Liber Monstrorum: A Medieval Book of Monsters
If there’s anything we have in common with our medieval ancestors, it’s our love of monsters.
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Liber Monstrorum: A Medieval Book of Monsters
If there’s anything we have in common with our medieval ancestors, it’s our love of monsters.
Christianity before Conversion
How did people convert to Christianity in early medieval England? What happens if we prioritise archaeological and art historical sources?
Medieval Women in Their Own Words: Uncovering Untold Stories at the British Library
The British Library’s Medieval Women: In Their Own Words exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the lives of medieval women through over 140 fascinating artifacts. One of the exhibition’s curators shares five standout pieces that reveal the resilience, creativity, and influence of women in the Middle Ages.
Describe the jaw of a crocodile’: Leonardo da Vinci’s Animal Anatomies
Leonardo also studied and dissected animals at many points of his career. His subjects included horses, bears, monkeys, frogs, dogs and oxen – as surrogates for human material, as independent subjects of study, and on occasion to compare explicitly human and animal anatomy.
Grisly Power Plays: Did Medieval Rulers Drink from Enemy Skulls?
Did medieval kings really drink from the skulls of their enemies, or is this just one of history’s grisly exaggerations?
New Medieval Books: The Stone Witch of Florence
Set in Florence at the height of the Black Death, this novel tells the story of a woman who returns from banishment to help save the city and uncover a conspiracy. It’s a blend of historical fiction and fantasy, with a bit of magic.
New Online Course: Medieval Education: From Schools to Universities
Explore the history of education in the Middle Ages through the development of schools, curriculums, the growth of universities, and the diverse individuals who were involved in teaching and learning during this 1000 years of history. Class begins on Tuesday, October 29th.
A Date with the Two Cerne Giants: Results of the National Trust’s Excavation in 2020
The research has provided an accurate, scientifically verified date for the Cerne Giant. These unexpected results, together with the land-use history and ominous ‘disappearance’ of the Giant for six centuries, provide the platform for reconsideration and new discussion and debate … including some stunning discoveries.
New Medieval Books: Touching Parchment
These two volumes, both open-access, reveals how medieval people physically interacted with books. This went way beyond just reading them – these manuscripts would be kissed, sworn upon, displayed publicly and more. It’s a fascinating look at how books were more than the words written on them in the Middle Ages.
Medieval DNA Reveals Skeleton’s Link to Norse Saga
A passage in the Sverris Saga, an 800-year-old Norse account, describes a military raid in 1197 during which a body was thrown into a well at castle in Norway. Now, a new study published in iScience has brought this tale to life, as researchers have used ancient DNA to corroborate the saga and uncover details about the so-called “Well-man.”
Animating Albrecht Dürer’s Cloaks
Analyzes the artwork of Albrecht Dürer to uncover insights into clothing styles, particularly focusing on coats and cloaks, and what they reveal about fashion and societal influences of his time.
New Medieval Books: The Annals of King T’aejo
In 1392, General Yi Songgye seized power in Korea, founding the Choson Dynasty. His government initiated a detailed set of annals, providing a daily record of his six-year reign and a wealth of valuable information.
Astrophysicists Solve Mystery of 12th-century Supernova
In 1181, a new star shone near the Cassiopeia constellation for six months before disappearing. This event was recorded as a “guest star” by Chinese and Japanese observers, with several adding interesting details.
Medieval Women: In Their Own Words opens at the British Library
The British Library has opened a major exhibition: Medieval Women: In Their Own Words. Running until March, it brings together over 140 rare items that reveal the untold stories of medieval women, showcasing their achievements across various spheres of life, from religion and politics to literature and healthcare.
New Medieval Books: Monasticism in Ireland
This book explores the functioning of monasteries in Ireland during the High Middle Ages and their integral role in the country’s religious life. It addresses the key question: ‘How monastic was the monastic church, and what was its relationship to the church of the laity?’
