Was the plague brought to people by rats or human lice? How severely did the pestilence strike? What may we learn from modern epidemics? New research shed light on some old conundrums.
Category: Medieval Research
Network Analysis of the Battle of Clontarf in 1014
Network analysis of the Viking Age in Ireland as portrayed in Cogadh Gaedhel re Gallaibh reveals the cultural difference between Vikings and the Irish
How Devastating was the Black Death?
New studies of the levels of atmospheric lead as evidenced by icecores drilled from an Alpine Glacier lets scientists gauge the devastating effects of the Black Death on Economy and Society. It appears all ground to a halt.
German Scholars Plan to Update Manuscripta Mediaevalia
Manuscripta Medievalia is a classic example of a digitisation project overrun by technological advances. A group of German medievalists will remedy this.
Are Humans as Lethal today as in the Middle Ages?
The chances of dying from violence in the Middle Age were seven times higher than it is today. It appears culture and state-formation plays important role.
The Merovingians
The Merovingians literally means “The People of Merowech”. But who was Merowech? And what does his name tell us about the first Frankish kings?
Cultural Consequences of the Justinian Plague
What were the consequences of the Justinian Plague in the 6th century? How did people react to the pain and suffering, which by all accounts were just as devastating as those in the 14th century?
Culture and Identity in the Early Medieval Fenlands
New studies of the use of the fluid landscape in the Early Medieval Fenlands point to a continuity in the settlement-structure from pre-Roman times
Rendlesham – An Anglo-Saxon Royal Palace Near Sutton Hoo
Rendelsham is located five km north-east of Sutton Hoo and known as an early Anglo-Saxon emporium. Recently a royal mead-hall was discovered there
The Origin of Ambling Horses
Icelandic Viking horses are known for they ambling gait. Following the gene, scientists now suggest that the first Icelandic horses were in fact English
A Lost Tribal Hidage?
Bede used charters and other written documents while writing his histories. Careful sifting of the evidence reveals that he also used a now lost "Tribal Hidage".
Chartered Landscapes and Networks
Medieval charters are valuable resources for writing local histories of landscapes and lives. But they are also useful when studying networks through time
Salmon Suffered from Medieval Water Mills
Salmon declined severely after 1400. New study demonstrates that the culprit was the explosion in vertical water mills and not overfishing or contamination
New studies of DNA on the Turin Shroud?
The Turin Shroud is one of the most contested relics in Christianity. New article (2016) calls for renewed studies of the ancient DNA in the blood-stains
The Economics of the Black Death
How come the economy did not ground to a halt after 1349 - 50, but rather witnessed growth? New article aims to shed light on this conundrum
Medieval Famine and Frailty in London
Medieval Famines occurred from time to time. The question is whether some individuals were more prone than others to outlive a period of harsh conditions.