middle ages topics for research

Medieval History Research Paper Topics

In this page dedicated to medieval history research paper topics , students are presented with a wide-ranging list of captivating subjects that delve into the intricacies of the medieval era. Divided into ten categories, each containing ten unique topics, this comprehensive collection explores various aspects of political, cultural, religious, and military life during this fascinating period. From analyzing influential events to examining societal transformations, these research paper topics provide students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of medieval history and develop engaging academic papers.

100 Medieval History Research Paper Topics

The study of medieval history opens a doorway to a captivating era filled with knights, castles, and profound societal changes. Exploring the medieval period through research papers allows students to dive deep into various aspects of this time, uncovering fascinating stories and shedding light on significant historical events. In this comprehensive list, we present ten captivating research paper topics in each of the ten categories, offering students a plethora of options to explore and delve into the rich tapestry of medieval history.

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Political History

• The Role of Monarchy in Medieval Europe: Power, Succession, and Dynasties
• Feudalism and Its Influence on Medieval Society
• The Magna Carta and the Evolution of Constitutionalism
• The Crusades: A Political and Religious Endeavor
• The Hundred Years’ War: Causes, Key Battles, and Consequences
• The Byzantine Empire: Politics and Influence on Medieval Europe
• Papal Power and the Medieval Church-State Relationship
• The Black Death and Its Political Impact
• The Norman Conquest of England: William the Conqueror and Its Aftermath
• The Golden Age of Charlemagne: The Carolingian Empire and Its Legacy

Cultural History

• Chivalry and Knighthood: Codes of Conduct and Idealized Behavior
• The Role of Women in Medieval Society: From Noble Ladies to Peasant Women
• Medieval Art and Architecture: Cathedrals, Illuminated Manuscripts, and Iconography
• Courtly Love: Romance and Relationships in Medieval Literature
• Education and Intellectual Life in Medieval Monasteries
• Folklore and Legends: Robin Hood, King Arthur, and the Arthurian Legends
• Music and Dance in Medieval Society: Troubadours and Minstrels
• Medieval Festivals and Celebrations: Feast Days, Carnivals, and Jousting Tournaments
• The Influence of Islamic Culture on Medieval Europe
• The Role of Guilds in Medieval Trade and Craftsmanship

Religious History

• The Crusades: Motivations, Impact, and Legacy
• Heresy and Inquisition: Religious Dissent and Its Suppression
• The Great Schism: East-West Division in the Christian Church
• Pilgrimage in Medieval Europe: Meaning, Routes, and Shrines
• Saints and Relics: Veneration and the Cult of the Holy
• Monasticism and Monastic Orders: Benedictines, Franciscans, and Dominicans
• The Mendicant Movement: Poverty, Preaching, and Social Engagement
• The Medieval Inquisition: Origins, Methods, and Consequences
• The Witch Hunts of the Medieval Period: Beliefs and Persecution
• The Impact of the Printing Press on Religious Change in the Late Medieval Era

Military History

• The Battle of Hastings: William the Conqueror’s Triumph
• Knights and Armor: Technology and Tactics in Medieval Warfare
• The Siege of Constantinople: The Fall of the Byzantine Empire
• The Teutonic Knights and the Northern Crusades
• The Reconquista: Christian Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula
• The Battle of Agincourt: Henry V’s Victory against the French
• The Mongol Invasions: Genghis Khan and the Conquest of Asia
• The Wars of the Roses: Noble Rivalry for the English Throne
• The Spanish Inquisition: Religion and Warfare
• The Battle of Tours: Charles Martel and the Defense against the Moors

Economic History

• The Hanseatic League: Trade and Economic Power in Medieval Northern Europe
• The Rise of Italian City-States: Florence, Venice, and Genoa
• The Silk Road: Trade and Cultural Exchange between East and West
• The Medieval Merchant Guilds: Economic Influence and Regulation
• The Black Death and its Economic Impact on European Society
• The Agricultural Revolution: Technological Advances in Medieval Farming
• The Commercial Revolution: Growth of Urban Centers and Market Economy
• Medieval Coinage and Currency: Monetary Systems and Economic Stability
• The Role of Fairs and Trade Routes in Medieval Commerce
• The Rise of Banking and Financial Institutions in Medieval Europe

Intellectual History

• Scholasticism and the Rise of Medieval Universities
• The Influence of Aristotle on Medieval Thought
• The Works of Thomas Aquinas: Theology and Philosophy
• The Development of Vernacular Literature in Medieval Europe
• The Influence of Arabic and Islamic Scholarship on Western Intellectual Tradition
• Mysticism and Spiritual Movements in Medieval Christianity
• Humanism and the Renaissance in Medieval Italy
• The Role of Medieval Monastic Libraries in Preserving Knowledge
• Astrology and Alchemy: Esoteric Knowledge in Medieval Society
• Medieval Science and the Pursuit of Natural Philosophy

Social History

• Feudal Society: Hierarchy, Classes, and Social Mobility
• Women’s Role in Medieval Society: Power, Influence, and Restrictions
• Peasant Life: Agriculture, Serfdom, and Rural Communities
• Medieval Crime and Punishment: Justice, Law, and Order
• The Black Death: Social Disruption and Demographic Changes
• Marriage and Family Life in the Middle Ages
• Slavery and Servitude in Medieval Europe
• Medieval Medicine: Healing Practices, Medical Knowledge, and Remedies
• The Role of Medieval Guilds in Urban Life
• The Impact of the Crusades on Social Structures and Cultural Exchange

Art and Architecture

• Gothic Architecture: Cathedrals, Flying Buttresses, and Stained Glass
• Romanesque Architecture: Churches, Monasteries, and Fortifications
• Illuminated Manuscripts: Book Production and Miniature Art
• Medieval Sculpture and Woodcarving: From Reliefs to Free-Standing Statues
• Mosaic Art: Byzantine Influence and Iconographic Representation
• The Bayeux Tapestry: A Visual Chronicle of the Norman Conquest
• Metalwork and Jewelry: Craftsmanship and Decorative Arts
• Medieval Painting: From Icons to Altarpieces
• Castle Architecture and Military Engineering
• The Art of Heraldry: Coats of Arms and Symbolism

Scientific and Technological Advances

• Medieval Astronomy and Astrology: Understanding the Universe
• The Development of the Compass and Its Impact on Navigation
• The Invention of the Mechanical Clock and Timekeeping
• Advances in Agriculture: Crop Rotation and Improved Farming Techniques
• Medieval Engineering: Bridges, Aqueducts, and Cathedrals
• The Use of Gunpowder in Medieval Warfare
• The Printing Press: Gutenberg’s Revolutionary Invention
• Medieval Alchemy: From Transmutation to Experimental Science
• The Impact of Islamic Scientific Knowledge on Medieval Europe
• The Evolution of Medieval Medicine: From Herbal Remedies to Surgical Techniques

Regional Studies

• The Kingdom of England: Political, Social, and Cultural Transformations
• The Byzantine Empire: Politics, Religion, and Artistic Legacy
• The Kingdom of France: Monarchy, Conflict, and Cultural Flourishing
• The Holy Roman Empire: Structure, Dissolution, and Legacy
• The Iberian Peninsula: Reconquista, Kingdoms, and Cultural Exchange
• The Italian City-States: Artistic Renaissance and Political Dynamics
• The Kingdom of Scotland: Independence, Wars, and Cultural Identity
• The Nordic Countries: Viking Age, Norse Mythology, and Scandinavian Influence
• The Crusader States: Kingdoms in the Levant and Interactions with the Muslim World
• The Papal States: Power, Influence, and Religious Authority

This comprehensive list of medieval history research paper topics covers various aspects of political, cultural, religious, military, economic, intellectual, social, artistic, scientific, and regional history. Students are presented with a wide range of intriguing subjects to choose from, allowing them to explore and analyze different facets of the medieval era. Whether delving into the intricacies of political power, examining the influence of chivalry and knighthood, or unraveling the mysteries of medieval art and architecture, these topics offer a wealth of opportunities for engaging and enlightening research papers.

Medieval History: Exploring the Time of Knights, Castles, and Crusades

The medieval period, spanning roughly from the 5th to the 15th century, holds a special place in history as a time of profound societal change, cultural transformation, and iconic imagery. It was an era marked by the rise and fall of empires, the flourishing of art and architecture, the clash of religions, and the advent of chivalry and knighthood. Understanding medieval history provides a fascinating glimpse into a world of castles and cathedrals, knights and peasants, and epic quests for power and glory.

One of the remarkable aspects of medieval history is the sheer diversity of topics it encompasses. From political intrigues and military campaigns to religious upheavals and economic transformations, there is a vast array of research paper topics that offer students the opportunity to delve into this captivating period. Exploring medieval history allows us to unravel the stories of kings and queens, explore the everyday lives of ordinary people, and examine the intellectual and cultural developments that shaped the course of history.

One of the key areas of interest in medieval history is political history. The medieval world was characterized by a complex web of political structures, including feudalism, monarchy, and the rise of city-states. Research papers in this area could delve into topics such as the power struggles between monarchs and nobles, the impact of the Magna Carta on the concept of constitutionalism, or the influence of the Crusades on European politics and diplomacy.

Cultural history is another fascinating aspect of the medieval period. From the awe-inspiring cathedrals of Gothic architecture to the illuminations of medieval manuscripts, the cultural achievements of this era continue to captivate scholars and enthusiasts alike. Exploring topics such as the role of women in medieval society, the development of courtly love in literature, or the influence of Islamic culture on European art provides a deeper understanding of the rich cultural tapestry of the time.

Religion played a central role in medieval society, and the interplay between different religious beliefs and institutions shaped the course of history. Research papers on religious history could explore topics such as the impact of the Crusades on Christian-Muslim relations, the rise of heretical movements and the Inquisition, or the role of monasticism in preserving knowledge and scholarship.

Military history is another prominent area of study within medieval history. The image of knights in shining armor, jousting tournaments, and epic battles captures the imagination. Research papers could focus on topics such as the strategies and tactics employed during key battles, the influence of castles and fortifications on warfare, or the impact of the Mongol invasions on European military practices.

Economic history offers insight into the economic systems and developments of the medieval period. Research papers could delve into topics such as the growth of trade and commerce, the role of guilds in regulating and advancing specific industries, or the impact of the Black Death on the economic landscape.

Intellectual history in the medieval period witnessed the rise of scholasticism, the pursuit of knowledge, and the development of universities. Research papers could explore topics such as the influence of medieval philosophy on later intellectual movements, the role of monastic libraries in preserving and disseminating knowledge, or the emergence of vernacular literature and its impact on cultural identity.

The social history of the medieval period provides a lens through which to examine the lives of ordinary people. Research papers could focus on topics such as the role of women, the lives of peasants, or the impact of epidemics such as the Black Death on society and demographics.

Art and architecture flourished during the medieval period, leaving behind magnificent cathedrals, sculptures, and illuminated manuscripts. Research papers in this area could explore topics such as the architectural innovations of Gothic cathedrals, the symbolism in medieval art, or the techniques and materials used in manuscript illumination.

The scientific and technological advances of the medieval period also deserve attention. Research papers could delve into topics such as the developments in astronomy and astrology, the impact of the printing press on the dissemination of knowledge, or the contributions of medieval scholars to the fields of medicine and alchemy.

