The Medieval Podcast

Eleanor Parker, an expert in early medieval England, discusses big feasts and festivals of early medieval England and the transition from paganism to Christianity. They explore the significance of dates like Christmas and the evolution of Lent traditions. The podcast also covers community celebrations, the interconnectedness of seasons, recent archaeological findings, and historical perceptions.

As far as ruling houses go, France's Capetian dynasty easily gives the Plantagenets a run for their money in power, prestige, and scandal. This week, Danièle speaks with Justine Firnhaber-Baker about the fierce and fascinating Capetian dynasty, how they made medieval France, and how they changed the world.You can support The Medieval Podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Sometimes the very people we trust to help us keep law and order are wolves in sheep’s clothing. This week, Danièle speaks with Jonathan Lyon about a powerful medieval position which could easily lend itself to violence and corruption: church advocate. To learn more about Calamity and Change: An Introduction to the 14th Century, go to https://medievalstudies.thinkific.com/courses/calamity-and-change

Medieval historians are faced with the daunting task of having to piece together around a thousand years of history without all that many written sources to speak of. But what happens if it turns out that some of the most important sources we’ve been using have been - let’s say - touched up a little? This week, Danièle speaks with Thomas Smith about letters from the First Crusade, which ones are either partially or completely invented, and what this discovery means to our understanding of the Crusades.You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Bestseller and broadcaster Dan Jones has been busy with a whole bunch of new projects since he was last on The Medieval Podcast. This week, Danièle catches up with Dan about his latest documentaries, novels, and hit podcast - and together they share some exciting news for medieval fans. To listen to Danièle and Dan introduce The Iron King, go to https://listen.sonymusic-podcasts.link/i_QB7rbc 

For over a thousand years, people have been captivated by the tales of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. And each generation and culture has shaped the story of Arthur to meet their own aesthetic and political needs. This week, Danièle speaks with Kathy Cawsey and Elizabeth Edwards about the changing face of Arthur, the way his legend spread across the medieval world, and the ways in which storytellers adopted - and adapted - his myth.You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Because they’re so familiar, coins can sometimes seem to be a part of the natural order. But in the Early Middle Ages, just about everything to do with coins was in flux, from where they were sourced, to who was using them. This week, Danièle speaks with Rory Naismith about the complex world of medieval coins.You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Part of both faith and fashion, fish was an important ingredient in the medieval diet. And because of this, medieval fishing was much more sophisticated than just a rod, a line, and a worm. This week, Danièle speaks with Richard Hoffmann about what people were eating, how they caught it, and how fish farming evolved over time.You can support this Podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

These days, most of us have a good working knowledge of what’s going on with our internal organs. But in the Middle Ages, most people – even doctors – never got to see much of the inside of a human body. So, how did people conceive of our internal world? This week, Danièle speaks with Taylor McCall about what medieval people knew about internal medicine, where they learned it, and how they illustrated it.You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Medieval people spent a lot of time thinking about saints. But what they thought about saints wasn’t always what we might expect. Women saints with promiscuous backstories were fan favourites in the Middle Ages, and one of the most popular was St. Mary of Egypt. This week, Danièle speaks with Sonia Velázquez about St. Mary of Egypt, why she caught the medieval imagination, and how her beauty, age, and holiness spoke to generations of artists and the faithful.Consider supporting this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists