The Byzantine Army evolved significantly throughout its history, primarily serving a defensive role for the Christian Romans. Despite setbacks like the Islamic conquests and the Fourth Crusade, the army adapted and persevered, particularly under Emperor Basil II. Ultimately, by the 14th and 15th centuries, it had declined yet remained a symbol of the empire's enduring legacy.
Discover how the Council of Nicaea not only defined early Christian doctrine but also laid the foundations for the medieval Church’s authority, canon law, and institutional structure, shaping the course of European history for centuries.
Here are five changes in English castle design that had a big impact on history.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Myra Stokes and Ad Putter about where we find love letters, and the way people wrote and sent them, along with a couple of spicy – and hilarious – examples.
Faith Tibble’s new book, The Crown of Thorns: Humble Gods and Humiliated Kings, challenges centuries of assumptions about one of Christianity’s most iconic symbols. Drawing on meticulous research and a storyteller’s touch, she invites readers to look again at the medieval art they thought they knew.
How archaeologists located a forgotten nineteenth-century utopian community
Why are archaeologists constructing a thirteenth-century fortress in the forests of France?
Explore myths, inventions, and daring attempts at flight in the Middle Ages, from legendary tales to real-life gliders and kites.
We have several online courses coming up, including The Viking Age. This six-week course starts on Wednesday, August 13th, with live sessions from 1:00 – 3:00 pm EST each week.
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Sharon Kinoshita about why Marco travelled so far, what sort of detail he wanted to share with his readers, and what was going on in the world around him.
A look at the medieval origins and deeper meaning behind the metaphor of standing on the shoulders of giants.
Explore 50 real jobs from the Middle Ages—illustrated in a rare 15th-century manuscript from Nuremberg, showing medieval workers at their trades.
