How a Medieval Sect Built a Mountain Stronghold in Syria
Discover how a persecuted sect known as the Assassins transformed remote Syrian fortresses into the centre of a medieval mountain state—blending diplomacy, strategy, and fortification to secure their survival.
Medieval Sugar Mill Complex Discovered in Israel
Archaeologists in northern Israel have uncovered Mamluk-era tunnels beneath Gan Ha-Shelosha National Park, revealing a 15th–16th-century sugar mill complex powered by brackish spring water.
When the Assassins Came to Damascus
In 1113, Mawdud of Mosul was assassinated in Damascus by the Nizaris, exposing the deep rivalries between Turkic rulers and the Assassins’ growing influence. This account explores how politics, betrayal, and religious divisions shaped power in medieval Syria.
When the Assassins Came to Aleppo
Learn how Ridwan of Aleppo allied with the Assassins, allowing them to spread their influence and carry out their first missions in medieval Syria.
Fear and Loathing in Lebanon – Assassins, Templars and the World’s Most Toxic Landlord-Tenant Relationship
On the volatile crusader frontier of Tripoli, the Templars became the new “landlords,” taking over castles and villages to defend Christendom. Their unwilling neighbours—the Nizari Assassins—responded with a century of assassinations, raids, and uneasy tribute in one of history’s most toxic landlord-tenant relationships.
Sinan: The Old Man of the Mountain
Meet Rashid al-Din Sinan, the Nizari Ismaili leader remembered as the “Old Man of the Mountain,” who built fortresses, trained the Assassins, and shaped one of the most feared movements of the medieval Middle East.
Early Medieval Estate Discovered in Israel
Archaeologists uncover a 1,600-year-old Samaritan estate with mosaics, inscriptions, baths, and an olive press at Kafr Qasim in central Israel.
African Figurines Discovered in Medieval Graves in Southern Israel
Archaeologists uncover 1,500-year-old burial goods reflecting the diverse Christian communities of the early medieval Negev.
Muslims in the Kingdom of Jerusalem with Ann Zimo
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Ann Zimo about the interactions between Muslims and Christians within the legal, political, and even spy networks of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Byzantine Monastery with Stunning Mosaic Discovered in Israel
An archaeological excavation near Kiryat Gat, a city southwest of Jerusalem, has uncovered a Byzantine monastery with a mosaic floor featuring a Greek inscription, as well as a sophisticated winepress and other ancient structures.
Why Did the Crusader States Fight So Many Battles (Especially When They Shouldn’t Have)?
Why did the Crusader States engage in so many battles when the odds and outcomes often seemed stacked against them?
Stealing Horses, Losing Feet: Crusader Animal Laws
There were many strange quirks associated with the justice systems of the Crusader States. They were, after all, on the frontiers of Christendom and many aspects of their law books were arcane in the extreme.
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.
Did the Knights Templar Keep a Pet Crocodile? A Medieval Mystery Unveiled
The Knights Templar, renowned for their military prowess and mystique, may have had an unusual companion at their headquarters in Acre—a pet crocodile.…
Contrasting Crusader Kings: Frederick II vs. Louis IX in Arabic Accounts
How did the contrasting crusader kings, Frederick II and Louis IX, shape the Holy Land through their unique approaches? Discover the diplomatic finesse of Frederick II and the zealous determination of Louis IX as seen through the eyes of Arabic historians
Siege Warfare in the Levant, 1097-1193
What did a siege look like in the 12th-century Middle East? How did people prepare for them? Which technique was the most likely to succeed?
Medieval site in Gaza added to the List of World Heritage in Danger
The early medieval archaeological site of Tell Umm Amer in Gaza, which includes the Monastery of Saint Hilarion, has been named to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It was also simultaneously added to its List of World Heritage in Danger.
New Medieval Books: Shi’ite Rulers, Sunni Rivals, and Christians in Between
This book examines how inter-religious relations worked in the Fatimid Caliphate during the late tenth and early eleventh centuries. It would be a period that saw great swings back and forth when it came to religious tolerance.
Murder and Political Drama in Medieval Syria and Egypt
The Crusaders were tough – but they had no monopoly on political violence. Murders within Muslim hierarchies were relatively common too.
Murder Below Stairs: Killing Servants in the 12th Century
Life in the crusader states and their Muslim enemies could be harsh – and the strictures of that life occasionally drove people to murderous violence
The County of Tripoli: A Forgotten Past
The silent alleys of Tripoli still retain their medieval charms. They tell the stories of glorious counts, chivalrous knights in shining armour, and fighting men of order.
Medieval journal has left us 7,000 weather reports
Historians are very interested in understanding environmental and climate conditions from the past. However, sources that can shed light on this information are hard to find, so being able to access over 20 years of records from a medieval writer is a gold mine of details.
New Medieval Books: The Mongol Storm
This book examines how the medieval Middle East was reshaped by the invasion of the Mongol Empire in the thirteenth century. In this story of war and politics, new groups would emerge while others, including the Crusaders, would lose it all.
The Crusaders and Gaza
Almost eight hundred years ago, Gaza would be on the frontlines of another war, this one pitting the Crusaders against Fatimid Egypt.
