Maid, hero, heretic, saint – Joan of Arc is one of the most fascinating figures of the Middle Ages. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Deborah McGrady about Joan’s incredible life and death, her voice, and her complex and enduring legacy.
Back from my holidays! Let's goooo Hello everyone,
Discover the medieval tale of Sir Gowther — a knight born of demonic origins whose violent youth gives way to a powerful story of repentance and redemption.
Most people in the ancient world, from slaves to skilled artisans — instead of owning vast estates or plundering enemy treasuries — worked for a living. From odd jobs to construction contracts, all manner of employment was available. Theme: Labour in antiquity Miriam J. Groen-Vallinga, 'Talking tools? - Rome's enslaved labour'. Charlotte van Regenmortel, 'Fighting for a living - Professional soldiery in the Hellenistic age'. Owain Williams, 'Finding work - The labour market in ancient Rome'. Katherine Backler, 'Woven wealth and women's work - The ancient Greek textile economy'. Arienne King, '"As long as my people keep on working" - Labour in ancient Egypt'. Features: Rhyne King, 'Managing an empire - The satraps of Achaemenid Persia'. Peter Edwell, 'The city of Hatra - An ancient geopolitical hostspot'. Jeroen W.P. Wijnendaele, 'The lion and the gladiator - The arena on the edge of empire'. Louise M. Pryke, 'The tale of Gilgamesh - The world's first tragic epic'. Philip Matyszak, 'Food on the table - Grocery shopping in ancient Rome'.
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.