Finally, regional studies provide a unique perspective on the medieval period, showcasing the distinct characteristics and events of specific regions. Research papers could focus on topics such as the Norman Conquest of England, the Byzantine Empire, or the Kingdom of Scotland.

In conclusion, the medieval period offers a captivating journey into a world of knights, castles, and crusades. The wide range of research paper topics available allows students to explore different aspects of medieval history, shedding light on the political, cultural, religious, military, economic, intellectual, social, artistic, scientific, and regional dynamics of the time. By engaging with these topics, students can develop a deeper understanding of this transformative period in human history and appreciate its lasting impact on the world we live in today.

How to Choose Medieval History Research Paper Topics

Choosing a research paper topic in medieval history can be an exciting yet challenging task. With such a vast and diverse range of subjects to explore, it’s essential to narrow down your focus and select a topic that aligns with your interests and academic goals. Here are ten tips to help you choose a compelling and engaging medieval history research paper topic:

• Identify Your Interests : Start by reflecting on your personal interests within medieval history. Are you drawn to a specific time period, region, or theme? Consider the aspects that intrigue you the most and use them as a starting point for your topic selection.
• Conduct Preliminary Research : Begin your journey by conducting preliminary research on broad topics or themes in medieval history. Read books, scholarly articles, and reputable online resources to gain a general understanding of the subject matter and identify potential areas of further exploration.
• Consult Reference Works : Consult reference works such as encyclopedias, handbooks, and historiographies dedicated to medieval history. These resources can provide valuable insights, highlight key topics, and guide you towards specialized areas within the field.
• Engage with Recent Scholarship : Familiarize yourself with the latest research and scholarly debates in medieval history. Stay up-to-date with academic journals, conferences, and reputable websites to identify emerging topics and gaps in the existing scholarship that you can contribute to through your research.
• Consider Chronological and Geographic Factors : The medieval period spans over a thousand years and encompasses a wide range of regions. Narrow down your focus by selecting a specific time period or geographic area that interests you. For example, you could explore the High Middle Ages in Western Europe or the Islamic Golden Age in the Middle East.
• Explore Different Themes and Perspectives : Medieval history offers a rich tapestry of themes and perspectives to explore. Consider topics related to politics, religion, culture, art, society, economy, intellectual developments, or military conflicts. Think about how these themes intersect and influence each other.
• Examine Primary and Secondary Sources : Before finalizing your topic, evaluate the availability of primary and secondary sources. Assess the accessibility of relevant manuscripts, chronicles, letters, legal documents, archaeological artifacts, and other primary materials that can support your research.
• Consult with Your Advisor : Seek guidance from your academic advisor or professor. They can provide valuable insights, suggest potential topics based on their expertise, and help you refine your research question to ensure it aligns with the requirements of your assignment.
• Consider Comparative Studies : Explore the possibility of conducting comparative studies within medieval history. By comparing different regions, cultures, or time periods, you can analyze similarities, differences, and patterns that shed light on broader historical phenomena.
• Brainstorm and Refine : Take time to brainstorm ideas, create mind maps, or engage in discussions with peers and professors. Refine your topic by narrowing it down to a specific research question or thesis statement that is manageable within the scope of your research paper.

In conclusion, choosing a medieval history research paper topic requires careful consideration and exploration of your interests, available sources, and scholarly discourse. By following these ten tips, you can find a topic that ignites your passion, offers academic value, and allows you to make a unique contribution to the field of medieval history. Remember to select a topic that challenges you intellectually and aligns with the guidelines and objectives of your research paper assignment.

How to Write a Medieval History Research Paper

Writing a research paper on medieval history can be a rewarding and enlightening experience. It allows you to delve into the rich tapestry of the past, explore fascinating events and figures, and contribute to the scholarly understanding of the medieval period. To help you navigate the writing process, here are ten tips for crafting an engaging and well-researched medieval history research paper:

• Understand the Assignment : Familiarize yourself with the assignment guidelines, requirements, and expectations. Clarify any questions you have with your professor to ensure that you meet all the necessary criteria.
• Develop a Clear Thesis Statement : Formulate a clear and concise thesis statement that articulates the main argument or research question of your paper. Your thesis will provide a guiding framework for your research and analysis.
• Conduct In-Depth Research : Engage in thorough research to gather relevant and reliable sources. Explore primary sources such as manuscripts, chronicles, letters, and secondary sources such as books, articles, and scholarly journals. Evaluate the credibility and scholarly reputation of the sources you use.
• Organize Your Thoughts : Create an outline or a structured plan that outlines the main sections and subtopics of your research paper. This will help you maintain a logical flow of ideas and ensure that your arguments are well-organized.
• Analyze and Interpret Sources : When analyzing primary and secondary sources, critically evaluate their content, context, and bias. Look for patterns, themes, and arguments that emerge from your research and use them to support your thesis statement.
• Provide Historical Context : Situate your research within its historical context by providing background information on the time period, events, and individuals you are studying. Help your readers understand the significance of your topic in relation to the broader historical narrative.
• Incorporate Multiple Perspectives : Explore diverse perspectives and interpretations of the medieval period. Engage with different schools of thought, scholarly debates, and varying viewpoints to present a comprehensive and nuanced analysis of your topic.
• Use Proper Citation and Referencing : Ensure that you properly cite and reference all sources used in your research paper. Follow the citation style guidelines specified by your professor, whether it’s APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, or another format.
• Craft Engaging and Coherent Writing : Write clearly and concisely, using academic language appropriate for your discipline. Develop well-structured paragraphs that flow logically from one idea to the next. Use transitions to connect different sections of your paper.
• Revise and Edit : Set aside time for thorough revision and editing of your research paper. Review your work for clarity, coherence, grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Ensure that your arguments are well-supported and that your paper adheres to the required formatting guidelines.

In conclusion, writing a medieval history research paper requires careful planning, extensive research, and effective communication of your findings. By following these ten tips, you can craft a well-written and compelling paper that demonstrates your knowledge of the subject matter and contributes to the field of medieval history. Remember to allow yourself enough time for research, writing, and revision, and seek feedback from professors or peers to enhance the quality of your work.

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The Middle Ages - Medieval History 7: Research Topics

• Research Topics

1. Children's Crusade

Your name is Daniel of Cloyes. In 1212 AD you embarked on the fifth crusade to“capture” Jerusalem but ended up in Egypt. It was also known as the Children’s Crusade. Out of 30,000 crusading children, you were one of the few who returned home. All of your relatives and neighbors have gathered to hear your adventures. You must tell them the truth as you witnessed it. Describe your reasons for joining the Crusade, your observations and experiences on the crusade, and the results of the crusade.      

• Medieval Sourcebook: The Children's Crusade
• Medieval Sourcebook; The Crusades
• The Children's Crusades

2. Anna Comnena

Most histories of the Crusades tend to focus on the Crusaders themselves without thought of the people whose lands were invaded and cities destroyed. Anna Comnena (also called Anna Komnene) was the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor and was living in Constantinople when the First Crusade came through the city. She wrote a book entitled The Alexiad , which described her father’s reign that detailed her reactions to the Crusaders. Describe Anna to your classmates based on her opinions and writings, focusing on her thoughts and observations of the Crusades and the crusaders. 

• Women in World History: Anna Comnena
• Dangerous Women: Anna Komnene
• Ancient History Encyclopedia: Anna Komnene

4. Apprenticeship

The son of a very progressive man, you have been given a choice that many medieval youth do not receive. You have been allowed to decide which trade you would like to pursue and must decide to whom you will apprentice. You narrowed your options down to becoming a mason, a fuller, a shoemaker, or a baker. Investigate the process of medieval apprenticeship, the life and duties of an apprentice, and the role of guilds in medieval society.  Research the trades you are considering and chose which one you wish to pursue.

Present your findings and your final decision to your father (and the class). 

• Medieval England: Daily Life in Medieval Towns
• Medieval Guilds
• The Rise of Commerce and Towns
• Medieval Trades
• The Middle Ages: Tradesmen

5. Universities

Your Uncle Bartholomew has offered to pay for you to attend a university. Write your kind uncle four or more letters that keep him informed about the following topics: 

• The culture and reputation of your university.  Have there been any riots? Is it considered “party school”?
• The subject/curriculum you are studying
• Your typical day as a student
• Some of the more famous scholars and their publications in law, medicine, mathematics and philosophy that you are studying. Be sure to include some Muslim and Jewish scholars like Avicenna, Averroes, and Maimonides.
• Medieval Science, the Church, and Universities
• University of Cambridge: The Medieval University
• Medieval University - The Medievalists The video at the top of this article offers a nice overview.
• The Rise of Universities

6. Medicine and the Humors

As a child you were fascinated by the art of medicine because it combined elements of faith and the physical aspects of healing. You have decided to attend medical school in Salerno, Italy because they practice the latest advances in Arab medicine. After your first semester, you pay a visit to your family. Everyone is interested to know about the latest developments for healing people. In your conversations with your parents, be sure to tell them about the following:

• the theory of the humors
• the importance of Muslim scholarship and medical advances
• examples of treatments for a few diseases
• Middle Ages Health Click 'Enter' and then click 'Health' from the topics menu along the right side of the screen.
• Medicine, Diagnosis, and Treatment in the Middle Ages
• Medieval Medicine
• The Science Museum: Humours
• Arab Roots of European Medicine
• The Islamic World in the Middle Ages This quick overview includes examples of Muslim advances in medicines and their influence on European medicine at the time -- scroll down a bit to find it!

7. The Black Death

During the years of the Black Death, one quarter to one third of the entire European population perished.  Villages turned into ghost towns.  The whole fabric of society was altered.  Create a documentary film about the impact of the plague on Medieval society.  In your film, you should explore: the cause and spread of the plague, the disease's major symptoms and any possible treatments or preventative measures used, and the wider effects of the plague on society. 

• Plague and Public Health in Renaissance Europe
• The Black Death: Bubonic Plague
• Eyewitness to History: Plague
• The Black Death and Early Public Health Measures

8. Medieval English Fashion

You have been hired to design costumes for the new movie Quest set in the England of 1250. Your job is to create original, accurate costumes for the main characters including: Eleanor, the young and beautiful noblewoman; William, the nobleman to whom she is betrothed; Stephen, the crusader secretly in love with Eleanor; Hilda, the middle class gossip; and Rufus, the elderly serf. You must then present sketches of your designs to the producers (your classmates), offering background information on clothing in the Middle Ages and explanations defending the historical accuracy of your costumes. Your costume plans should include hairstyles and hats or headpieces for each character. 

• Costumes and courtiers: garments and fashion ideas in late medieval Western Europe
• Medieval Clothing and Fabrics
• Middle Ages Clothing Click 'Enter" and then click on 'Clothing' from the menu along the right side of the page.
• Clothes in Medieval England

9. Falconry

After many years as Lord Falconer, the King has given you an assistant to help you prepare for an upcoming hawking festival. Unfortunately, your assistant is unacquainted with falconry. Explain the process, equipment, and skills involved in training a falcon to hunt and the historical significance of falconry.    

