The Very Short Introductions Podcast The Middle Ages – The Very Short Introductions Podcast – Episode 11
Nov 16, 2020
Miri Rubin, Professor of Medieval History at Queen Mary University of London, dives into the captivating world of the Middle Ages. She explores the term's origin, contrasting medieval times with the Renaissance. Rubin highlights the complexities of social structures, the transformative impact of the Black Death, and the flourishing of trade and literature with figures like Chaucer and Dante. She also discusses religion's dual role in inspiring creativity and fostering exclusion, aiming to reveal the fascinating diversity of this pivotal period in history.
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How A Teacher Sparked A Career
- Miri Rubin became fascinated by medieval history after a brilliant first-week university teacher inspired her.
- She wrote The Middle Ages: A Very Short Introduction and enjoyed the chance to author it.
The Term 'Middle Ages' Is Historically Constructed
- The term 'Middle Ages' arose around 1400 as Renaissance intellectuals dismissed intervening centuries as a 'middle' phase.
- Rubin critiques the label while using it because it shapes popular understanding of 500–1500 Europe.
Power Structures And Constant Change
- The Middle Ages featured church hegemony, landed aristocracy, and limited female authority across much of Europe.
- Yet this era was also a time of constant change rather than static backwardness.
