Where the Middle Ages Begin
Discover how ambassadors were chosen, tested, and trained in the medieval Islamic world through the writings of Ibn al-Farrāʾ, whose rare treatise reveals the art of diplomacy shaped by Iranian and Byzantine traditions.
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.
Discover how ambassadors were chosen, tested, and trained in the medieval Islamic world through the writings of Ibn al-Farrāʾ, whose rare treatise reveals the art of diplomacy shaped by Iranian and Byzantine traditions.
A new historical role-playing game is aiming to immerse players in the realities of late medieval Europe, allowing them to step into the lives of more than a thousand real historical figures from the era of the Hundred Years’ War.
Archaeologists France uncover a medieval pottery village with burials, homes, and kilns spanning the 9th to 13th centuries.
How the legend of King Arthur has changed from the Middle Ages to today, adapting to new audiences while remaining one of the most enduring figures in Western storytelling.
A wooden beam discovered in the Dutch town of Wijk bij Duurstede may be part of a medieval ship, with archaeologists investigating whether it dates to the Carolingian era or a later cog vessel.
Thomas Becket’s murder inside Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 shocked medieval England and quickly turned him into a saint. But what actually happened in those final moments—and why did his death come to be seen as something more than a brutal killing?
Over 3,000 silver coins from the Viking Age have been uncovered in Norway, marking the largest medieval hoard ever found in the country and prompting new archaeological research.
Discover the daily life of a medieval king through Christine de Pizan’s account of Charles V of France, revealing his routine, duties, and court life.
David Bachrach examines how medieval German cities formed military alliances with nobles, revealing how urban communities managed war, trade, and political power in the thirteenth century.
Three medieval tiles taken decades ago from Wenlock Priory in England have been returned, offering new insights into the site’s decorative past.
Ancient DNA reveals how post-Roman communities mixed and integrated, reshaping the origins of medieval Europe beyond the myth of mass migration.
A rediscovered medieval manuscript in Rome reveals a rare early copy of Cædmon’s Hymn, the oldest known poem in English.
How did Viking raiders become imperial bodyguards? Zoe Tsiami tells the story of the Varangian Guard in medieval Constantinople.
Alpine ice cores reveal medieval pollution from mining and metalworking, offering new insights into environmental change.
While Niccolò Machiavelli is often associated with ruthless or disreputable tactics, a closer reading of his works reveals a far more nuanced thinker with substantial insights into politics and government. This book explores his ideas on the relationship between rulers and the people they govern.
A conversation with Nicole Eddy about the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, one of the most important publishing ventures of recent times when it comes to medieval texts and literature.
Discover 18 surprising facts about Saladin, the medieval leader who recaptured Jerusalem—revealing his education, beliefs, and lesser-known personal life.
Danny Lake-Giguère explores how the management of Normandy’s forests changed after 1204, becoming an important part of the growth of royal government in medieval France.
Explore how Adam of Bremen described the medieval North, from Vikings and pagan temples to dragons, Amazons, and lands at the edge of the known world.
A teenage prince wounded in battle, a king who defied the odds in France, and a ruler whose legacy still shapes how we see the Hundred Years’ War—Henry V was far more complex than the legend suggests. Michael Livingston explores the experiences that forged his character, revealing a leader who combined battlefield brilliance with calculated political ambition.
A medieval grave in England has revealed two children buried together were siblings, thanks to new ancient DNA analysis.
Chinese Characters across Asia: How the Chinese Script Came to Write Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese By Zev Handel University of Washington Press ISBN:…
Researchers have recovered 42 lost pages from a medieval manuscript using imaging technology, revealing new insights into the New Testament and medieval book culture.
Explore the history of Japan’s sohei, the Buddhist warrior monks who fought for power, shaped temple rivalries, and played a key role in medieval conflicts.
While Niccolò Machiavelli is often associated with ruthless or disreputable tactics, a closer reading of his works reveals a far more nuanced thinker with substantial insights into politics and government. This book explores his ideas on the relationship between rulers and the people they govern.
A conversation with Nicole Eddy about the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library, one of the most important publishing ventures of recent times when it comes to medieval texts and literature.
A conversation with Beth Digeser about pedagogy, specifically about what we are hoping to accomplish by teaching Roman history.
Though often regarded as one of the most important battles of the Middle Ages, the Battle of Tours remains shrouded in uncertainty. In this episode of Bow & Blade, Michael and Kelly explore the limited evidence to uncover where the battle may have been fought and what might have taken place there.
A conversation on three twelfth-century heresiological texts, the challenges of publishing and studying them, and the ways their central concerns can be presented in a museum exhibition.
On Byzantium & Friends, a conversation with Alessandra Bucossi on the preoccupation with heresy in the twelfth century, which resulted in the production of a number of massive anti-heretical treatises.
A conversation with Marica Cassis about the archaeological study of the east Roman world and how it interfaces with traditional, text-based historiography. What can archaeology see and what not? What challenges has it faced to emerge as a field and what are the prospects that it faces today?