Where the Middle Ages Begin
A conversation with Adam Morin about categories of taste, the meal structure, and the food and ingredients that east Romans ate. What foods were prized and what looked down upon? How do we know what they ate? What do we know about individual preferences?
What everyday objects did people use in the Middle Ages? From clothing and household necessities to tools for work and warfare, these 25 medieval items were essential to daily life and shaped how people lived, ate, and survived.
Delve into the pivotal figures of the Middle Ages whose enduring legacies shaped the course of history. From visionary leaders and profound scholars to prolific writers and formidable warriors, these individuals left an indelible mark on medieval society.
Discover the 50 most significant events of the Middle Ages, spanning the years 500 to 1500.
Here are seven vivid facts about colour in the Middle Ages
In medieval times, many unique jobs, such as Ale-wife and Groom of the Stool, were essential but have since vanished. Discover these obsolete occupations and how historical changes led to their disappearance.
Are you wanting to talk more like someone from the Middle Ages? We have a list of 30 great sayings and proverbs that you can use in your conversations.
Have you wondered what a medieval king did on a typical day? Thanks to Christine de Pizan, we have an account of what daily life was like for King Charles V of France.
Some of our most popular phrases have a long history, including some that go back to the Middle Ages.
Want to know what kind of jobs there were in the Middle Ages? A unique source from the 15th century gives us some beautiful images of medieval people at work.
A conversation with Adam Morin about categories of taste, the meal structure, and the food and ingredients that east Romans ate. What foods were prized and what looked down upon? How do we know what they ate? What do we know about individual preferences?
Discover how the Viking economy evolved from barter and prestige goods to hacksilver and coinage, using hoards to trace changing trade practices in medieval Scandinavia.
Medieval wars weren’t always about religion or feudal duty—they were often about who had the right to rule and where. Beneath the surface of conflicts like England’s wars with Scotland and France were deeper struggles over sovereignty, territory, and the very shape of emerging states.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Lynn Ramey about the incredible Jean Bodel, his massive influence on other medieval writers, and some of his unforgettable works.
What’s new in medieval studies? Here are ten open-access articles published in March, which range from dealing with rioters in late medieval England to a bog dress.
Thirty-five selections from the writings of the 14th-century thinker Ibn Khaldūn, these translated texts reveal his thoughts on history, the state, cities and more.
Over 30 historic sites have reopened to the public as Historic Scotland launches its spring and summer season. Among them are many remarkable medieval landmarks, now ready to welcome visitors eager to explore Scotland’s rich heritage.
How did medieval people perceive the arrival of Spring? How was Spring depicted in medieval calendars and literary texts? And, was Spring the “mating season” for humans, as it is for many animal species?
Medieval universities were hotbeds of privilege, power, and the occasional riot—where students could get away with murder and still be protected by the Church. Today’s academic freedom debates may seem new, but they echo centuries-old struggles over who controls knowledge.
It is the 12th Q&A episode of Bow & Blade. Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer your questions on gunpowder weapons, Gilles de Rais and medieval sites to visit.
Medieval castles and monastic ruins drew crowds across Ireland in 2024, with new data revealing that sites like Trim Castle, the Rock of Cashel, and Clonmacnoise ranked among the country’s most visited heritage destinations.
Embark on a captivating journey through medieval art, exploring the diverse forms and cultural expressions that shaped the Middle Ages.
Discover how poison influenced medieval medicine, power struggles, and storytelling. From royal intrigue to early toxicology, learn how this dangerous substance shaped the Middle Ages.
These translated sources present Byzantine perspectives on the First through Fourth Crusades, offering a view of the Crusades as seen from Constantinople.
Explore 10 fascinating musical instruments that brought sound to medieval Europe—some familiar, others long forgotten.
Discover how the word “Abracadabra” evolved from ancient roots into a powerful magical term in the medieval world—used in healing, heresy, and hidden charms.
Discover how medieval knights really fought with swords through the eyes of Fiore dei Liberi, one of the earliest masters of European martial arts. His richly illustrated 14th-century manual reveals authentic techniques for combat on foot and horseback, armed and unarmed.
This weekend’s Apollo Art Auctions feature a remarkable selection of ancient artefacts, but medieval collectors will find several exceptional pieces worth special attention—most notably, a rare iron great helm dating to the 14th century.
In the shadow of Bismarck’s empire, one dedicated teacher quietly built a staggering body of scholarship on Geoffrey Chaucer—without a university post, a research grant, or a single PhD student. His name once filled the footnotes of English literature. So why don’t we remember him?
Archaeologists in Pardubice, Czechia, have uncovered a rare 14th-century street surface beneath the city’s modern pavement—offering a glimpse into urban life in the Middle Ages.
In the final decades of the Middle Ages and into the 16th century, Europe experienced a renewed emphasis on scientific inquiry. This book explores that transformation—especially in the field of astronomy—through the lives and work of figures such as John Dee and Tycho Brahe.
A new survey by YouGov has shed light on how Americans perceive the Middle Ages—and for many, it’s not a golden age of knights and cathedrals.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Luke Pepera about medieval Africa, what it would’ve been like to find yourself in one of the most powerful empires of the Middle Ages, and the famous pilgrimage of Mansa Musa.
Christian Lange examines the role of the five senses in Islam – through studying smell, sight, hearing, taste and touch he reveals the richness of a world religion.
Thirty-five selections from the writings of the 14th-century thinker Ibn Khaldūn, these translated texts reveal his thoughts on history, the state, cities and more.
A conversation with Adam Morin about categories of taste, the meal structure, and the food and ingredients that east Romans ate. What foods were prized and what looked down upon? How do we know what they ate? What do we know about individual preferences?
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Lynn Ramey about the incredible Jean Bodel, his massive influence on other medieval writers, and some of his unforgettable works.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Luke Pepera about medieval Africa, what it would’ve been like to find yourself in one of the most powerful empires of the Middle Ages, and the famous pilgrimage of Mansa Musa.
A conversation with Ahmad Al-Jallad about the languages and inscriptions of pre-Islamic Arabia, our main contemporary source for life, death, and worship before the time of the Prophet Muhammad. We talk about field surveys in search of inscriptions and what they tell us about Allah and other Arabian deities in the early centuries of the first millennium.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Caroline Dunn about the lives of ladies in waiting.
The Ottomans launch another siege against the city of Belgrade. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Kelly and Michael explore how Suleiman the Magnificent and his forces ultimately achieved victory.
