The Medieval Podcast

During the Late Middle Ages, warfare began to change with the rise of gunpowder weapons. But is every medieval gunpowder recipe actually effective? This week, Danièle speaks with Clifford J. Rogers about his gunpowder experiments at West Point Military Academy, how small variations might affect each recipe, and why a modern military academy needs a medievalist. It would be great to have you vote a...

This week, Danièle speaks with Peter Konieczny from Medievalists.net about the new research they learned about at the International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo. Danièle's course, Calamity and Change: An Introduction to the Fourteenth Century, begins on May 19th - sign up at https://medievalstudies.thinkific.com/courses/calamity-and-change This podcast is made possible by the generous...

This week, Danièle introduces Chrétien de Troyes, a thirteenth-century master of Arthurian literature and one of the most influential writers of all time. Sign up for Danièle's course at https://medievalstudies.thinkific.com/courses/calamity-and-change This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please vis...

In anticipation of the coronation of King Charles III, this week, Danièle goes through all of the medieval English kings in sequence from 1066 to 1509, highlighting some of their best and worst moments. Sign up for Danièle's course, Calamity and Change: An Introduction to the Fourteenth Century , at https://medievalstudies.thinkific.com/courses/calamity-and-change This podcast is made possible by...

This week, Danièle discusses the medieval stories that informed some of the world's most famous plays, as well as the influence William Shakespeare has had on our collective memory of the Middle Ages. Danièle's class on 'Calamity and Change: An Introduction to the Fourteenth Century' begins May 19th - please visit https://medievalstudies.thinkific.com/courses/calamity-and-change to sign up. This p...

Not every saint gets a contemporary biography, let alone two, but fifteenth-century French saint Colette is among them. This week, Danièle speaks with Renate Blumenfeld-Kosinski about Saint Colette, her two very different biographies, and her remarkable life as a reformer on the road. You can sign up for ExtraMedieal with Danièle Cybulskie at https://www.danielecybulskie.com/extramedieval This pod...

During the Middle Ages, one figure began to consistently symbolize the renowned wealth and wisdom of African kingdoms in European art: Balthazar. This week, Danièle speaks with Bryan Keene about this wise king, his evolution in medieval art, and his continuing impact in modern culture. You can support this Podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possibl...

They've been our helpers, protectors, and best friends for thousands of years, but what did people in the Middle Ages think about our canine companions? This week, Danièle shares some medieval writers' thoughts about dogs. You can support this podcast and sign up for ExtraMedieval on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support of liste...

This week, Danièle shares letters written by some of the most iconic women of the Middle Ages, including Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Christine de Pizan. To subscribe and listen to ExtraMedieval, please visit https://www.danielecybulskie.com/extramedieval This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval hi...

This week, Danièle speaks with Eleanor Janega about medieval womanhood, the ideal feminine body in the Middle Ages, and how past perceptions of women’s roles are still affecting society today. You can learn more about the conference Easter in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages at https://www.afterconstantine.com/post/easter-in-late-antiquity-and-the-middle-ages-conference-program This podcast is m...

This week, Danièle previews her new podcast ExtraMedieval in a crossover episode covering The Feast of the Swan, medieval guide dogs, and how modern research on animals can help us think more deeply about the Middle Ages. You can sign up to get ExtraMedieval on the Medievalists.net Patreon at the $3.99 tier - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous...

From supplying food and medical treatment, to lending emotional and financial support, to occasionally engaging in combat, women were to be found in and around every major conflict of the Middle Ages. This week, Danièle speaks with Helen J. Nicholson about the role of women in the most famous clashes of the medieval period: the crusades. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon...

We know that many people were unfree serfs in the Middle Ages, but what does serfdom actually mean? This week, Danièle speaks with Mark Bailey about medieval serfs, their place in society, and the true catalyst for the decline and fall of serfdom in England. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, plea...

We know that women in the Middle Ages worked and contributed in vital ways to their families and communities, but where do we find the evidence? And what can it tell us? This week, Danièle speaks with Sarah Ifft Decker about women’s work in medieval Catalonia, how we can trace it, and how it differed from city to city and faith to faith. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon...

In the Middle Ages, swans could be found everywhere from ponds, lakes, and moats, to shields, tombs, and stories. This week, Danièle speaks with Natalie Goodison about how these beautiful birds have made a lasting impact on Western culture in wide-ranging and unexpected ways. You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is m...

This week, Danièle (with the help of her new puppy) introduces some of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages, along with their iconography, so you can spot them in medieval art. You can also support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the j...

Unfiltered, opinionated, and joyful, the Wife of Bath stands out from Chaucer's Canterbury crowd, interjecting, interrupting, and endearing herself to readers for over six centuries. This week, Danièle speaks with Marion Turner about the literary life and legacy of this unforgettable character. The creator and host of The Medieval Podcast is Danièle Cybulskie. Click here to visit her website at ww...

On January 1, 1404, a Florentine named Gregorio Dati wrote down his good intentions in his "secret ledger" to keep himself accountable. This week, Danièle revisits Dati's New Year's resolutions and the life of this colourful medieval silk merchant. You can also help support the podcast and Medievalists.net through our Patreon – go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists to learn more. This podcast...

This week, Peter Konieczny from Medievalists.net joins Danièle to talk about their favourite medieval books of 2022. Danièle has updated her website - check it out at https://www.danielecybulskie.com/ You can support this podcast and Medievalists.net on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how...

To see the tangled knots of medieval interpersonal and international relationships, we need look no further than two of the most powerful, long-lasting, and entwined dynasties of the Middle Ages. This week, Danièle speaks with Catherine Hanley about two hundred years of rule by the houses of Plantagenet and Capet. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find...

The Middle Ages was a time in which people were closely tied to plants and their environment, deeply aware of their potential as a source of food, healing and beauty. Islamic gardens were especially known for their creativity and innovation. This week, Danièle speaks with D. Fairchild Ruggles about their cultural significance and the ingenious ways they were cultivated. This podcast is made possib...

In the mid-1990s, a little movie called Braveheart introduced a whole new generation to Scotland's fight for freedom in the Middle Ages. This week, Danièle speaks with Iain MacInnes about Scotland's Wars of Independence, why a sovereign kingdom had to fight for independence in the first place, and why the story doesn't end with the Battle of Bannockburn. This podcast is made possible by the genero...

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are looking for gifts for the history lovers in our lives, or worthy historical causes to donate to. This week, Danièle shares some ideas for the medieval history enthusiasts on your list, no matter what your budget. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support...

It’s not that easy being queen, especially when one of your ladies-in-waiting catches the eye of your husband. This week, Danièle speaks with Gemma Hollman about Philippa of Hainault and Alice Perrers, the wife and the mistress of Edward III. To become a patron, please visit patreon.com/medievalists. This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to he...

This week, Danièle speaks with R. Howard Bloch about medieval cathedrals, those magnificent “total works of art” where people have gathered, worshipped, and offered their talents and prayers since the Middle Ages. Check out Danièle's website at http://www.danielecybulskie.com/ You can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/medievalists and Danièle directly at https://ko-fi.com/5MinMediev...