• Ancient & Medieval Falconry: Origins & Functions in Medieval England
• Medieval Hunting History
• Medieval Falconry: Birds and Lovebirds
• Leisure in an English Medieval Castle

You’re a wandering minstrel from the 13 th century who has been traveled through time to modern-day England.  Even though the world is now a strange and confusing place, you just can’t give up your minstrel ways.  But new advances in technology now allow your music to reach a large audience without having to hike all across the country by foot.  You’re going to create a podcast  to share your music. In your broadcast, you want to be sure to include samples of all the different kinds of music ( plainchant, polyphonic and monophonic) from the Middle Ages.

You might also discuss:

• the importance of this music to your former culture.
• the difference between music heard in churches and the type of music you sing
• the difference between a jongleur, a minstrel, a bard and a troubadour like yourself?
• the difference between your music and the music of today
• Medieval and Renaissance Music
• A Guide to Medieval and Renaissance Musical Instruments
• The Middle Ages Arts and Entertainment
• A Short History of Medieval Music

11. Gardening

In your role of head gardener, you have been told to plan a new garden for the lord of the manor’s house. The lord has asked that you include some medicinal plants to help with his aches and pains and his wife wishes you to include culinary herbs. Draw up a design to present to the lord and explain why you have chosen the plants you did. Include images of at least two plants you have chosen to grow in the lord’s new garden in your presentation.

• The Bonnefort Cloister Herb Garden
• Design: The Medieval Garden Style
• Medieval gardens: Middle Ages to 1500
• What to Grow in a Medieval Herb Garden

Feasts in the Middle Ages were a celebratory time for all, but they could also prove to be a lot of work! As the Chief Cook of the castle, you are responsible for preparing feasts for various holidays. Choose one of these important feast days: Twelfth Night, St. Valentines Day, or St. John’s Day, often called Mid-Summer’s Eve. Give a brief background of the holiday and create an annotated menu for a party. Present your feast proposal along with a taste of one of the dishes for the class.

• Medieval and Renaissance Food
• Dining in State: A High Cuisine Guide
• Medieval Feast
• Medieval Food

13. Illuminated Manuscripts

 You are a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  You are preparing a new exhibit focused on illuminated book and manuscript production from different cultures during the Middle Ages.    Investigate the calligraphy and the book/manuscript production processes during the Middle Ages in Western Europe, the Muslim world, and Chinese civilization. Prepare a presentation to introduce your peers to your exhibit and include visual examples of illuminated books and manuscripts from each culture.  

• Illuminated Islamic Manuscript
• Calligraphy in Islamic Art
• Western European Illuminated Manuscripts
• Making Illuminated Manuscripts: Video
• Illuminated Manuscripts
• Manuscript Illumination in Northern Europe
• Chinese Calligraphy
• Center for Global Education: Chinese Calligraphy
• Chinese Calligraphy History

14. Marco Polo

Your name is Marco Polo and you have just returned to Venice after 24 years traveling to distant parts of the world. Your book, The Travels  of Marco Polo has become a best seller and you have been asked to go on a book tour to various Italian towns.    Share highlights and things that were especially wonderful or strange to you, such as a  postal system, coal,   and   paper money.  Be sure to describe your visits with the great Kublai Khan.      

• Excerpts of Marco Polo's Travels
• Marco Polo and His Travels
• Mariners' Museum: Marco Polo

15. The Silk Road

The ancient Silk Road was a vast network of trade routes whose flow of ideas, culture, music and art crossed the mountains and deserts of Central Asia to connect East Asia and the Mediterranean. Your boss is a Chinese silk merchant who has left the business to his son. Before he officially retires, he has hired you to take his son on one trip to experience the wonders, risks, trade, religions, and hardships of the Silk Road.  You decide to give him a guidebook that will provide him with information ahead of time.

Your guidebook should include the following:

• A map of the route that you are to travel.
• Examples of the goods that will be traded along the route.
• Brief descriptions of the different religions that he will encounter.
• Descriptions of some of the sounds, sights, and tastes that he might experience.
• Explanations of dangers that he must avoid such as bandits, extreme weather conditions, and geographic challenges.
• The Secrets of the Silk Road
• The Silk Road
• UNESCO: About the Silk Roads

16. Zheng He

You are are eager recreate the voyages of the infamous Zheng He (San Bao), one of the most successful and admired admirals in the Chinese fleet as it reached the height in 1421.   Investigate Zheng He’s career and travels as well as the events that led to a shift in China’s approach to exploration and contact with the rest of the world. Create a “virtual field trip” that highlights all the important places Zheng He traveled and the key places in China that are significant to Zheng He’s life.  

 Please note: his name is  also spelled as Cheng Ho  in many books and web sites.

• Admiral Zhen He
• Zheng He's Voyages of Discover
• The Ages of Exploration: Zheng He
• The Seven Voyages of Zheng He

17. Tale of Genji

While the people of Europe were warring amongst themselves, literature’s first novel The Tale of Genji, was being written by Murasaki Shikibu, a woman of Japan’s Heian period. Murasaki’s was not the only prominent work written by a female in Japan during this period. Courtly women also wrote “Pillow Books,” similar to diaries, some of which have survived to this day. Imagine you are the famed Murasaki writing an entry in your own “Pillow Book,” discussing the following topics:

• court life for women in the Heian period, including the clothing, music, activities, manner, and living spaces
• the general plot and topics of  The Tale of Genji
• the reasons for  The Tale of Genji' s   popularity
• The Heian Period
• Heian Period Court and Clan
• The Tale of Genji

18. Timbuktu

You are living in the city of Timbuktu during the reign of Mansa Musa (1312 –1337). Write a persuasive letter to your family to convince them to travel across the Sahara Desert to live with you in Timbuktu. In your letter, you might discuss:

• Timbuktu's fame and reputation
• the trade routes passing through Timbuktu and the major waterway nearby
• Timbuktu's major industries
• the major structures and landmarks of the city  
• Exploring Mali
• The Empire of Mali
• Sankore Mosque
• Timbuktu: The El Dorado of Africa

19. Ibn Battuta

You are an established author of historical fiction writing your next novel about Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan explorer and scholar who lived and traveled in the 1300s.  But before you can begin developing plot and character ideas, you need to do more research on your subject.  Investigate:

• Battuta’s reasons for initially leaving his home  
• M ajor cities and landmarks he visited on his journeys  
• C hallenges and  dangers  he faced  
• His methods for funding his travels and gaining access to important people   
• Medieval Sourcebook: Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354
• The Travels of Ibn Battuta
• Ibn Battuta

20. Saladin

One of the greatest known figures in the Middle Ages is Saladin, the  Muslim  warrior who recaptured Jerusalem from the European Crusader Kingdom, effectively ending the 3 rd  great Crusade.  Saladin was a greatly respected figure, not only in the  Muslim  world, but also throughout Europe. He was recognized as a great and honorable enemy by Richard the Lionheart.  Create a video about his life and legacy.    

• Richard and Saladin: Warriors of the Third Crusade

21. Eleanor of Acquitaine

You are auditioning to play Eleanor of Aquitaine in a new miniseries based on her long and fascinating life.  To convince the producers of your commitment and passion for the role, you have decided to research Eleanor’s life and create a special monologue based on your research.  Investigate the major events of Eleanor’s life and gain a sense of her personality. 

Use the results of your research to write a monologue (approximately 500 words in length) from Eleanor’s perspective, reflecting back on her life and sharing with the audience her greatest successes and her failures or regrets.  

• Eleanor of Acquitaine
• The Use of Power and Influence by a Medieval Woman

22. Heloise and Abelard

You are Heloise, one half of the world’s most tragic couples. Many years have passed since you and your beloved Peter Abelard have seen one another, but recently you have gotten your hands on a letter written by Abelard to one of his friends.  You’ve decided to write to Abelard, reflecting on your past together and your current situation as the abbess of a convent.

• Peter Abelard's Historia Calamitatum
• The Letters of Heloise and Abelard (Project Gutenberg)
• Heloise (video by Professor Sara McDougall)
• Epistolae: Heloise Brief bio of Heloise and translations of many of her letters, to Abelard and others.

Databases To Use

To access this database from home, you will need to log in using the following username and password:

Username : ncsstudent Password : student

See the video below for some tips and help from Ms. Dickinson on how to use this database effectively.

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What was the role of Christendom?

What were the major artistic eras of the middle ages, what socio-economic system is perceived as characteristic of the middle ages.

Middle Ages

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• History Today - When Did the Medieval Period End?
• ABC News - What were the Middle Ages really like and are they still relevant today?
• Humanities LibreTexts - The Middle Ages
• Norman Rockwell Museum - Illustration History - The Middle Ages
• Khan Academy - Introduction to the Middle Ages
• Pressbooks Create - An Open Companion to Early British Literature - The Middle Ages (ca. 476-1485)
• Middle Ages for Kids - Middle Ages Facts
• The University of Chicago Press Journals - Medieval, the Middle Age
• Middle Ages - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Middle Ages - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

When did the Middle Ages begin?

The Middle Ages was the period in European history from the collapse of Roman civilization in the 5th century CE to the period of the Renaissance (variously interpreted as beginning in the 13th, 14th, or 15th century, depending on the region of Europe and other factors).

After the dissolution of the Roman Empire, the idea arose of Europe as one large church-state, called Christendom. Christendom consisted of two distinct groups of functionaries: the sacerdotium, or ecclesiastical hierarchy, and the imperium, or secular leaders.In theory, these two groups complemented each other, attending to people’s spiritual and temporal needs, respectively. In practice, the two institutions were constantly sparring, disagreeing, or openly warring with each other.

How long did the Migration Period last?

The Migration Period was a historical period sometimes called the Dark Ages, Late Antiquity, or the Early Middle Ages. The period lasted from the fall of Rome to about the year 1000, with a brief hiatus during the flowering of the Carolingian court established by Charlemagne.

Romanesque art was the first of two great international artistic eras that flourished in Europe during the Middle Ages. Romanesque architecture emerged about 1000 and lasted until about 1150, by which time it had evolved into Gothic. Gothic art was the second of two great international eras that flourished in western and central Europe during the Middle Ages.Gothic art evolved from Romanesque art and lasted from the mid-12th century to as late as the end of the 16th century in some areas.

Feudalism designates the social, economic, and political conditions in western Europe during the early Middle Ages, the long stretch of time between the 5th and 12th centuries. Feudalism and the related term feudal system are labels invented long after the period to which they were applied. They refer to what those who invented them perceived as the most significant and distinctive characteristics of the early and central Middle Ages.

Trusted Britannica articles, summarized using artificial intelligence, to provide a quicker and simpler reading experience. This is a beta feature. Please verify important information in our full article.

This summary was created from our Britannica article using AI. Please verify important information in our full article.

Middle Ages , the period in European history from the collapse of Roman civilization in the 5th century ce to the period of the Renaissance (variously interpreted as beginning in the 13th, 14th, or 15th century, depending on the region of Europe and other factors).

A brief treatment of the Middle Ages follows. For full treatment, see Europe, history of: The Middle Ages .

