Medieval university life was anything but dull—freshmen endured brutal hazing rituals, public humiliations, and even bizarre traditions involving feces, all in the name of scholarly initiation.
How did Rome, once the heart of a mighty empire, crumble into ruins by the end of the Middle Ages?
When King Henry I died in 1135, his nephew Stephen of Blois seized the English throne, igniting a bitter struggle for power with his cousin Matilda. This book explores the ensuing civil war, known as The Anarchy, a turbulent period that plunged England into chaos and conflict.
Here are ten fascinating articles from the Royal Society’s journals that shed light on the Middle Ages.
Martin Aurell whose works about the first Plantagenets were read by medievalists all over the world, has passed away at the age of 67.
A rare medieval scroll has been uncovered in the archives of Bar Convent in York, England, revealing new insights into devotional practices.
I'll be talking live on Substack with Lucy Worsley at 7pm GMT Here’s something fun.
In this issue, we explore how people learned during the Middle Ages: in the monastery or school room, at the training grounds, or even on the job. Theme: Medieval education and learning James G. Clark, "From monastery to university: The making of medieval education," 18-23. Lucie Laumonier, "Learning a trade: Medieval apprentices," 24-27. Robert Jones, "A schoolhouse for the sword: swordsmanship for the middle classes," 28-33. Gary Leiser, "Medieval Islamic education: The rise of colleges of law," 34-39. Jens Høyrup, "Algorism, abacuses, and computus: Medieval mathematics," 40-43. Features: Hal Dixon, "The Battle of Aljubarrota: Iberian warfare as told by Froissart," 8-11. Robert Jones, "The Chivalric Code: More a set of guidelines...," 12-13. Paul Martin Remfry, "Harlech Castle: Reappraising the sources," 14-17. Alice Isabella Sullivan, "Pătrăuți Monastery: Architecture, murals, and light," 44-47. Christopher Fletcher, "A rare book coffer: Mobile medieval manuscripts," 48-49. Conor Robison, "'For the killing of one another:' The alliance that broke the Aztecs," 50-53. Peter Konieczny, "Al-Hariri's Maqamat: A twelfth-century success," 54-55. Jonathan Jones, "Book review: Henry V: The Astonishing Rise of England's Greatest Warrior King," 56. Gabrielle Storey, "Book review: Queens and Queenship," 57.
For the first time in over 40 years, the Bayeux Tapestry will be removed from its display as part of an ambitious conservation and museum redevelopment project.
The British Museum has released its latest Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) Annual Report, revealing a record-breaking 74,506 archaeological discoveries made in the United Kingdom by the public in 2023.
Discover the tale of Sir Moriaen, the bold Black knight who defied medieval stereotypes and earned his place among King Arthur’s greatest heroes.
In 751, a siege, a coup, and a battle reshaped empires, redrew borders, and even introduced an invention that would change the world—here’s why this year deserves a place in history books.
