Waves of human migration across Europe during the first millennium AD have been revealed in a groundbreaking study. By analysing Ancient DNA with a novel method, researchers have reconstructed detailed patterns of population movements during the Iron Age, the fall of the Roman Empire, the early medieval ‘Migration Period,’ and the Viking Age.
What can medieval court records reveal about the lives of women? This book examines the legal disputes involving women in three English towns, uncovering their roles in cases ranging from debts and trade regulations to local trespass laws and public disorder.
There weren’t many police officers in the medieval world. And, when you see what they got up to, that is perhaps just as well.
Many foods still enjoyed around the world were invented in the Middle Ages, such as these six foods and drinks.
In 1300AD Boniface VIII started a tradition of forgiveness and (possibly) hell-raising that continues this year On Maundy Thursday - April 7th - 1300, Pope Boniface VIII stood on the balcony of his papal basilica in Rome. Around him, the city flocked with pilgrims, many of whom had come to see the Pope that day and receive his blessing.
It’s the start of a new year, and you’re wondering what lies ahead. In medieval Italy, a 14th-century merchant created a unique guide to predict the fortunes of the year based on the day January 1st fell. These predictions span weather, agriculture, health, and even political events—offering a fascinating glimpse into the medieval mindset.
Archaeologists in Germany have uncovered the remains of a medieval farm complex in the town of Greven-Gimbte, dating back to the 11th to 13th centuries.
Archaeologists investigating the Viking ship grave at Myklebust in Nordfjordeid have unveiled remarkable new findings, offering fresh insights into one of Norway’s most significant burial mounds. The research suggests it might be the largest Viking ship ever found.
For the first time in nearly four centuries, visitors can now access a medieval tower at Corfe Castle, a historic site in Dorset, England. The King’s Tower, originally built around 1107 for King Henry I, has reopened to the public with a special viewing platform designed to offer a glimpse into its regal past.
As part of the Crusade Texts in Translation series, this account chronicles events in the Near East from 1184 through the conclusion of the Third Crusade. Written by an anonymous author reflecting on these events, the text explores the reasons behind the crusaders’ failure to achieve their goals.
In the chaos of 14th-century Scotland, a band of exiled nobles known as the Disinherited rose against the odds, claiming a shocking victory at Dupplin Moor and crowning their leader, Edward Balliol, as king. But triumph soon turned to tragedy, as betrayal and a deadly December ambush unraveled their hold on the Scottish throne.
What would you do if your life depended on surviving a tempestuous sea? For mariners of the Middle Ages, shipwrecks were not just…
