The history behind the castle-building on hilltops in the medieval Mediterranean landscape – the incastellamento or incastellation – is nuanced
Category: Medieval History
The Plan of St. Gall – Ideal or Reality
One of the treasures from the Carolingian Age is the Plan of St. Gall - a design for an ideal monastery – from the 9th century.
Book of Hours of Richard III
Rumour has it this Book of Hours accompanied Richard III to the Battle of Bosworth. Later impaired by the mother of Henry VII, it has now been digitised.
Environment in the Classical and Medieval Worlds
Environmentalism covers the ancient idea that environments and climate influences our mentalities. New book offers an introduction
The Great Transition in the Late Medieval World
New book by Bruce M. S. Campbell on the Great Transition from 13th to the 16th century promises to be the new bible in environmental history
Syrian Drought Worst in 900 Years
The newly published Old World Drought Atlas was recently used to gauge the seriousness of the Syrian Draught, the like of which has not been seen for 900 years.
Geoffrey de Charny c. 1306 -1356
Geoffrey de Charny was the first documented owner of the Shroud of Turin and an accomplished knight, who wrote a famous handbook of Chivalry.
Trends at Kalamazoo
Medievalists in Kalamazoo seem out of sync with a public more interested in ‘Early Medieval history” and ‘Beowulf’ than Chaucer and literature
From Lejre to Roskilde
Around AD 1000 the royal seat in Lejre had lost its political power to the Jelling Dynasty, which founded a new royal centre at of Roskilde.
Odin from Lejre? Freya? Or Völva?
Is the silver figurine from Lejre representing Odin? Freya? Or perhaps a völva, a Viking sorceress? Many interpretations have been put forward
The Double Volcanic Event in AD 536 and AD 540
Severe deterioration of living conditions in Scandinavia in the years’ AD 536 - 50 was caused by two volcanic explosions following each other
What Impact Did Climate Have Upon Medieval History?
What impact did climate have on Medieval History? A new crop of studies help to explore the details of the linkage between migrations, wars and much more. Get the overview here
Environmental Disasters in the Medieval Levant
BOOK REVIEW: Sarah Kate Raphael explores the interplay between the climate in Medieval Levant and the politics of crusading and warring in the region
The Medieval Warm Period
The medieval warm period (AD 725 - 1025) was characterised by little solar activity and few volcanic eruptions. This resulted in climate stability and economic and demographic growth
Climate History
Historical Climatology is a website dedicated to share interdisciplinary research into historical climate studies with journalists, policymakers, scholars and the general public
Medieval Climate Shifts and Settlements in North Eastern Europe
Recent studies explore the connection between medieval climate changes and historical migrations in North Eastern Europe bordering the White See