The term and its conventional meaning were introduced by Italian humanists with invidious intent. The humanists were engaged in a revival of Classical learning and culture , and the notion of a thousand-year period of darkness and ignorance separating them from the ancient Greek and Roman world served to highlight the humanists’ own work and ideals. It would seem unnecessary to observe that the men and women who lived during the thousand years or so preceding the Renaissance were not conscious of living in the Middle Ages. A few— Petrarch was the most conspicuous among them—felt that their lot was cast in a dark time, which had begun with the decline of the Roman Empire. Indeed, Petrarch would provide something of a founding statement for the humanists when he wrote, “For who can doubt that Rome would rise again instantly if she began to know herself?”

In a sense, the humanists invented the Middle Ages in order to distinguish themselves from it. They were making a gesture of their sense of freedom, and yet, at the same time, they were implicitly accepting the medieval conception of history as a series of well-defined ages within a limited framework of time. They did not speak of Augustine ’s Six Ages of the World or believe in the chronology of Joachimite prophecy , but they nevertheless inherited a philosophy of history that began with the Garden of Eden and would end with the Second Coming of Christ . In such a scheme, the thousand years from the 5th to the 15th century might well be regarded as a distinct respectable period of history, which would stand out clearly in the providential pattern. Throughout European history, however, there has never been a complete breach with medieval institutions or modes of thought.

The sack of Rome by Alaric the Visigoth in 410 ce had enormous impact on the political structure and social climate of the Western world, for the Roman Empire had provided the basis of social cohesion for most of Europe. Although the Germanic tribes that forcibly migrated into southern and western Europe in the 5th century were ultimately converted to Christianity , they retained many of their customs and ways of life. The changes in forms of social organization they introduced rendered centralized government and cultural unity impossible. Many of the improvements in the quality of life introduced during the Roman Empire, such as a relatively efficient agriculture, extensive road networks , water-supply systems, and shipping routes, decayed substantially, as did artistic and scholarly endeavours.

This decline persisted throughout the Migration period , a historical period sometimes called the Dark Ages , Late Antiquity, or the Early Middle Ages. The Migration period lasted from the fall of Rome to about the year 1000, with a brief hiatus during the flowering of the Carolingian court established by Charlemagne . Apart from that interlude, no large political structure arose in Europe to provide stability. Two great kingdoms, Germany and Italy , began to lose their political unity almost as soon as they had acquired it; they had to wait until the 19th century before they found it again. The only force capable of providing a basis for social unity was the Roman Catholic Church . The Middle Ages therefore present the confusing and often contradictory picture of a society attempting to structure itself politically on a spiritual basis. This attempt came to a definitive end with the rise of artistic, commercial, and other activities anchored firmly in the secular world in the period just preceding the Renaissance.

After the dissolution of the Roman Empire, the idea arose of Europe as one large church-state , called Christendom . Christendom was thought to consist of two distinct groups of functionaries: the sacerdotium , or ecclesiastical hierarchy , and the imperium , or secular leaders. In theory, these two groups complemented each other, attending to people’s spiritual and temporal needs, respectively. Supreme authority was wielded by the pope in the first of these areas and by the emperor in the second. In practice, the two institutions were constantly sparring, disagreeing, or openly warring with each other. The emperors often tried to regulate church activities by claiming the right to appoint church officials and to intervene in doctrinal matters. The church, in turn, not only owned cities and armies but often attempted to regulate affairs of state. This tension would reach a breaking point in the late 11th and early 12th centuries during the clash between Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII over the question of lay investiture .

During the 12th century a cultural and economic revival took place; many historians trace the origins of the Renaissance to this time. The balance of economic power slowly began to shift from the region of the eastern Mediterranean to western Europe. The Gothic style developed in art and architecture. Towns began to flourish, travel and communication became faster, safer, and easier, and merchant classes began to develop. Agricultural developments were one reason for these developments; during the 12th century the cultivation of beans made a balanced diet available to all social classes for the first time in history. The population therefore rapidly expanded, a factor that eventually led to the breakup of the old feudal structures.

The 13th century was the apex of medieval civilization. The classic formulations of Gothic architecture and sculpture were achieved. Many different kinds of social units proliferated, including guilds, associations, civic councils, and monastic chapters, each eager to obtain some measure of autonomy . The crucial legal concept of representation developed, resulting in the political assembly whose members had plena potestas —full power—to make decisions binding upon the communities that had selected them. Intellectual life, dominated by the Roman Catholic Church, culminated in the philosophical method of Scholasticism , whose preeminent exponent, St. Thomas Aquinas , achieved in his writings on Aristotle and the Church Fathers one of the greatest syntheses in Western intellectual history .

The breakup of feudal structures, the strengthening of city-states in Italy , and the emergence of national monarchies in Spain , France , and England , as well as such cultural developments as the rise of secular education, culminated in the birth of a self-consciously new age with a new spirit, one that looked all the way back to Classical learning for its inspiration and that came to be known as the Renaissance.

Medieval Topics: Collected Research Guides: Gumberg Library

Welcome to this collective research guide on various topics from the Middle Ages. Click an image to visit a particular guide. If you are on a phone, turn your phone sideways for better viewing. If you find this guide helpful, but are looking for more information, scroll to the bottom for links to other collective guides on literature and other subjects in the Humanities. At the bottom, you will also learn how to get help with your research.

Thomas Aquinas

Beowulf: A Research Guide

The Gawain-Poet: A Research Guide

King Arthur and His Knights

Medieval Philosophy

Middle English - Language and Literature

Robin Hood: A Research Guide

Saint Francis and the Francisians

Women Mystics

If You Found This Guide Helpful, Try These!

British Literature: Collected Research Guides

History: Collected Research Guides

Poets & Poetry : Collected Research Guides

Theater & Drama: Collected Research Guides

If at any time you need help with using Gumberg Library resources, please contact  Ted Bergfelt , Humanities Librarian, via  email  or by phone at 412-426-5430, 8:30 am-4:30 pm ET, Monday-Friday. If he is not available,  Ask Gumberg

This guide was created by Alivia Austin, English Department Intern, and Ted Bergfelt, Humanities Librarian, September 2023

• Last Updated: Apr 11, 2024 1:18 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.duq.edu/MedievalTopics-CollectedGuides

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Medieval Digital Resources (MDR)

MDR is a curated database of peer-reviewed digital materials for the study of the Middle Ages. Users can browse an alphabetical list or search using controlled-vocabulary subject tags to find vetted online resources of many types, including: imagebanks; bibliographies and reference works; pedagogical tools; editions and translations; music and other multimedia collections; interpretative websites; and new works of digital scholarship. Please note that MDR does not include resources that are paywalled or require password access, although some resources may have restrictive use-licenses. The Database can be accessed from the Resources tab of the  Medieval Academy of America  website.

Resources are selected for MDR by subject and digital specialists with reference to the rigorous Standards for Web Publication  developed by the Medieval Academy of America (MAA).

MDR welcomes nominations of resources for inclusion in this growing collection. Please use the Suggest a Resource Form  to offer recommendations for inclusion, after first ensuring that the resource is not already part of MDR. For general comments or questions, please email [email protected] .

What’s New in MDR? Click here to browse the most recent additions to the Database.

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR K-12 STUDENTS AND NATIONAL HISTORY DAY PARTICIPANTS:

Several dozen MDR resources have been designated “National History Day Selected Resources” by our team of K-12 educators. These resources – selected for their accessibility and user-friendliness – are identified as such in each resource’s introductory text. You may also retrieve the entire list here by searching for “National History Day” in the “Search Term” box.

The Medieval Academy of America (MAA) is the largest organization in North America promoting excellence in the field of medieval studies. MAA supports research, publication, and teaching in medieval art, archaeology, history, law, literature, music, philosophy, religion, science, social and economic institutions, and all other aspects of the Middle Ages.

• Library of Congress
• Research Guides
• Main Reading Room

Medieval Studies: A Resource Guide

Electronic resources.

• Introduction
• Print Resources
• Incunabula at the Library of Congress

This page provides a list of key electronic resources for the study of the medieval period. The subscription databases listed here are licensed by the Library of Congress and available for use onsite. Depending on the database, the content may include citations to book chapters, articles, and books or furnish full-text articles directly. The external websites tab provides links to freely available internet resources.

• Subscription Databases
• External Websites

• Victorian Literature

Below are some websites that serve as good places to begin for learning about the medieval period. These websites contain primary sources in Latin and in English translation, bibliographies, and other source materials.

• Abréviations paléographiques External Provides a basic overview of medieval French manuscript abbreviations.
• British Library Digitised Manuscripts External The British Library Digitised Manuscripts contains digitized manuscripts from many different periods of British history including the middle ages, renaissance, manuscripts from British colonies, music manuscripts, and even Thai and Malay manuscripts. Users can search by year, manuscript name, author, and provenance. Use the date range slider to limit your search to the medieval period.
• Dictionnaire des abréviations françaises External Searchable online list derived from the Manuel de paléographie latine et française by Maurice Prou.
• Incunabula Short Title Catalogue (ISTC): the International Database of 15th-century European Printing External The ISTC is the international database of 15th-century European printing created by the British Library with contributions from institutions worldwide. You can perform a simple search using different kinds of keywords or find items by browsing author, title, dates, and other headings. The database records nearly every item printed from movable type before 1501, but not material printed entirely from woodblocks or engraved plates. 30,518 editions are listed as of August 2016, including some 16th-century items previously assigned incorrectly to the 15th century.
• Internet Medieval Sourcebook External This website serves as a sourcebook of links and resources assessed by the Fordham University Medieval Studies department.
• The Latin Library (Medieval section) External The Latin Library contains the major works of major Latin authors. What is unique about this site is that it contains texts from authors of all time periods beginning in antiquity up to the nineteenth century. There is a substantial medieval Latin section which contains the works of dozens of authors. All texts are unannotated. There are no footnotes to resources or supplementary glosses.
• Online Medieval Sources Bibliography External The Online Medieval Sources Bibliography provides detailed information about modern editions - both in print and online - of medieval primary sources. The goal of this resource is to help users find the sources and editions that are most suited to their needs.
• Perseus Digital Library External The Perseus Digital Library, developed and maintained by Tufts University’s classics department originally contained only Ancient Greek texts but has expanded in recent years to include Latin and Arabic texts. Texts are interactive, meaning that all words are clickable and link to a new window which displays grammatical information on the word clicked such as declension, verb conjugation, definition, noun gender, and mood. This feature makes the Perseus Digital Library an incredibly useful resource for those studying Greek and Latin texts. While the majority of the Greek and Latin texts are from antiquity, some medieval and Byzantine authors are represented.
• Project Gutenberg External Digital Library containing works in the public domain. Some of the items are editions of primary texts from the middle ages whose copyright protection has expired.
• UK National Archives Palaeography External Online tutorial acquainting viewers with medieval Latin scripts and abbreviations.
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• Last Updated: Jul 21, 2022 1:15 PM
• URL: https://guides.loc.gov/medieval-studies

Medieval Institute Publications

Research in medieval and early modern culture.

Quatrilobed Plaque, c. 1300-1310, probably by Guillaume Julien (French), Cleveland, The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Mary Spedding Milliken Memorial Collection, gift of William Mathewson Milliken, 1932.537. Public domain.

Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Culture (essay collections) and Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture (monographs) are sister series originally inspired by themes drawn from the annual International Congress on Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo. These series provide a home for high‐quality humanities research on topics from the late antique, medieval and early modern periods. Beginning in 2018, all books listed in RMEMC are also part of SMEMC.

Although Studies in Medieval and Early Modern Culture and Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture have historically focused on medieval Europe, we have expanded geographically and chronologically to embrace a wider conception of the premodern. We welcome studies addressing a range of topics from the late antique, medieval and early modern periods, and we invite proposals from new and established scholars who employ innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to investigate literary, historical and material sources and explore what it has meant to be human through the ages.

Geographical Scope : Global

Chronological Scope : Late antique, medieval, and early modern

Submissions

Proposals or completed projects to be considered for publication should be sent to  Tyler Cloherty  or (particularly for historical studies)  Emily Winkler,  the acquisitions editors for the series. For other inquiries, consult  Theresa Whitaker . Since the scope of the series is so broad, the press identifies evaluators on a case by case basis before any formal commitment is made to the author. Further, all submitted manuscripts are subject to peer review from an independent expert chosen by the press.

All Books in this Series

English birth girdles: devotions for women in "travell of childe".

By Mary Morse

In medieval England, women in labor wrapped birth girdles around their abdomens to protect themselves and their unborn children. These parchment or paper rolls replicated the “girdle relics” of the Virgin Mary and other saints loaned to queens and noblewomen, extending childbirth protection to women of all classes. This book examines the texts and images of nine English birth girdles produced between the reigns of Richard II and Henry VIII. Cultural artifacts of lay devotion within the birthing chamber, the birth girdles offered the solace and promise of faith to the parturient woman and her attendants amid religious dissent, political upheaval, recurring epidemics, and the onset of print.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXXVIII, ISBN 978-1-50151-814-0 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-390-9 (PDF), ISBN 978-1-50151-400-5 (EPUB) © 2024

Buy English Birth Girdles at De Gruyter

Spiritual and Material Boundaries in Old French Verse: Contemplating the Walls of the Earthly Paradise

By Jacob Abell

The Earthly Paradise was a vibrant symbol at the heart of medieval Christian geographies of the cosmos. As humanity’s primal home now lost through the sins of Adam of Eve, the Earthly Paradise figured prominently in Old French tales of lands beyond the mundane world. This study proposes a fresh look at the complex roles played by the Earthly Paradise in three medieval French poems: Marie de France’s The Purgatory of St. Patrick, Benedeit’s Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot, and Guillaume de Lorris’s The Romance of the Rose. By examining the literary, cultural, and artistic components that informed each poem, this book advances the thesis that the exterior walls of the Earthly Paradise served evolving purposes as contemplative objects that implicitly engaged complex notions of economic solidarity and idealized community. These visions of the Earthly Paradise stand to provide a striking contribution to a historically informed response to the contemporary legacies of colonialism and the international refugee crisis.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXXVII, ISBN 978-1-50152-057-0 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-425-8 (PDF), ISBN 978-1-50151-427-2 (EPUB) © 2023

Buy Spiritual and Material Boundaries in Old French Verse at De Gruyter

Canon Fanfiction: Reading, Writing, and Teaching with Adaptations of Premodern and Early Modern Literature

By Christine Schott

Several scholarly fields investigate the reuse of source texts, most relevantly adaptation studies and fanfiction studies. The limitation of these two fields is that adaptation studies focuses narrowly on retelling, usually in the form of film adaptations, but is not as well equipped to treat other uses of source material like prequels, sequels and spinoffs. On the other hand, fanfiction studies has the broad reach adaptation studies lacks but is generally interested in "underground" production rather than material that goes through the official publication process and thus enters the literary canon. This book sits in the gap between these fields, discussing published novels and their contribution to the scholarly engagement with their pre- and early modern source material as well as applying that creative framework to the teaching of literature in the college classroom.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXXVI, ISBN 978-1-50152-337-3 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-597-2 (PDF), ISBN 978-1-50151-598-9 (EPUB) © 2022

Buy Canon Fanfiction at De Gruyter

The Bond of Empathy in Medieval and Early Modern Literature

By David Strong

This study examines the various means of becoming empathetic and using this knowledge to explain the epistemic import of the characters’ interaction in the works written by Chaucer, Shakespeare and their contemporaries. By attuning oneself to another’s expressive phenomena, the empathizer acquires an inter- and intrapersonal knowledge that exposes the limitations of hyperbole, custom, or unbridled passion to explain the profundity of their bond. Understanding the substantive meaning of the characters’ discourse and narrative context discloses their motivations and how they view themselves. Strong explores the place of empathy in select late medieval and early modern portrayals of the body and mind and explicates the role they play in forging an intimate rapport.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXXV, ISBN 978-1-50152-252-9 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-546-0 (PDF), ISBN  978-1-50151-547-7 (EPUB) © 2022

Buy The Bond of Empathy in Medieval and Early Modern Literature at De Gruyter

Mapping Narrations, Narrating Maps: Concepts of the World in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period

By Ingrid Baumgärtner and edited by Daniel Gneckow, Anna Hollenbach and Phillip Landgrebe

This volume offers Ingrid Baumgärtner's central articles on the medieval and early modern history of cartography for the first time in English translation. A first group of essays gives an overview of medieval cartography and illustrates the methods of cartographers. Another analyzes world maps and travel accounts in relation to mapped spaces. A third examines land surveying, cartographical practices of exploration and the production of Portolan atlases.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXXIV, ISBN 978-1-50152-381-6 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-601-6 (PDF), ISBN 978-1-50151-604-7 (EPUB) © 2022

Humanism, Capitalism, and Rhetoric in Early Modern England: The Separation of the Citizen from the Self

By Lynette Hunter

This book offers an interdisciplinary approach to concepts of the self associated with the development of humanism in England, and to strategies for both inclusion and exclusion in structuring the early modern nation state. It addresses writings about rhetoric and behavior from 1495-1660, beginning with Erasmus’ work on sermon or the conversational rhetoric between friends, and following the transference of this stance to a politics whose broadening democratic constituency needed a legitimate structure for governance-at-a-distance.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXXIII, ISBN 978-1-50151-857-7 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-424-1 (PDF), ISBN 978-1-50151-407-4 (EPUB) © 2022

Buy Humanism, Capitalism, and Rhetoric in Early Modern England  at  De Gruyter

The Eleventh and Twelfth Books of Giovanni Villani's New Chronicle

Translated from the Italian by Rala I. Diakité and Matthew T. Sneider

Giovanni Villani’s New Chronicle traces the history of Europe, Italy, and Florence over a vast sweep of time – from the Tower of Babel to the great earthquake of 1348. In the eleventh and twelfth books, Villani depicts a particularly eventful period in the history of Florence, whose grandeur is illustrated in several famous chapters describing the city’s income, expenses, and magnificence. The dramatic account follows Florence’s internal affairs as well as its conflicts with powerful lords like Castruccio Castracani and Mastino della Scala. The chronicler’s perspective, however, ranges beyond his city, as he documents such events as the imperial coronation of Louis of Bavaria, the penitential pilgrimage of Venturino da Bergamo, and the first campaigns of the Hundred Year’s War.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXXI, ISBN 978-1-50151-842-3 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-426-5 (PDF) © 2022

Buy The Eleventh and Twelfth Books of Giovanni Villani's New Chronicle  at  De Gruyter

Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Readings of the Medieval Orient: Other Encounters

By Liliana Sikorska

Travel narratives and historical works shaped the perception of Muslims and the East in the Victorian and post-Victorian periods. The book discusses that troubled legacy drawing on the discourses on Muslims originating in the European Middle Ages, and locates the nineteenth-century texts concerning the Saracens and their lands in the liminal space between history and travel accounts.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXXII, ISBN 978-1-50151-791-4 (hardback), ISBN  978-1-50151-336-7 (PDF) © 2021

Buy Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Readings of the Medieval Orient  at  De Gruyter

Dante's Dream: A Jungian Psychoanalytical Approach

By Gwenyth E. Hood

An artist or mystic can refresh and revive a culture’s imagination by exploring his personal dream-images and connecting them to the past.  Dante Alighieri presents his Divine Comedy as a dream-vision, investing considerable energy in establishing and alluding to its dates (starting Good Friday, 1300). Modern readers will therefore welcome a Jungian psychoanalytical approach, which can trace both instinctual and spiritual impulses in the human psyche.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXX, ISBN 978-1-50151-822-5 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-372-5 (PDF), ISBN 978-1-50151-356-5 (EPUB), © 2021

Buy Dante's Dream  at  De Gruyter

Chaucer's Polyphony: The Modern in Medieval Poetry

By Jonathan Fruoco

Geoffrey Chaucer has long been considered by the critics as the father of English poetry. However, this notion not only tends to forget a huge part of the history of early medieval English literature but also to ignore the specificities of Chaucer’s style — if Chaucer cannot be thought of as the father of English poetry, he is, however, the father of English prose and one of the main artisans of what Mikhail Bakhtin called the polyphonic novel.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXIX, ISBN 978-1-50151-849-2 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-436-4 (PDF), ISBN 978-1-50151-404-3 (EPUB), © 2020

Buy Chaucer's Polyphony  at  De Gruyter

The World Chronicle of Guillaume de Nangis: A Manuscript's Journey from Saint-Denis to St. Pancras

By Daniel Williman and Karen Corsano

The core of this book is the life story of a manuscript codex, British Library Royal MS 13 E.iv: the Latin Chronicle (from the Creation to 1300) of Guillaume de Nangis, copied in a Paris atelier from the original in the abbey of St-Denis-en-France. The authors show how it traveled from one capital to the other, narrating the entire life and interesting times of this codex.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXVIII, ISBN 978-1-50151-871-3 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-001-4 (PDF), ISBN 978-1-50151-005-2 (EPUB), © 2020

Buy The World Chronicle of Guillaume de Nangis  at  De Gruyter

Sacred Journeys in the Counter-Reformation: Long Distance Pilgrimage in North-Western Europe

By Elizabeth Caroline Tingle

Sacred Journeys in the Counter-Reformation examines long-distance pilgrimages to ancient, international shrines in northwestern Europe in the two centuries after Luther. In this region in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, saints' cults and pilgrimage were frequently contested, more so than in the Mediterranean world. The central focus is that of agency in religious change: what drove spiritual reform and what were its consequences for the 'ordinary' Catholic? This is explored through concepts of the religious self, holy materiality, and sacred space.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXVII, ISBN 978-1-50151-815-5 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-438-8 (PDF), ISBN 978-1-50151-413-5 (EPUB), © 2020

Buy Sacred Journeys in the Counter-Reformation  at  De Gruyter

Hysteria, Perversion, and Paranoia in the Canterbury Tales: "Wild" Analysis and the Symptomatic Storyteller

By Becky Renee McLaughlin

Beginning with the spectacle of hysteria, moving through the perversions of fetishism, masochism, and sadism, and ending with paranoia and psychosis, this book explores the ways that conflicts with the Oedipal law erupt on the body and in language in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXV, ISBN 978-1-50151-841-6 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-50151-410-4 (PDF), ISBN 978-1-50151-406-7 (EPUB), © 2020

Buy Hysteria, Perversion, and Paranoia in the Canterbury Tales at De Gruyter

Architectural Rhetoric in Shakespeare and Spenser

Jennifer Vaught

This book illustrates how architectural rhetoric in Shakespeare and Spenser provides a bridge between the human body and mind and the nonhuman world of stone and timber.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXIV, ISBN 978-1-50151-793-8 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-5015-1315-2 (PDF), ISBN 978-1-5015-1309-1 (EPUB) © 2019

