Podcast Episodes

Crusader Jerusalem in the Twelfth Century (with Dr. John Hosler)

Season 3 Episode 41

In this episode, my very special guest Dr. John Hosler draws upon the research he undertook for his book Jerusalem Falls: Seven Centuries of War and Peace (Yale University Press, 2022) to discuss wha…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

St. Thomas Becket, 2: the Martyrdom

Season 3 Episode 40

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In this episode my co-host Dr. Jennifer Paxton and I explain the principles and personal grievances that led to the martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket and the significance of that event for…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

Medieval Adultery (with Kat Tracy), part 1: Lancelot and Guinevere

Season 3 Episode 39

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This is the first of a three part series about adultery in the Middle Ages.  My co-host for both is Dr. Larissa 'Kat' Tracy. Last month Kat and I talked about my favorite medieval roman…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

St. Thomas Becket, part 1: King Henry II and his Chancellor, Thomas Becket

Season 3 Episode 38

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This is the first of two episodes on the career, historical context, and "afterlife" of England's most famous--and controversial--saint and martyr, St. Thomas Becket. My co-host for bot…

Published on 1 year, 6 months ago

What Was A "Crusade"?

Season 3 Episode 37

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In this episode Ellen and Richard talk about what a "crusade" was in the Middle Ages. Richard explains what modern historians mean by the term "crusade"--and why there is so little agre…

Published on 1 year, 6 months ago

Crusading Warfare in the East, 1099-1187

Season 3 Episode 36

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My guest for this episode is Dr. Nicholas Morton, whom you may remember from our first episode about the Mongols. Today Nick and I will be talking about crusading warfare, in particular…

Published on 1 year, 6 months ago

Medieval Romance: The Knight with the Lion

Season 3 Episode 35

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In this episode my guest host Professor Larissa 'Kat" Tracy and I discuss my favorite medieval romance, Chrétien de Troyes' late twelfth century poem, "Yvain, the Knight with the Lion."…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

The Mongol Conquest of Baghdad (1258)

Season 3 Episode 34

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Last May, I spoke with Professor Nicholas Morton about the Mongols and their impact upon the medieval Near East.  This episode digs deeper into that subject, focusing on the Mongol conq…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Beowulf (2): translations, adaptations, and movies!

Season 2 Episode 33

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In this episode, the second of a two part series, Dr. Chrissy Senecal and I continue our discussion of the Old English epic poem Beowulf.  In it we talk about the challenges of translat…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago

Beowulf

Season 2 Episode 32

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This is the first of a two-part series on the most famous monster story in pre-modern literature, the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf. My co-host for both is Dr. Christine Senecal of Ship…

Published on 1 year, 8 months ago