Explore the origins and daily practice of the Divine Office in the Middle Ages, from the Desert Fathers to Benedictine monasteries, where time, music, and prayer shaped every aspect of monastic life.
A note on Chateau Gaillard and Richard the Lionheart As I have mentioned once or twice lately, I am writing a book about castles. It’s called The Castle. Soon enough I’ll be able to give you its release date and pre-order details. But for now, here’s a tidbit I came across just five minutes ago.
How farmers came together to build Europe’s most grandiose funerary monuments some 7,000 years ago
ARCHAEOLOGY magazine’s editors reveal the year’s most exciting finds
A historic game I like to play Before I get into today’s email, here’s a reminder that you can get signed books in time for the Christmas holidays. Here’s how:
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Steve Tibble about who the Assassins were, what tactics they used in the Middle Ages, and what this legendary order stood for.
Though not as focussed on conquest as a hundred years earlier, the Roman legions of the second century AD had to contend with revolts, invasions, and civil war. Theme: The Roman army in the 2nd century AD Murray Dahm, 'A century of war - Begin as you mean to continue'. Lindsay Powell, 'Fighting under a flag - Roman army vexillations in the second century AD'. Jo Ball, 'A Roman career soldier - The story of Valerius Maximianus'. Mattia Caprioli, 'A very Severan civil war - The Battle of Issus'. Matej Kmošek, 'Signalling on a small scale - Legionary identity at Musov'. Graham Sumner, 'Hiding in plain sight - Portraits of Antonine soldiers from Fayum'. Murray Dahm, 'A brother goes to war - The Parthian monument of Lucius Verus'. Features: Dr Péter Bernát, 'Late Roman heavy cavalry - Forerunners of medieval knights'. Billy Duff, 'The Paean - Greek battle hymns'. Mark McCafery, 'Evocatio - Do you want to come to Rome?'. Boris Dreyer, 'Cross-country Celtic chariots - Longitudinal suspension and bent rims'.
A sweeping exploration of pre-modern African history, this book traces the continent’s cultures, migrations, and identities. It blends rigorous research with personal reflection to highlight Africa’s global influence and enduring legacy.
The chart illustrates the reigns and lifespans of notable Byzantine Emperors, highlighting a correlation between longer reigns and lifespans. Emperor Anastasios had the longest lifespan, while Constantine V had the shortest. The succession of long-lived emperors contributed to the stability of the Byzantine Empire during the tumultuous Middle Ages.
In period dramas in the West, upper class women tend to get all the attention when it comes to fashion. They have the best dresses that get attention of contemporary women. However, with the rise of generative AI, will how we view clothing in the past change? The image above is based on a prompt: […]
Discover the extraordinary folk traditions surrounding St. Prokop of Sázava, a medieval Czech saint whose legend includes demon expulsions, devotion to the Slavonic rite, and a ghostly return to defend his monastery.
By Michael Goodyear The Middle Ages are replete with adventurous men who sailed across the seas, conquered foreign kingdoms, and left their imprint…