Buy Architectural Rhetoric in Shakespeare and Spenser at De Gruyter

Early Modern Britain's Relationship to Its Past: The Historiographical Fortunes of the Legends of Brute, Albina, and Scota

Philip Mark Robinson-Self

This volume considers the reception in the early modern period of four popular medieval myths of nationhood—the legends of Brutus, Albina, and Scota—tracing their intertwined literary and historiographical afterlives.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXIII, ISBN 978-1-58044-351-7 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-58044-352-4 (PDF), ISBN 978-3-11-062668-1 (EPUB) © 2018

Buy Early Modern Britain's Relationship to Its Past at De Gruyter

The Valiant Welshman, the Scottish James, and the Formation of Great Britain

By Megan S. Lloyd

This book explores how R.A.'s play "The Valiant Welshman" reflected contemporary hopes and fears about the potential unification of England and Scotland during the reign of James VI of Scotland and I of England.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXII, ISBN 978-1-58044-353-1 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-58044-354-8 (PDF), ISBN 978-3-11-062540-0 (EPUB) © 2018

Buy The Valiant Welshman, the Scottish James, and the Formation of Great Britain at De Gruyter

The Gawain-Poet and the Fourteenth-Century English Anticlerical Tradition

Ethan Campbell

A fresh contextual reading of the four Middle English "Gawain" poems that situates them within the rich tradition of fourteenth-century English anticlericalism.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XXI, ISBN 978-1-58044-307-4 (hardback) © 2018

Buy The Gawain-Poet and the Fourteenth-Century English Anticlerical Tradition at De Gruyter

Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, and the Nature of Fame

Robert A. Logan

A characterological study of the standards of measure and the nature of fame of the renowned figures in "Antony and Cleopatra," juxtaposed to the origins and nature of Shakespeare's fame.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XX, ISBN 978-158044-319-7 (hardback) © 2018

Buy Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, and the Nature of Fame at ISD

Spenser's Narrative Figuration of Women in "The Faerie Queene"

Judith H. Anderson

This study interrogates the figuration of women within the narrative of Spenser's culturally encyclopedic romance-epic, "The Faerie Queene."

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XIX, ISBN 978-158044-317-3 (hardback) © 2018

Buy Spenser's Narrative Figuration of Women in "The Faerie Queene" at ISD

Medieval London: Collected Papers of Caroline M. Barron

Martha Carlin and Joel Rosenthal

Caroline Barron is the world's leading authority on the history of medieval London and she has made her impact through a series of major articles revised and updated here.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XVIII, ISBN 978-158044-256-5 (hardback) © 2017

Buy Medieval London at ISD

The Disperata, from Medieval Italy to Renaissance France

Gabriella Scarlatta

This study explores how Italian and French poets adopted the "disperata" genre to establish a tradition that both merges with and subverts Petrarchism.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XVII, ISBN 978-158044-256-5 (hardback) © 2017

Buy The Disperata, from Medieval Italy to Renaissance France at ISD

Art in Spain and Portugal from the Romans to the Early Middle Ages: Routes and Myths

Rose Walker

A reconsideration of Spanish and Portuguese art and architecture from the time of the Romans to the turn of the eleventh century. Challenging earlier overviews, Walker highlights the artistic unities shared by Christians and Muslims that culminated in the later tenth century and went on to inform aspects of Romanesque art.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XVI, ISBN 978-1-58044-264-0 (hardback) © 2017

Buy Art in Spain and Portugal from the Romans to the Early Middle Ages at ISD  

Vernacular Traditions of Boethius’s “De consolatione philosophiae”

Edited by Noel Harold Kaylor Jr. And Philip Edward Phillips

This collection critically examines translations of Boethius's “Consolatio” not only into English and German but also into Dutch, Italian, Polish, Hebrew, Greek and Korean.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XV, ISBN 978-1-58044-216-9 (hardback) © 2016

Buy Vernacular Traditions of Boethius’s “De consolatione philosophiae” at ISD

The Final Book of Giovanni Villani’s New Chronicle

Translated from the Italian by Rala Diakite and Matthew Sneider

The first full translation of the final book of Giovanni Villani's important “Cronica Fiorentina” - includes introduction, annotations and index.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XIV, ISBN 978-1-58044-217-6 (hardback)  ©  2016

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A Bibliographical Guide to the Study of the Troubadours and Old Occitan Literature

Robert A. Taylor

Taylor provides a definitive survey of the field of Occitan literary studies and treats over two thousand recent books and articles with full annotations. Taylor's painstaking attention to detail and broad knowledge of the field ensure that this guide will become the essential resource for Occitan literary studies worldwide.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XIII, ISBN 978-1-58044-215-2 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-58044-207-7 (paperback)  ©  2015

Buy A Bibliographical Guide to the Study of the Troubadours and Old Occitan at ISD

Demon Possession in Anglo-Saxon England

Peter Dendle

Early medieval England was a society governed by the competing discourses of illness, spirituality, power, and community. The concepts of demon possession and exorcism, introduced by Christian missionaries, provided a potential outlet for expressing the psychological, biological, and sociopolitical dysfunctions of a society that was at the center of multiple conflicting cultural dimensions. This book is a reexamination of the available sources describing the possessed and a study of the currently recognized medical and psychiatric conditions that may be relevant to and resemble medieval possession.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XII, ISBN 978-1-58044-169-8 (hardback)  ©  2014

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Saints at Play: The Performance Features of French Hagiographic Mystery Plays

Vicki L. Hamblin

In the introduction to her study of twenty-eight French non-biblical hagiographic mystery plays from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Hamblin notes that "this approach is intended to strengthen a comparative analysis of relatively similar texts created within a particular cultural setting."

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture XI, ISBN 978-1-58044-167-4 (hardback)  ©  2012

Buy Saints at Play at ISD

William Langland, Piers Plowman: A Parallel-Text Edition of the A, B, C and Z Versions

Edited by A.V.C. Schmidt

This work—a parallel-text edition that contains all four versions of Piers Plowman—constitutes a major enterprise of textual scholarship and will provide for students of Langland a modern equivalent to Skeat's standard edition of 1886. This revised and corrected three-volume set is specifically designed to facilitate study of the parallel text (Volume 1) alongside both the textual notes (Volume 2, Part 1) and the commentary/glossary (Volume 2, Part 2), and is intended to make the entire edition available to as many students of Langland as possible.

Volume 1 revises the first edition published by Longman in 1995. The two-part Volume 2 contains in a full and clearly presented form all the material essential for advanced study of a great medieval poem that continues to attract wide and intense interest.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture X, 3-volume set, ISBN 978-1-58044-161-2 (paperback set)  ©  2011

• 2nd edition of Volume 1: Text (pp. xviii + 764), ISBN 978-1-58044-158-2 (paperback)  ©  2011
• Revised edition of Volume 2, Part 1: Introduction and Textual Notes (pp. xiv + 472), ISBN 978-1-58044-159-9 (paperback)  ©  2011
• Revised edition of Volume 2, Part 2: Commentary, Bibliography and Indexical Glossary (pp. viii + 476), ISBN 978-1-58044-160-5 (paperback)  ©  2011
• Earlier edition of Volume 2, Parts 1 and 2 (pp. xiv + 950), ISBN 978-1-58044-141-4 (paperback–out of print)  ©  2008

Buy William Langland, Piers Plowman at ISD

My Wyl and My Wrytyng: Essays on John the Blind Audelay

Edited by Susanna Fein

The essays examine Audelay's biography, his self-representation as the maker of his book, and the specific parts of that book, from the poems and colophons found in "The Counsel of Conscience" to the salutations and carols that follow in the manuscript, concluding with a defense of Audelay's authorship of "Three Dead Kings" and Fein's own study of the multiple endings of the Audelay Manuscript. The scholarly work gathered in this collection allows John the Blind Audelay to take his rightful place among his peers in early fifteenth-century English literature.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture IX, ISBN 978-1-58044-135-3 (hardback), ISBN 978-1-58044-136-0 (paperback)  ©  2009

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Inventing Latin Heretics: Byzantines and the Filioque in the Ninth Century

Tia M. Kolbaba

Focusing on the ninth-century beginnings of Byzantine writings against the Latin addition of the Filioque to the creed, this book illuminates several aspects of Byzantine thought—their self-definition, their theology, their uniquely constituted state—based both on what they had to say for themselves and on modern approaches to the study of group identity, religious conflict, and sociology of knowledge. The book introduces the concept of heresiology in general, defining terms, summarizing a vast body of secondary scholarship, and bringing the history of Byzantine antiheretical texts down to the ninth century.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture VII, ISBN 978-1-58044-133-9 (hardback)  ©  2009

Buy Inventing Latin Heretics at ISD

Late Medieval England (1377–1485): A Bibliography of Historical Scholarship, 1990–1999

Joel T. Rosenthal

The volume represents the second part of Rosenthal's cataloging of historical scholarship on Ricardian, Lancastrian and Yorkist England, covering categories from political and legal history to social and intellectual history and the arts. As Rosenthal notes in the introduction, its size (1,888 entries for the decade) "hardly gives much support to those who warn us of the imminent demise of the more traditional lines of historical endeavor and inquiry."

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture VI, ISBN 1-58044-075-4 (hardback)  ©  2003

Buy Late Medieval England (1377–1485) at ISD

Late Medieval England (1377–1485): A Bibliography of Historical Scholarship, 1975–1989

This volume is the first part of Rosenthal’s cataloging of historical scholarship on Ricardian, Lancastrian and Yorkist England, and covers categories from political and legal history to social and intellectual history and the arts. This volume is a must for any scholar of the period.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture VI, ISBN 1-879288-16-8 (hardback)  ©  1994

Magister Paulus Niavis: Epistole breues, Epistole mediocres, Epistole longiores

Edited by Rand H. Johnson

During the last two decades of the fifteenth century Paulus Niavis wrote Latin dialogues and letters in the desire to equip students with a sufficient and elegant means of expressing themselves on many aspects of their experiences at the university. For the modern reader the letters witness life and thought at a critical stage of early modern German history.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture IV, ISBN 1-879288-51-6 (hardback)  ©  1995

Buy Magister Paulus Niavis   at   ISD

Early Prose in France: Contexts of Bilingualism and Authority

Jeanette M.A. Beer

This study of some of the earliest examples of French prose is designed to show that prose as a genre did not suddenly appear in the thirteenth century as a result of "diversification" but "had been, for many centuries before the thirteenth, the medium of the clercs." It had been

 honed by constant use to all manner of functions whether legal, diplomatic, epistolary or edificatory.

Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture II, ISBN 1-879288-12-5 (hardback)  ©  1992

B uy Early Prose in France at ISD

Medieval Institute

International Congress on Medieval Studies

Medieval History Research Guide

• Getting Started
• Gathering Background Information
• Finding Primary Sources
• Finding Secondary Sources
• Citing Guides This link opens in a new window
• Writing Guides
• ARTstor This link opens in a new window Curated collections of digital images and associated data for non-commercial, scholarly, non-profit, and educational use. Over 1 million images.
• British and Irish Women's Letters and Diaries This link opens in a new window British and Irish Women’s Letters and Diaries spans more than 400 years of personal writings, bringing together the voices of women from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Complementing Alexander Street’s North American Women's Letters and Diaries, the database lets researchers view history in the context of women’s thoughts—their struggles, achievements, passions, pursuits, and desires.
• Defining Gender, 1450-1910 This link opens in a new window Contains primary source materials from British and European archives. Organized thematically, the documents were selected by academic consultants who also contributed essays.
• Early English Books Online This link opens in a new window Contains digital facsimile page images of a large collection of work printed in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and British North America, and works in English printed elsewhere from 1473-1700.
• Index of Medieval Art - formerly Index of Christian Art This link opens in a new window Access a variety of materials related to Medieval art, including images and descriptive data relating to works produced between early apostolic times and the sixteenth century.
• Medieval Family Life-The Paston, Stonor, Cely, Plumpton and Armburgh Papers This link opens in a new window Contains full color images of the only 5 major letter collections from fifteenth century England. The original images and the transcriptions can be viewed side by side. Also includes additional materials for teaching and research, including images, maps, family trees, resource links, and more.
• Medieval Travel Writing This link opens in a new window Contains manuscripts of European travel writing dating from the 13th to the 16th centuries culled from libraries around the world. Topics include geography, exploration, trade, literature, and the new field of medieval postcolonial studies.
• Perdita Manuscripts: Women Writers, 1500-1700 This link opens in a new window Access early modern women authors who were "lost" because their writing exists only in manuscript form. Over 230 entries have been selected and digitized. Also includes biographical and bibliographical information and essays by specialists in the field.

Free Digital Collections

• CANTUS Database (University of Waterloo) "CANTUS is a database that assembles indices of the Latin ecclesiastical chants found in early manuscript and printed sources for the liturgical Office, such as antiphoners and breviaries." - CANTUS
• Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) "The Christian Classics Ethereal Library is a digital library of hundreds of classic Christian books selected for edification and education. The online www.ccel.org server reaches several million different users each year." -CCEL
• De Re Militari: The Society for Military History This website provides links to several sources that pertain to early medieval warfare, 10th/11th century warfare, the crusades, early medieval warfare etc.
• Digital Medieval Manuscripts at Houghton Library (Harvard University) Houghton Library's collection of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts represents a significant resource for the study of the literature, art, history, music, philosophy, and theology of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in Western Europe." - The Houghton Library.
• Digital Scriptorium (UC Berkeley) "Digital Scriptorium (DS) is a growing organization of institutional partners with collections of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts. DS provides an online union catalog of these collections and thus unites scattered resources from many institutions into an international tool for teaching and scholarly research." - Digital Scriptorium
• Dumbarton Oaks Hagiography Database "The database has two sections: the introduction which contains general information about the project, and bio- bibliographical introductions to each of the saints of the 8th–10th centuries included in the project; and the database itself which in turn is divided into three sections, the Saints' list, the Author' list, and the search citations. The Greek texts that we have been permitted to reproduce either in their entirety or in sections may be accessed through the Saints' list (entire texts) or search citations (partial texts)." - Dumbarton OaksHagiography Database
• The Electronic Manipulus florum Project " Thomas of Ireland's Manipulus florum ("Handful of flowers") belongs to the genre of medieval texts known as florilegia, collections of authoritative quotations that are the forerunners of modern reference works such as Bartlett's Familiar Quotations and The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. This particular florilegium contains approximately 6000 Latin proverbs and textual excerpts (provided in 5821 entries*) that are attributed to various classical, patristic and medieval authors. Compiled in Paris at the beginning of the 14th century (1306), it survives in nearly 200 manuscripts and was published in at least 50 editions between 1483 and 1887, making it by far the most widely-disseminated and, presumably, the most influential anthology of Latin quotations produced during the Middle Ages." - The Electronic Manipulus florum Project
• Epistolae: Medieval Women's Letters (Columbia University) "Epistolae is a collection of medieval Latin letters to and from women. The letters collected here date from the 4th to the 13th centuries, and they are presented in their original Latin as well as in English translation. The letters are organized by the name and biography of the women writers or recipients. Biographical sketches of the women, descriptions of the subject matter of the letters, and the historical context of the correspondence are included where available." - Epistolae
• EuroDocs: History of Medieval & Renaissance Europe: Primary Documents This is a portal to primary source collections from the European Countries. This set of documents focus on the medieval period.
• Europeana Collections The Europeana Collections portal provides access to wide variety or sources from various European libraries.
• Hanover Historical Texts Collection "The Hanover Historical Texts Collection makes available digital versions of historical texts for use in history and humanities courses." - Hanover Historical Texts Collection
• Internet Medieval Sourcebook (Fordham University) This website provides access to a number of full text sources.
• Italian Renaissance Manuscript Collection, The Claremont Colleges Library The Bodman Collection of Italian Renaissance Manuscripts is but a small part of the splendid collection of books, incunabula, and manuscripts assembled and given to The Claremont Colleges Library from 1956 to 1960, by Mr. Harold C. Bodman. On view in this digital collection are eleven autograph, signed letters written between members of the Medici family of Florence and others in their social and political circles, including Angelo Poliziano, the Sforza family, Palla Strozzi, and Francesco Guicciardini. Written between 1426 and 1522, the letters touch on a number of issues urgent to the House of Medici including military campaigns, political associations, and the trials of family life.
• La Bibliothèque VIrtuelle des Manuscrits Médiévaux (BVMM) The Virtual Library of Medieval Manuscripts (BVMM) from the Institute for Research and History of Texts (IRHT-CNRS) provides access to reproductions of a wide selection of manuscripts from the Middle Ages to the sixteenth century.
• Late Medieval Illustrated Manuscripts from the Bibliotheca Palatina (Heidelberg University Library and the Institute for Art History of Heidelberg University) This project provides access to late medieval illuminated manuscripts.
• Making of Charlemagne's Europe' Project "The aim of the project is two-fold: The first aim is to offer a single, unified database framework for the extraction of prosopographical and socio-economic data found in early medieval legal documents. The second aim is to apply this framework to legal documents surviving from the reign of Charlemagne (25 September 768 to 28 January 814 AD). The reign of Charlemagne offers a particularly good case study, since it was a period of unprecedented expansion, leading to the absorption by the Frankish empire of many diverse regions within a short period of time." - Making of Charlemagne's Europe' Project
• Manuscripts Online (Universities of Sheffield, Leicester, Birmingham, York, Glasgow and Queen's University Belfast) "Manuscripts Online enables you to search a diverse body of online primary resources relating to written and early printed culture in Britain during the period 1000 to 1500. The resources include literary manuscripts, historical documents and early printed books which are located on websites owned by libraries, archives, universities and publishers." - Manuscripts Online
• Mapping Gothic France "With a database of images, texts, charts and historical maps, Mapping Gothic France invites you to explore the parallel stories of Gothic architecture and the formation of France in the 12th and 13th centuries, considered in three dimensions:" - Mapping Gothic France
• Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts Collection: Database and Digital Images (Harry Ransom Center, UT Austin) "The Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts Collection contains 215 medieval or Renaissance manuscripts that date between the 11th and 17th centuries. This database contains item-level descriptions for each of the manuscripts and enables keyword searching as well as several different ways to browse the collection contents." - Harry Ransom Center
• Medieval Documents: 400 -1399: Avalon Project (Yale University) The Avalon Project lists several primary source documents that relevant to medieval history.
• REFRAIN "The long thirteenth century was characterised by a vernacular musico-poetic culture in which short fragments of text and/or music circulated within and between songs of various types (chanson à refrain, chanson avec des refrains, rondeau), the motet repertory, the romance and a host of other types that impinged on music, literature or both. REFRAIN provides a searchable database of this repertory, providing access through refrains themselves, motets, narratives, songs and other genres." - REFRAIN
• Regesta Imperii Online "The RI-Opac is a freely accessible database, covering all disciplines of medieval sciences for the European language sphere. Within the context of the project Regesta Imperii Online, the RI-Opac is both an online bibliography of the literature quoted in RI publications and a freely accessible, comprehensive database for historical research. One of the system's main goals is the in-depth recording of non-independently published literature, such as essays and proceedings; brought together from myriad collected editions and magazines even of the most remote origin." - Regesta Imperii Online
• The Rose Window: Online Stained Glass Photographic Archive This website provides access to images of medieval and early modern stained glass.
• Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts (UPenn) "The Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts (SDBM) makes available data on medieval manuscript books of five or more folios produced before 1600. Its purpose is to facilitate research for scholars, collectors, and others interested in manuscript studies and the provenance of these unique books." The Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts
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Medieval Studies @ Harvard

Undergraduate studies, what are the middle ages—and why should you study them.

The "Middle Ages" is the name given to a thousand-year-long period of European and Near Eastern history and culture spanning the period between "Antiquity" (c. 1000 B.C.E.-500 CE) and "Modernity" (c. 1500 CE on). Those who defined themselves as "modern" came to view the medieval period condescendingly, associating it with a small number of basic themes and images such as heroism and chivalry, courtly love, "feudal" society, religious fervor, and repression of heretics, non-Christians, and non-conformists of every stripe. Of course, all of these are stereotypes, which tell us far more about "modernity" than they do about a period whose innovations—such as the centralized monarchy, universities, vernacular literature, artillery, and clock time—are essential parts of Western as well as global culture as we know it today. Learning about the vast and varied period known as the Middle Ages, therefore, offers a unique and valuable perspective on modern history and culture. It also allows you to see the many different ways in which human societies function, invent, create, believe, and interact. From the viewpoint of its cultural descendants in the New World as well as the Old, the Middle Ages is both "us" and "not us," at once part of our collective heritage and something very, very different.

Studying the Middle Ages at Harvard extends well beyond the classroom. Students are encouraged to attend a wealth of presentations, workshops, and symposia by world-renowned scholars, share the results of their own research in a lunchtime lecture series, and even serve on the editorial board of Sententiae , Harvard's own peer-reviewed undergraduate journal of Medieval Studies. In turn, many of Harvard's study-abroad programs offer the chance to explore the vestiges of medieval society in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The undergraduate program in Medieval Studies is constantly expanding and evolving, reflecting the interests and passions of Harvard students like you. We hope that you will help it to grow!

Medieval Studies and History and Literature

Undergraduates wishing to pursue a Medieval Studies concentration are encouraged to consider the "Medieval World" field offered by the Committee on Degrees in History and Literature, with the collaboration of the Committee on Medieval Studies. Students in Medieval World focus on the cultural, religious, and political development of Latin, Slavic, and Byzantine Europe, and their relationships with the Islamicate world, including Islamic Africa and the Near and Middle East. You thus will have the opportunity to explore, from a wide variety of disciplinary and geographical perspectives, the fascinating complex of civilizations and religions (most notably Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) that shared the space stretching from Barcelona to Baghdad, from Marseilles to Muscovy, and from Trier to Timbuktu. For more information on Medieval Studies and History and Literature, please visit the History and Literature website , or contact Sean Gilsdorf .

