When Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170, he was instantly transformed into one of the most prominent figures in medieval Christianity. His image spread widely across Europe, appearing in manuscripts, sculptures, stained glass windows, and other forms of material culture. This book brings together 11 essays that explore how Becket was represented, remembered, and venerated through these visual and physical media.

This article explores how the Norman monk Orderic Vitalis incorporated the First Crusade into his Ecclesiastical History, offering insights into early crusading narratives and their reception in medieval monastic circles.

Discover the story behind Al-Jazari’s Elephant Clock—one of the most imaginative mechanical inventions of the medieval world. Complete with dragons, falcons, and a water-powered time system, this medieval marvel blends engineering and artistry

This book presents an edition and translation of a 14th-century epic poem that takes readers on a journey to hell—literally. Spanning over 12,000 lines, the narrative is rich with fantastical twists and unexpected encounters, including appearances by Charles Martel and the legendary Prester John.

Forty questions all about history, which honestly I took a LOT of time over Last month I hosted a History Quiz at the Groucho Club in London. It was sold out and great fun. Which was just as well, because I spent absolutely ages writing the questions (and then rewriting them when my pal Elizabeth Day sent me a text in BLOCK CAPS saying THIS IS WAY TOO DIFFICULT).

This book explores the political and military history of the Ottoman Empire, tracing its rise in the fourteenth century through to the latter half of the sixteenth. It offers detailed accounts of major battles and sieges, with a particular focus on conflicts against European powers.

This article explores how the crusade emerged as a distinct medieval institution, shaped by ideas of holy war, just war, and penance.

The daughter of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Joanna of England lived a life deeply entangled in the turbulent politics of the Angevin Empire.

In my previous articles on Byzantine video games, my desire was that it should be a city builder game. However, in this day and age, that is very niche genre. Such a game can be very popular in that niche but it will stay within that community and not have much influence. One can see […]

Explore how medieval beliefs about demons, witchcraft, and sex shaped centuries of theology, persecution, and fantasy—revealing the dark origins of one of history’s most persistent tropes.

拜占庭帝国在现代社会中的认知被忽视，原因包括其与罗马帝国的关联不强，且教育系统对其历史关注不足。尽管历史贡献巨大，尤其在文化与制度改革方面，杰出的成就却常因偏见而被误解，急需通过教育和普及提高公众意识。

这篇文章提供了三个问题，用于比较拜占庭帝国和宋朝。首先，探讨两国的政府结构及皇帝权力与官僚冲突。其次，分析官僚制度的不同要求，最后，比较两国的经济结构与表现，揭示各自的优势和劣势。