New Medieval Books: The Beauty of Ugliness and the Ugliness of Beauty
A collection of five essays exploring the significance of physical appearance in the Middle Ages. Delving into law and literature, this work sheds light on how medieval people perceived and interpreted physical traits, revealing deeper insights into their society and culture.
Can scholars and clerics be manly?, with Maroula Perisanidi
A conversation with Maroula Perisanidi about the distinctive kind of masculinity that was fashioned by scholars and priests in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the challenges and deficits that it faced, and the masculine capital that men in those occupations tried to amass and then spend.
10 Medieval Insults
Medieval insults reveal a fascinating glimpse into the sharp wit and social dynamics of the Middle Ages.
An Anglo-Norman Drinking Song for Christmas
This lively piece blends the merriment of Christmas with the revelry of drinking, transporting us to the jubilant atmosphere of medieval feasts.
The Worst Jobs in the Middle Ages
What did medieval people think were the worst jobs you could have? The answers will surprise you.
A Medieval King’s Speech on the Dangers of Drunkenness
One of its gripping moments in Sverris Saga recounts a speech Sverre delivered in 1186, addressing his followers on the dangers of overdrinking—a timeless warning wrapped in medieval drama.
Viking Settlers: Iceland and Faroes Compared
Discover how Viking settlers of Iceland and the Faroe Islands came from distinct Scandinavian origins, revealed by a new genetic study.
How Medieval English Queens Used Gifts to Influence Power and Loyalty
A new study reveals how medieval English queens used gift-giving as a powerful tool to secure alliances and demonstrate authority. From Margaret of Anjou’s lavish gold cups to Elizabeth of York’s symbolic gestures, the research uncovers the political and social significance behind these royal acts of generosity.
Medieval Magic to Catch Thieves
Imagine being accused of theft in 15th-century Denmark and forced to eat a piece of enchanted cheese to prove your innocence. Would you succeed—or would the bitter taste betray you? Such peculiar rituals weren’t uncommon in the Middle Ages, where magic intertwined with daily life, offering unusual solutions to everyday problems like theft.
Were the Crusader States Penal Colonies?
The population of the crusader states was not representative of normal demographics. Perhaps ironically, for societies with a heavily religious foundation, a disproportionate number of those who came to the crusader states were criminals.
Who Lived in Early Medieval Flanders? DNA Reveals the Answer
Who lived in Flanders during the 7th century, and where did they come from? New DNA research from Merovingian graves in Koksijde has uncovered surprising insights into the region’s diverse ancestral origins.
New Medieval Books: How the West Became Antisemitic
Exploring the tense and evolving rivalry between Christians and Jews in medieval Europe, this examination reveals how religious confrontations transformed into a deep-seated anti-Semitic ideology. What began as theological disputes increasingly took on racial overtones, laying the groundwork for a form of hatred that would persist and evolve into the modern era.
New Medieval Books: The Green Ages
Can we learn from people in the Middle Ages when it comes to living sustainably? This book examines topics such as recycling, microfinance and minimalism to show how the medieval world offers lessons to the modern one.
The Fall of Constantinople, Pope Pius II, and the Birth of Europe, with Nancy Bisaha
A conversation with Nancy Bisaha about the origins of the idea of “Europe” as a place of identity and not just geography. One of its first theorists was the Italian humanist Aeneas Piccolomini (later Pope Pius II), who was in part reacting to the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks. The problem of whom to include and exclude as Europeans was there from the start. We talk about Aeneas himself and the siege of the City.
New Medieval Books: In Plain Sight
After the First Crusade, many Muslim communities in the Eastern Mediterranean found themselves under the rule of the Crusader States. This book delves into the lives of these Muslims, exploring how they adapted and endured under their new rulers.
The Green Ages with Annette Kehnel – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 262
New and high-tech solutions for a sustainable future are being proposed on the daily, but what if some of the best ideas actually reside in the past? This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Annette Kehnel about the way medieval communities shared, recycled, and even upcycled.
A Chaotic Medieval Sport: La Soule à la Crosse
In medieval Europe, sports weren’t just for the elite—chaotic games like la soule à la crosse saw townsfolk and peasants clashing with sticks in hand. Discover how this unruly precursor to modern hockey captivated communities and sparked royal bans due to its violent nature.
The Most Despised Jobs of the Middle Ages
Discover the most despised jobs in the Middle Ages, from butchers to merchants. Explore why certain professions were viewed with contempt and how these views changed over time.
The Medieval Guide to Avoiding 15 Common Speaking Blunders
Struggling with speaking—whether in public or even with a friend? A medieval treatise offers timeless advice on what not to do.
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?