Medieval Corruption: How Crooked Cops and Officials Profited from Crime and Bribery
In the tumultuous world of the Middle Ages, the line between law enforcement and lawbreaking was often blurred, and sometimes, the enforcers were as corrupt as the medieval criminals they pursued.
From Generation to Generation: Jewish Inheritance Practices and Christian Notarial Culture in the Crown of Aragon, 1250-1391
This paper argues that the vast majority of Jews who drew up notarial wills, donatio inter vivos contracts, and other Latinate documents related to inheritance did not seek to circumvent Jewish law. Instead, they valued a combination of Latin and Hebrew-Aramaic contracts as a means of making their inheritance choices intelligible both within and beyond the Jewish community.
Forbidden Love: Medieval Romance as Critical Race Studies Archive
My goal here is to talk a bit about why medieval romance, and especially medieval English romance, is such a useful archive for the critical study of race.
Birds of Night: The Role of the Owl in Medieval European Anti-Judaism
In medieval Europe, the nocturnal owl became a dark symbol intertwined with the prejudices of the time, representing Jews as dwellers in spiritual darkness. This unsettling association played a significant role in the era’s widespread anti-Judaism, influencing both religious beliefs and violent actions.
How Weather Shaped the Vikings’ World
In a world where weather dictated nearly every aspect of life, how did the Northmen’s culture evolve in response to their harsh climate?
A Medieval Take on Choosing Between Love and Career
It’s an age-old dilemma: choosing between marriage and a career. A letter from the fifteenth century provides insight into how one woman advised another on this very question.
The Irish DNA Atlas: providing a map of Irish genetics in and out of Ireland
Genetic data from a population can help to contextualise historical records and evidence of that population’s history, provide evidence of that population’s size and the existence of communities within it, and inform us about the genetic legacy of past mixing of other populations resulting from migration.
Breaking Barriers: Medieval Studies journal offers special issue on Race
The April 2024 issue of Speculum: A Journal of Medieval Studies, focues on “Race, Race-Thinking, and Identity in the Global Middle Ages.”
What Medieval People Thought of Different Religions: Insights from Francesco Suriano
Have you ever wondered how people in the Middle Ages viewed those of different faiths?
Unveiling the Medieval Brothel: The Maison de Bois and Its Scandalous Past
Discover the Maison de Bois of Mâcon, a medieval gem in Burgundy, France, that offers a captivating glimpse into the audacious and rebellious spirit of the 15th century. From its scandalous past as a brothel to its provocative facade, this well-preserved wooden house is a treasure trove of historical intrigue and artistic whimsy.
Refugees Find Solace in Dante’s Words
‘Dante on the Move’ explores the profound connections between Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’ and the modern refugee experience.
Medieval Forensics: 20 Key Observations by Song Ci
Explore the origins of forensic science through the groundbreaking work of Song Ci, a medieval physician and judge. His observations revolutionized the investigation of unusual deaths and laid the foundation for modern forensic techniques.
Getting High in the Middle Ages: Drug Use in Medieval Egypt
In recent years, a contentious debate has emerged regarding how society should address drugs such as marijuana. Should they be legalized and accepted? What are the harms or benefits associated with these drugs? Interestingly, similar questions were raised in medieval Egypt.
New Medieval Books: Becoming a Witch
A collection of eleven articles about how witches and witchcraft were depicted in the Middle Ages. Many of the articles focus on the connections between women and magic and how this gradually troubled medieval society.
When an Albanian ‘King’ Marched through Medieval London
The tale of a labour dispute aboard a Venetian vessel provides insights into the inhabitants of medieval London.
Medieval Hair with Emanuele Lugli
It may be an ordinary body part, but medieval people definitely had strong opinions about hair and what it said about you. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Emanuele Lugli returns to talk about hair, how it was used as a form of control, how it spilled out onto artists’ canvasses, and what this all has to do with bodily excrement.
Intriguing Skull Modifications Discovered in Viking Women
A recent study delves into the discovery of three women from Viking-Age Gotland who underwent skull elongation. This investigation sheds light on the fascinating tradition of body modification prevalent among the Norse and Vikings.
Ten Medieval Reasons a Man should not Marry
It sounds like a joke from a men’s magazine, but this list of ten reasons not to get married was created in the Middle Ages, by a man who became a Pope.
Study explores gender bias in witchcraft accusations in early modern England
By the end of the Middle Ages, accusations of witchcraft were being made to mostly women. A new study finds another reason why this was the case in early modern England.
Contracts as Weapons: Notarial Power and Jewish Agency in the Late Medieval Crown of Aragon
Contracts as Weapons: Notarial Power and Jewish Agency in the Late Medieval Crown of Aragon Paper by Sarah Ifft Decker Given at The…
People could live the ‘American Dream’ in Tang Dynasty China, study finds
The Middle Ages are not typically seen as a time when ordinary people could have upward social mobility. However, new research focusing on China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) reveals that men could rise to better careers as if they had lived in the United States during the 1960s.
Medieval chronicle reveals massive charitable bequest
A recently translated medieval chronicle has detailed the story of a huge charitable bequest that took place in the Italian city of Florence.…
Justice, Politics, and Death in Medieval Ireland with Joanna MacGugan
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Joanna MacGugan about how the justice system worked in Ireland under medieval English rule, how communities shaped justice, and what this meant when a person was faced with capital punishment.
How rich medieval people spent their money
If you were a noble in the Middle Ages, you were most likely very rich. What did you do with your money?