How Pagan Was Medieval Britain?
Ronald Hutton explores how the idea of pagan survivals became prevalent among British historians, based on work by folklorist Lady Raglan and Margaret Murray.
Pater Ecgberct of Rath Melsigi: The Hero of Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica?
Are there heroes that can be celebrated in this period? Is it possible that somebody like Ecgberct could be a hero of somebody like Bede and in something like Historia Ecclesiastica?
Ireland, Scotland, and the Hundred Years War: A New Vista
This paper will consider how the Gaelic aristocracy interacted with ‘European’ affairs in this period.
Viking Pagan Gods in Britain
Viking Pagan Gods in Britain Lecture by Ronald Hutton Given at Gresham College on March 8, 2023 Abstract: The Norse and Danish invaders…
The Medieval Agricultural Revolution: New Evidence
The Medieval Agricultural Revolution: New Evidence Lecture by Helena Hamerow Given at Gresham College on March 23, 2023 Abstract: During the medieval ‘agricultural…
Archives and Record Keeping in the Medieval Eastern Mediterranean
We present three case-studies which showcase a diverse range of historical actors, exploring state record-keeping, the archival practices of religious scholars, and the preservation of legal documents, to illustrate the rich and complex archival history of this region.
The Medieval Arab Predecessors of Champollion
Ancient Egypt as the land of science and Mirabilia fascinated medieval Arab scholars. Many wrote serious studies on Egyptian culture and environment.
The Kidnapping of Baby Bonafilla: Jewish guardianship, conversion, and mixed families in the aftermath of 1391 in Girona
In early 1417, the Jewish guardians of Bonafilla, the daughter of Nacim Roven, kidnapped the young toddler to prevent her conversa mother and stepfather from converting the child
Rebels and Renegades: Lisān al-Dīn ibn al-Khaṭīb (d. 1374) and the Christians of Medieval Granada
This paper seeks to demonstrate the convergence between Nasrid discourses about ethno-religious identity and the complex borderland realities of the Muslim-Christian frontier in 14th-century Iberia.
Placenames, Politics, Settlement and Society in Medieval Argyll, c.AD 400–1400
This lecture will take a broad view of the evidence that placenames can provide for exploring the history of Atlantic Scotland by investigating them in tandem with historical and archaeological evidence.
Armour and the Knight in Life and Afterlife
The medieval knight was defined by his armour, which set him apart from other fighting men. However, the study of knightly armour poses a number of daunting challenges.
The Annals of Clonmacnoise
Lecture focusing on Armagh Robinson MS A – the oldest manuscript of Conall Mag Eochagáin’s English translation of Irish Annals
John Ball and the Peasants’ Revolt
This public lecture will look at how Ball’s ideas about the Bible and apocalyptic transformation would have been understood in 1381, particularly among peasant audiences.
Leonardo da Vinci, the Last Supper, and the Art of Throwing a Great Dinner Party
This presentation will explore the evolution of the Last Supper in Italian art, beginning with early Christian images through to the late Renaissance, including one of the world’s most famous works of art: Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
The Crusades and Apocalyptic Thought in the Middle Ages
My research is concerned with how medieval perceptions of the end times interface with ideas concerning the brand of pre-modern holy warfare known as the Crusades
The Irish at the Carolingian Court and the Europeanization of Europe
During the eighth and ninth centuries, Irish clergymen and theologians such as Virgil of Salzburg, Dicuil, Sedulius Scottus, and John Scottus Eriugena were drawn to the courts of the Carolingian kings and emperors.
Making “Aristocracy” of Koryŏ Dynasty (918-1392) in Korean Historiography
This talk will analyse this Korean historiography debate and suggest discussion points to better understand the ruling class of Koryŏ dynasty and as a result rethink the development of Korean history.
The Codex in the Classroom: Practical Dimensions of Medieval Diagrams
As demonstrated by a wide range of medieval schoolbooks, diagrams had a secure place throughout the curriculum, in which they served not simply as didactic aids but also a means of inculcating enduring patterns of thought.
Results of Recent Scientific Analysis of the Vinland Map: Can You Judge a Manuscript by its Ink?
Science cannot be used to prove a work of art is genuine, but it is possible to establish that an object is likely a forgery if the materials from which it is made are inconsistent with the time period and geography of its purported origin.
Light from the Dark Ages: medieval dispatches for difficult times
Stefania Gerevini walks you through a journey in the “Dark Age”, showing examples of how, indeed, light permeated Middle Age artistic production, scientific studies, and metaphysical theories.
Metaphor and Metonymy in Names
Using examples from The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, the lecture discusses surnames from bird-names, animal names and fish-names.
Hidden Hands: The Secret Lives of Manuscript Makers and Owners
Mary Wellesley will trace the stories of the people who made, loved and sometimes destroyed medieval manuscripts, which are some of the most engaging artefacts ever made by human hands.
Potions and Poisons: ‘Magical’ Drinks in Medieval Norse Literature
Perceiving the ordinary or the magical as discrete separate categories is a modern way of thinking that could impede our understanding of the past.
Believing rulers and the political theology of the Qur’an within its Byzantine context
Zishan Ghaffar speaks about Believing rulers and the political theology of the Qur’an within it’s Byzantine context at the conference Unlocking the Byzantine Qur’an.