Where the Middle Ages Begin
King Harold Godwinson of England would see his country invaded by army led by his brother Tostig and King Harald Hardrada of Norway. In this episode of Bow and Blade, Kelly and Michael discuss the Norwegian invasion of 1066, which culminated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
An eighth-century collection of fables is the focus of a new exhibition taking place in London. Kalila wa Dimna: Ancient Tales for Troubled Times will be running at the P21 Gallery from May 12th to June 11th.
A new bi-monthly magazine has been launched which engages with the rich history, art, and culture of the Middle Ages.
A new study explains the rodent colonised the continent on two occasions in the Roman and Medieval periods.
King Harold Godwinson of England would see his country invaded by army led by his brother Tostig and King Harald Hardrada of Norway. In this episode of Bow and Blade, Kelly and Michael discuss the Norwegian invasion of 1066, which culminated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
Despite centuries of obscurity, one of the most popular authors of the medieval period is slowly finding her place in the literary canon restored. Said to have been the first professional woman writer, Christine de Pizan’s life and career rivalled that of any of her better-known male counterparts, and believe it or not, she used that popularity to highlight women’s strengths and struggles.
The stories of illegitimate children in the Middle Ages are often told through the lives of famous bastards, the daughters and sons of kings and noblemen, like William the Conqueror, born of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and his mistress Herleva. But what do we know about the illegitimate children of common people?
By Peter Konieczny It might seem that medieval people loved the idea of war – many works offer praise for those who fought…
Having studied the fourteenth century for over thirty years as an art historian, when my brother, Boyd Morrison, asked me to co-author a novel with him set in 1351, I thought I was totally ready.
A conversation with Siren Çelik about the many personas that the emperor Manuel II Palaiologos crafted for himself in his surviving works. In fact, we have more writings from him — in many genres, and many of a personal nature — than from any prior Roman emperor. What was he hoping to accomplish and why is he worth reading?
Read an excerpt from the novel The Lawless Land, by New York Times-bestselling author Boyd Morrison and expert art historian Beth Morrison.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle reflects on medieval court cases, body language, and the ways in which both have shaped today’s modern trials – including the celebrity ones.
Dr. Hodgson discusses some of the issues relating to the digitization of manuscript rolls, focusing on a fifteenth-century genealogical roll known as the Canterbury Roll.
An eighth-century collection of fables is the focus of a new exhibition taking place in London. Kalila wa Dimna: Ancient Tales for Troubled Times will be running at the P21 Gallery from May 12th to June 11th.
A new bi-monthly magazine has been launched which engages with the rich history, art, and culture of the Middle Ages.
Would you have sex with a troll woman? In this episode of the Medieval Grad Podcast, Lucie talks with Matthew Roby, who deciphers for us the dirty details of these Old Norse and Icelandic texts. Turns out there are a lot of them, and many include monstrous beings!
A new study explains the rodent colonised the continent on two occasions in the Roman and Medieval periods.
Rodrigo Díaz, better known as El Cid, would find his greatest success in the year 1094, when he captured the city of Valencia. How he did it depends on which writer you believe.
Grandmothers today tend to be understood as kindly and caring, but in the Middle Ages, some of the evilest characters of the literary world were the grandmothers.
When poop and entrails filled the Thames. Dealing with urban pollution in the Middle Ages.
Princess Olga, the tenth-century ruler of Kyiv and all Rus, is a fitting figure to represent the current Ukrainian challenge given her wit, wisdom, and fighting spirit.
Abortion is once again in the spotlight in the United States, as its Supreme Court is set to uphold a law limiting this right. How do medieval laws and views on abortion play a role in this issue?
Giving a preview of the upcoming International Congress on Medieval Studies – the largest annual gathering of the medieval academic community.
Material goods are a rich and fascinating source for finding out more about the ordinary lives of the people of the Middle Ages. This week, Danièle speaks with Katherine French about what Londoners’ homes were like both before and after the Black Death, what they filled them with, and how we know.
The National Library of Scotland has digitised a collection of more than 240 precious manuscripts, many with Scottish origins ranging from the 9th to the 16th century. The collection also includes volumes produced in England, France, Italy and northwest Europe, as well as Greece and Iceland.
Our Book of the Month for May is De Sortibus: A Letter to a Friend about the Casting of Lots, by Thomas Aquinas, translated by Peter Carey
The importance of hair and hairstyles among Chinese, Mongols and other peoples of northeast Asia during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
While the shift was monumental in many ways, some of the reforms Henry VIII made were actually anticipated in medieval Christianity.
Read an excerpt from the novel The Lawless Land, by New York Times-bestselling author Boyd Morrison and expert art historian Beth Morrison.
For anyone who visits Örebro, it is hard to miss its castle – an ancient-looking fortress made of weathered grey stones that stands on an islet in the middle of the city centre.
On the 10th of August 1628, the Vasa sank in Stockholm harbour, thus ending the career of the most powerful warship that Sweden had ever seen.
This strategic location not only makes the castle a majestic sight, but also earns it the reputation as the most modern defence fortress in its time. But, as all ancient buildings, there is always more than meets the eye. Here are the five things that you may not know about Uppsala Castle.
How do you operate a business when you can’t read and your knowledge of math is extremely limited? Making your mark on the…
Narbonne is one of those European cities with evidence of its past on every street.
The V&A Museum opened its latest medieval exhibit exhibit on Saturday: Opus Anglicanum: Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery. I had the opportunity to see it opening day and it was spectacular.