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.

This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with John Beusterien about elephants and ivory in medieval China and Spain, including how elephants were put into service, and how ivory was used and traded across the world.

...and all your Q&A questions about Lion Hearts answered Thanks to everyone who asked questions about my new book, Lion Hearts, which is out on July 31st (and Sept 25th in the US). You’re all great. Here are the answers.

Discover the meaning of hwæt, the iconic first word of Beowulf, and explore the medieval and modern debates over how it should be translated.

Discover 517 real Viking nicknames from the sagas, including bold, funny, and bizarre names like “Butter Penis” and “Fairhair.” Explore what these names reveal about Norse culture and identity.

The Medici family revolutionized banking and the arts in Florence and beyond, but their contributions were not without moments of conflict.  Theme: The rise of the Medici Alice Isabella Sullivan, "A lasting impact: The Medici family and its legacies," 16-17. Katalin Prajda, "The rise of the Medici: The family, the firm, and the faction," 18-25. Natalie Tomas and Alice Isabella Sullivan, "Know your Medicis: Key members of the famous Florentine family," 26-27. Emma Iadanza, "Camaraderie and animosity: The Medici and the Pazzi," 28-35. Dorigen Caldwell, "The Medici as patrons: Art in Renaissance Florence," 36-41. Features: Dorian Koçi, "Ruined heritage: Albania's Shirgj Church," 8-9. Robert Jones, "Chivalric literature: Reading and living the knightly life," 10-11. Clay Vagrant, "Conquistadors and Asian Vikings: The Spanish conquest of the Philippine Archipelago," 12-15. Javier G. de Gabiola, "Grunwald: The Teutonic Order's iconic defeat," 42-47. Tim Parks, "Machiavelli's The Prince: The psychology of a leader," 48-49. Jonathan H. Jones, "Tostig Godwinson: A study in toxic bortherhood," 50-53. Lucie Laumonier, "Growing old in the Middle Ages: Understanding medieval life expectancy," 54-55. Jonathan H. Jones, "Book review: Birth of the Red Dragon: Wales and the Wars of the Roses," 56. Gabrielle Storey, "Book review: Medieval Sovereignty," 57.

Tattoos in the Middle Ages? While often associated with criminals or pagans, these marks on the skin could also signal Christian devotion, sacred journeys, and personal identity in unexpected ways.

We are doing our annual Summer Sale on Medievalists.net’s online courses through Thinkific. You can save 20% off all our courses – live and self-paced.

Atlas of Medieval Greece (Kindle Edition) Author: Konstantinos Melas Publication: May 10, 2025. Price: $4.50 Amazon Link to Kindle Edition The Atlas of Medieval Greece is one of the best eBooks on the topic of Byzantium that I have seen. While it is not printed book, its electronic form makes it affordable for many users. […]

The Byzantine Army: The History and Legacy of the Byzantine Empire’s Military during the Middle Ages Publisher: ‎ Charles River Editors Page Length: 126 Pages Price: $2.99 or Free on Kindle Unlimited Subscription The Byzantine History eBook market is steadily growing and this book shows that it is a great place to get accessible books for […]

Athens transformed from a small town to Greece's largest city post-King Otto, driven by philihelenes supporting its growth and independence. The population surged after the 1920s transfers, peaking in the 1970s before facing suburbanization and decline since the 1980s. The city's future relies on effectively managing this urban transition.

Η Αθήνα είναι μια σημαντική παγκόσμια πόλη, με πλούσια ιστορία που εκτείνεται από την αρχαιότητα μέχρι σήμερα. Από μικρό χωριό ανέπτυξε σε πρωτεύουσα και συγκέντρωσε πληθυσμό, κυρίως μέσω των ανταλλαγών πληθυσμών. Παρά την προαστιοποίηση, παραμένει ο πυρήνας της Ελλάδας, σύμβολο ανθεκτικότητας και πολιτισμού.