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?
A Medieval Case of Sexual Harassment
A look at a case of sexual harrassment from the 15th century.
‘Holy Inappropriate’: Secular uses of the Medieval Parish Church
While the church was of course the holiest of places, ecclesiastical property was not often considered an entirely separate and sacred world—but rather a domain where the secular and sacred crossed paths.
Medieval Wedding Dresses: A Guide
If you are a bride wanting to have a medieval look on your wedding day, what should you wear? While evidence about medieval wedding dresses is scattered in the sources, there are a few details we can learn. They reveal the brides would wear a lot of colour and several kinds of accessories.
Partying in the Middle Ages (and Party-Crashing)
Are you looking for fun and excitement? A medieval book gives you all the best secrets for how to get into parties, even…
The Gift of Narrative in Medieval England
This book places medieval narratives in dialogue with theories and practices of gift and gift exchange.
Did people in the Middle Ages take baths?
It was said that the Middle Ages was ‘one thousand years without a bath.’ However, a closer look shows that baths and bathing were actually quite common in the Middle Ages, but in a different way than one might expect.
Medieval Insults
If you are looking for ways to hurl insults at your enemies, then the medieval world has some interesting examples for you.
New Medieval Books: Inked
This is a sad tale of how the government of the Song Dynasty created and maintained a military force using the lower-class populations of medieval China. Millions of Chinese people were subjected to this system, which included tattooing.
How to Make a Monster
Ideas about monstrosity were fundamental to ancient and medieval debates about the nature of humanity, and the rhetoric of monstrosity was widely used to dehumanize certain groups in medieval Europe.