Spring in the Middle Ages
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?
Latest Posts
Spring in the Middle Ages
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?
Academic Freedom, Medieval Style (and What It Tells Us Today)
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.
How strong were Gunpowder Weapons in the Middle Ages?
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.
Strong Visitor Numbers for Ireland’s Medieval Sites in 2024
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.
New Online Course: The Art of the Middle Ages in Europe
Embark on a captivating journey through medieval art, exploring the diverse forms and cultural expressions that shaped the Middle Ages.
Poison in the Middle Ages: Medicine, Murder, and Myth
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.
New Medieval Books: Byzantine Sources for the Crusades, 1095-1204
These translated sources present Byzantine perspectives on the First through Fourth Crusades, offering a view of the Crusades as seen from Constantinople.
10 Musical Instruments Played in Medieval Europe
Explore 10 fascinating musical instruments that brought sound to medieval Europe—some familiar, others long forgotten.
How ‘Abracadabra’ Became a Magical Word in the Medieval World
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.
How Medieval Sword Fighting Really Worked: Lessons from Fiore dei Liberi
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.
Medieval Great Helm Leads Highlights at Apollo Auctions This Weekend
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.
The Chaucerian: How a German school teacher became the world’s most prolific Chaucer scholar, and then was promptly forgotten
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?
Medieval Street Uncovered in Czechia
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.
New Medieval Books: Inside the Stargazer’s Palace
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.
What Americans Really Think About the Middle Ages
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.
Medieval Africa with Luke Pepera
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.
Five Senses: Christian Lange on the diversity of Islam
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.
Digital Technology Helps Solve a 12th-Century Mystery: Which of Barisanus of Trani’s Bronze Doors Came First?
A team of researchers has used cutting-edge scientific tools to help solve a long-standing mystery in medieval art history: the chronological order of the monumental bronze doors created by the 12th-century artisan Barisanus of Trani.
Restoration Completed on Historic Tudor Gallery at The Vyne
The most elaborately decorated Tudor gallery in Europe—once visited by Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon, and Anne Boleyn—has been restored after a major conservation effort. The National Trust has completed a six-month project to stabilise and preserve the 500-year-old Oak Gallery at The Vyne in Hampshire, securing its future for generations to come.
Tiny Edens: What Grew in a Medieval Monastery’s Garden
Explore five key elements of medieval monastery gardens, from sacred plants to healing herbs, and learn how they shaped monastic life and worship.
Hellmouths, Rockets, and Feather Pillows: Special Effects in Medieval Theatre
From flaming hellmouths to heavenly ropes and staged miracles, discover the surprising special effects that brought medieval theatre to life.
10 Famous Forgeries from the Middle Ages
Medieval history is full of secrets—and some of its most influential documents were outright fakes. From forged royal charters to fabricated letters from mythical kings, here are 10 famous forgeries that reshaped the Middle Ages.
New Medieval Books: Complete Essentials for the Military Classics
This is a partial translation of Wujing Zongyao, an important 11th-century Chinese military treatise. The section translated in this volume contains examples from Chinese history that serve as examples of good strategies and tactics related to warfare.
Who was Allah before Islam?, with Ahmad Al-Jallad
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.
BooksAll posts
New Medieval Books: Byzantine Sources for the Crusades, 1095-1204
These translated sources present Byzantine perspectives on the First through Fourth Crusades, offering a view of the Crusades as seen from Constantinople.
New Medieval Books: Inside the Stargazer’s Palace
New Medieval Books: Complete Essentials for the Military Classics
New Medieval Books: Story, World and Character in the Late Íslendingasögur
New Medieval Books: Authentically Medieval
New Medieval Books: Chronicle of King Charles VII
New Medieval Books: The Roads to Rome
One Devoted Woman: An Interview with Kristen Holt-Browning on her debut historical novel
New Medieval Books: Swahili Worlds in Globalism
Latest Podcast EpisodesAll posts
Medieval Africa with Luke Pepera
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.
Who was Allah before Islam?, with Ahmad Al-Jallad
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.
Medieval Ladies-in-Waiting with Caroline Dunn
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Caroline Dunn about the lives of ladies in waiting.
The Siege of Belgrade (1521)
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.
Global Ships with Amanda Respess
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Amanda Respess about ships and shipbuilding in the medieval world, what we know about early global trade routes, and the fascinating bits of archaeology we’re still finding under the sea.
To Miklagarðr and back again: Varangians return from Constantinople, with Sverrir Jakobsson
A conversation with Sverrir Jakobsson about the experiences of Northmen — especially Varangians — who traveled to Constantinople and the south and returned home with stories, swords, riches, and prestige.