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The Real 'Good King Wenceslas'
At this time of year, many of us will find ourselves singing about a royal personage who braves the snow on the Feast of Stephen – the Second Day of …
3 years, 10 months ago
Finding Richard III
In recent weeks, cinema audiences have been enjoying The Lost King, which tells the story of the efforts of amateur historian Philippa Langley to fin…
3 years, 10 months ago
Battle of Maldon
Dr. Cat Jarman finds out more about a fragment of Old English poetry that depicts one of the defining conflicts of 10th century England - the Battle …
3 years, 10 months ago
Origins of Carols
The Christmas carols we sing each year share roots in medieval church music. But as Matt Lewis finds out in this episode, carols were not just for Ch…
3 years, 10 months ago
Cult of St. Swithun
According to tradition, if it rains on Saint Swithun's bridge in Winchester on St. Swithun’s day — 15 July — it will continue for 40 days. But who w…
3 years, 10 months ago
Jews in Medieval England
Medieval England’s relationship with the Jewish community was complex and, at times, brutally violent and cruel. In 1290, the entire population of so…
3 years, 10 months ago
Myths and Nature in Medieval Britain
Humanity's relationship with the wilderness has been a theme of myths and legends for thousands of years. Such stories can offer a unique insight int…
3 years, 10 months ago
Mongol Empire
The Crusades are well-known but only part of the complex history of the medieval Near East. During the same era, the region was completely remade by …
3 years, 10 months ago
Hanseatic League
Growing from a few North German towns in the late 12th century, the Hanseatic League — a powerful network of merchant guilds and market towns — domin…
3 years, 11 months ago
The Rise of Christianity
In the fourth century AD, the Christian faith exploded out of Palestine, overwhelming the paganism of Rome, converting the Emperor Constantine in the…
3 years, 11 months ago