the year 1321 is a sad example of what could happen when religious tensions spiralled out of control.
How did most people in the Roman empire get by? with Kim Bowes
A conversation with Kim Bowes about production and consumption in the Roman world, especially by the 90% of the population who are less represented in our literary sources. How did they get by from day to day? What alternatives does the evidence suggest to the “subsistence” model that many ancient historians have used?
Medieval Well Poisoning Accusations with Tzafrir Barzilay
Medieval antisemitism flared up most famously and tragically during the Black Death when Jews were accused of deliberately poisoning wells, and thousands were executed for this wholly imagined crime. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Tzafrir Barzliay about what made well poisoning conspiracy theories so powerful, and how they started.
How to tell if a woman is in love with you – medieval edition
Are you wondering if a woman is in love with you? Here are ten signs from the Middle Ages.
When did women “bind up” their hair, and why?, with Gabriel Radle
Byzantium & Friends is hosted by Anthony Kaldellis, Professor and Chair of the Department of Classics at The Ohio State University. You can follow him on his personal website.
You can listen to more episodes of Byzantium & Friends through Podbean, Spotify or Apple Podcasts
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The Early Medieval Hospital
The birth and rise of a charitable institution in Europe during the Early Middle Ages.
How Did Deaf and Non-Speaking People Communicate in Medieval Iceland?
In my research on deaf and non-speaking people in medieval Iceland, one question that particularly stuck with me was whether those who could not or did not want to engage in verbal communication had any other tools at their disposal.
The Most Common (and Uncommon!) Medieval Names in Southern France
Here are the top three names for medieval men and women in southern France, as well as some of the more uncommon names you could find in the region.
Illegitimate children in the Middle Ages
The stories of illegitimate children in the Middle Ages are often told through the lives of famous bastards, the daughters and sons of kings and noblemen, like William the Conqueror, born of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and his mistress Herleva. But what do we know about the illegitimate children of common people?