Two medieval cities discovered in the mountains of Central Asia
The first-ever use of drone-based lidar technology in Central Asia has allowed archaeologists to uncover two significant medieval trade cities in Uzbekistan’s mountainous…
Demons, Ghosts, and Goblins in Chinese Art at the Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) presents Demons, Ghosts, and Goblins in Chinese Art, an exhibition that explores supernatural beings in Chinese culture through paintings and sculptures. Running until January 20, 2025, the display highlights creatures that cause havoc or serve as protectors against evil forces.
Medieval Riga with Kevin O’Connor – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 263
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Kevin O’Connor about medieval Riga, its tumultuous place as a trading post between West and East – as well as war between bishops and crusaders – and how its medieval history plays out in today’s politics.
Book Review: Sweet Hunter: The Complete Poems of St. Teresa of Ávila
The engaging freshness of the translations collapses much of the distance between this fervent mystic of Ávila and the contemporary reader, making Sweet Hunter a fascinating and moving volume.
Adventures of a Tenth-Century Explorer: Mapping the Medieval World
What was it like to travel the world over a thousand years ago? For one man, it was a journey filled with adventure, hardship, and discovery.
New Medieval Books: The World the Plague Made
At over 600 pages, this comprehensive study of the Black Death provides a global perspective on the pandemic and its aftermath. It explores how this medieval plague reshaped societies worldwide, creating both winners and losers in its wake.
Norman Conquest Coin Hoard sells for £4.3 million
A remarkable hoard of 2,584 silver coins, dating from the Norman Conquest of England, has been acquired for £4.3 million. This treasure offers rare insight into a pivotal moment in medieval history, reflecting the transition from English to Norman rule in 1066.
Afghanistan: A Forgotten Medieval Kingdom
Uncover the history of Afghanistan’s forgotten medieval kingdom, written about in a 14th-century chronicle but lost to time. Learn how this kingdom, ruled by a Kurdish dynasty, resisted Mongol dominance before fading from the historical record.
New Medieval Books: The Rules of Logic
The most widely read introduction to logic in the Arabic-speaking world, this work dates to the 13th century. If you enjoy reading about propositions and syllogism, then this book is for you.
BooksAll posts
New Medieval Books: The Stone Witch of Florence
Set in Florence at the height of the Black Death, this novel tells the story of a woman who returns from banishment to help save the city and uncover a conspiracy. It’s a blend of historical fiction and fantasy, with a bit of magic.
New Medieval Books: Touching Parchment
New Medieval Books: The Annals of King T’aejo
New Medieval Books: Monasticism in Ireland
Book Review: Sweet Hunter: The Complete Poems of St. Teresa of Ávila
New Medieval Books: The World the Plague Made
New Medieval Books: The Rules of Logic
New Medieval Books: Raiders, Rulers, and Traders
New Medieval Books: Ben Cao Gang Mu
Latest Podcast EpisodesAll posts
Medieval Riga with Kevin O’Connor – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 263
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Kevin O’Connor about medieval Riga, its tumultuous place as a trading post between West and East – as well as war between bishops and crusaders – and how its medieval history plays out in today’s politics.
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.
Henry V with Dan Jones – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 261
Last week, we looked at the story of Richard II and Henry IV, and the way these two cousins wielded the power of the English crown. This week on The Medieval Podcast, we round out the cycle that makes up the Hollow Crown by looking at Henry V, a man who many – including this week’s guest, Dan Jones – have called England’s greatest warrior king.
The Eagle and the Hart with Helen Castor – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 260
Richard II came to the throne as a young child, only to lose it to his cousin Henry IV in 1399. But why did Henry take such drastic action? And what became of the teenage boy who stood up to a crowd of angry peasants and held his own? This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Helen Castor about these rival cousins, the events that shaped them, and how an anointed king could lose his hollow crown.
Charlemagne with Cullen Chandler – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 259
What’s so great about Charlemagne? We’re about to find out. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Cullen Chandler about the reign of Charlemagne, how he ruled such a massive empire, and how he still took the time to care about font.
When Did Jousting Become Obsolete? Bow & Blade, Episode 55
In this episode, Michael Livingston and Kelly DeVries answer your questions about medieval warfare.