Undergraduate Secondary Field in Medieval Studies

The B.A. Secondary Field in Medieval Studies

The secondary field in Medieval Studies examines the Middle Ages from many different angles and through the eyes of many different disciplines, drawing on the wealth of medieval teaching and scholarship at Harvard, where there are faculty medievalists in at least twenty departments, programs, and schools. The secondary field consists of one foundational half-course, which can be taken in any discipline, plus four more advanced courses, designed to expose students to a variety of the wide range of disciplines which make up Medieval Studies. Some of these courses teach or require specialist skills, but most are intended to be accessible to any interested student, whatever their field of specialization.

While students in the College are not required to submit their secondary field paperwork until their final semester, we encourage those considering a secondary field in Medieval Studies to meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in their sophomore or junior years, in order to review their plan of study and discuss their options in the field.

Secondary field worksheet

Requirements (5 half-courses)

1. A foundational course, chosen from among any of the courses listed  here . History and Literature 97a may fulfill this requirement if it focuses upon medieval topics.

2. Three courses, listed here  and in the Medieval Studies chapter of Courses of Instruction . These courses should cover three of the four core disciplinary areas of Arts, History, Literature and Language, and Thought and Religion. Each of these advanced courses must be offered by a different department, with the exception of Medieval Studies itself (all three courses can have a Medieval Studies number).

3. One elective course at any level, listed here  and in the Medieval Studies chapter of Courses of Instruction . Other Information 1. Pass/Fail: All five courses must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a B- or better, except for approved Freshman Seminars, which are graded SAT/UNS.

Summer School/Study Abroad:  Courses offered through the Harvard Summer School, and course credits gained through study abroad programs, will only be accepted for secondary field credit if they are on medieval topics and taught by members of the Medieval Studies faculty (e.g. Scandinavian S-150, "Study Abroad in Scandinavia"). Any enquiries about such courses should be addressed to the DUS of Medieval Studies, Sean Gilsdorf.

Other Harvard schools: Courses offered in Harvard schools other than FAS must be jointly offered in FAS to count toward the secondary field.

Undergraduate Research Fellows Program

The Committee on Medieval Studies Undergraduate Research Fellows Program offers qualified students in Harvard College the chance to work closely with faculty across the disciplines on research projects and initia­tives. Fellows have the opportunity to develop relationships with an interdisciplinary group of scholars, and to participate in a range of research tasks within the broad field of Medieval Studies. Research Fellows receive $3200 per annum . Applications for the URFP are accepted in the Spring semester; for more information, please visit the URFP page here .

Harvard College Prizes in Medieval Studies

The Committee on Medieval Studies offers two prizes annually for outstanding work by College students working on medieval topics in all disciplines. The Medieval Studies Undergraduate Essay Prize awards $250 for the best paper on any topic in Medieval Studies by a student in Harvard College, while the Class of 1955/Robert T. Coolidge Undergraduate Thesis Prize in Medieval Studies, in the amount of $1000, is given to the best senior thesis on any topic in Medieval Studies. For more information on these prizes, including deadlines and application instructions, click  here .

Find out more!

The courses that count for a secondary field in Medieval Studies are updated periodically. To suggest new courses, or to get further information on the secondary field and advice on how to devise your own program within the field, please contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Sean Gilsdorf, in person (Barker 121) or by email ( [email protected] ; medieval@ fas.harvard.edu).

• Undergraduate Secondary Field Courses
• Prizes in Medieval Studies
• Undergraduate symposium
• Graduate Program

Professor Whalen’s Medieval Research Page

At the start of a research paper, rather than “forming a thesis” or an argument, really what you’re doing is “asking a question.” After all, how can you form a proper argument  before  you’ve read the materials?

Let’s say that you’re interested in the First Crusade and Christian attitudes toward Muslims. What you are essentially asking is a basic research question: What was the importance of the First Crusade for Christian attitudes toward Muslims? How did the crusade change (or not) Christian views of Islam? From here, you might develop an entire set of related questions: How did Christians view Islam before the First Crusade? Did the clergy on the crusade view Muslims in a different way from the laity? Did crusader views of Muslims inform their perceptions of other non-Christians, such as Jews?

To find some answers, you might investigate some Christian chronicles of the First Crusade. Unless you know Latin, you’ll need to read them in translation. Thus the search begins.

Reference Works(Davis Library Reference Section)

Dictionary of the Middle Ages.  Ed. Strayer. 13 vols. 1982–1988. D114 .D5 1982

Encyclopedia of Early Christianity.  Ed. Ferguson. 2 vols. 1997. BR162.2 .E53 1997

Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages.  Ed. Vauchez. 2 vols. 2000. CB351 .E53 2000

Women in the Middle Ages.  Ed. Wilson and Margolis. 2004. HQ1143 .W643 2004

You might also start out by looking at a survey of your topic. In this case, for example, you could find a lot of basic information in Jonathan-Riley Smith,  The Crusades:A Short History  (New Haven, 1987).

Medieval Sources in Translation (Davis Library Stacks)

• Author’s name (Guibert of Nogent / Fulcher of Chartres / etc.)
• Genre (e.g. sermons / chronicles / theology / apologetics / polemics / etc.)
• Subject (e.g. crusades / predestination / resurrection / marriage / etc.)
• Series titles (Medieval Texts and Studies / Medieval Texts in Translation / Oxford Medieval Texts / Crusade Texts in Translation / etc.)
• Some helpful tags: early works to 1800 / sources / translated / translation / English

If you’re searching for primary sources, you might also try the following site at Fordham, the Medieval Sources Bibliography .

After clicking on “Search the Site,” pay special attention to the search parameters: If you already know the name of your author (e.g. Guibert of Nogent), you can search that way. Be sure to click on the box “Translated into English.” There is an option to limit your dates (for example, onoy primary sources written between the years 1000–1200); and a menu for Subject Headings (which includes the Crusades).

Finally, there are two somewhat dated bibliographies of English sources in translation, both available in the David stacks:

Farrar, Clarissa Palmer. Bibliography of English translations from medieval sources. New York, Columbia university press, 1946. Z6517.F3 c. 2 Ferguson, Mary Anne. Bibliography of English translations from medieval sources, 1943–1967. Series: Records of civilization, sources and studies ; no. 88. New York, Columbia University Press, 1974. Z6517.F47. Finally, one can get started searching for sources consulting the Medieval Internet Sourcebook, which includes citations to print versions of the primary sources on the website (typically, in my assignments, students cannot rely exclusively on the Medieval Internet Sourcebook, but it might get you started in your hunt).

Search Engines for Scholarly Articles

The International Medieval Bibliography (IMB): a top-notch search engine for secondary literature, updated to include all but the most recent articles. NOTE: unlike JSTOR, the site does not include actual articles, but provides citations that will need to be tracked down in Davis Library. In terms of content, this site is far superior to JSTOR. Access the IMB via the Electronic Resources section on the Davis Library homepage.

Bibliography of the History of Art: similar to the IMB, but for art history. Also accessed through the Electronic Resources section on the Davis Library homepage.

Feminae – Medieval Women’s and Gender Index: search engine and resources with an emphasis on women’s and gender history.

L’Année philologique: search engine for secondary literature dealing with the patristic era and early Christianity, materials too early for the IMB. Also accessed through the Electronic Resources section on the Davis Library homepage. When using, start with the “full text” search mode (essential a k-word search option).

Again, be patient! If you search for “Guibert of Nogent” on the IMB in the “all index terms” line, you get zero hits. If you type “Nogent,” you get 134 hits. If you type “Nogent” and “crusade” in the subject line, you get 12 hits. If you look closely at the entries for those citations, you’ll see that the IMB generally lists his name as “Guibert de Nogent.” Now try that search in the “all index terms.” While “Guibert of Nogent” results in zero hits, “Guibert de Nogent” yields 105.

Please note: these sites do not include articles, just citations. Sometimes there is a link to the digital version of the text, sometimes not. If not, you need to find the volume or journal in the Davis library by searching the Davis catalog. JSTOR, of course, can be helpful and includes actual Pdf files of the articles, but JSTOR only offers a limited selection of the possible scholarship. Trust me—JSTOR does not cover all of your bases for a research paper.

Online Resources

The Internet simply has not supplanted the library as a source for research projects, not yet anyway. That’s why I generally forbid my students from using Internet resources for their research papers. However, it would be foolish not to admit that the Internet provides a possible starting point and source of inspiration for formulating research questions and finding materials. Not to mention, it’s convenient. Some helpful sites:

UNC Libraries Guide to Medieval & Early Modern Studies Online: If you want to explore resources beyond this homepage, this would be a good starting point.

The Labyrinth : A vast online resource at Georgetown with links to numerous other websites, including secondary literature and sources in translation.

Internet Medieval Sourcebook: An extensive site of sources in translation, often from older (frankly outdated) collections (with links to online Ancient History, Women’s History, Saints Lives Sourcebooks and more). Offers a starting point for research but NOT appropriate for your average research paper.

The Douay-Rheims Bible : If you’re using a Bible for a medieval paper, use this one, which includes both English and the Vulgate Latin text.

Christian Classics Ethereal Library : Collection of sources in translation for early Christian history, many from the Ante-Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (see above under Early Christian Sources in Translation).

This style sheet provides simplified examples of the format used for annotation and bibliographies in the Chicago Manual of Style.

Annotation Format

Book (Primary Source)

Robert of Clari, The Conquest of Constantinople, trans. E. H. McNeal (New York: Columbia University Press, 1936).

Book (Secondary Source)

Peter Brown, The Cult of Saints: Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1981).

Article, Journal

Peter Brown, “A Dark-Age Crisis: Aspects of the Iconoclastic Controversy,” English Historical Review 88 (1973): 1–34.

Article, Edited Volume

Robert Lerner, “The Medieval Return to the Thousand-Year Sabbath,” in The Apocalypse in the Middle Ages, ed. Bernard McGinn (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2002), pp. 234–55.

Note: Please use the “article, edited volume” format for a primary source that is translated and excerpted in a source-book or collection of primary source documents, including the medieval author and the title of their work, along with the title of the source collection, the modern editor and/or translator, publisher, date, etc. If your medieval work does not have an author, list the author as “anonymous,” and be sure to include the editor and/or translator of the text.

Citations should be in footnotes (not endnotes or internal citation). Footnotes should be consecutively numbered. Insert footnotes at the end of the sentence in question (using the “reference” option on the menu for Word documents). Cite a work the first time that you make any reference to it (including but not limited to direct quotations), providing a full citation of the work. Subsequent references to that work such use an abbreviated form of citation. Provide page numbers when quoting a source, or even when summarizing an important point from the text (play it safe and cite more rather than less).

AVOID multiple notes per sentence, and place notes at the end of the sentence.

For example:

Bibliography Format

When applicable, divide your bibliography into two sections, one for primary sources and one for secondary sources. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE FORMAT FOR ANNOTATION AND BIBLIOGRAPHIES.

Follow this example:

Primary Sources

Robert of Clari. The Conquest of Constantinople. Trans. E. H. McNeal. New York: Columbia University Press, 1936.

Secondary Sources

Brown, Peter. The Cult of Saints: Its Rise and Function in Latin Christianity. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1981.

Brown, Peter. “A Dark-Age Crisis: Aspects of the Iconoclastic Controversy.” English Historical Review 88 (1973): 1–34.

Lerner, Robert. “The Medieval Return to the Thousand-Year Sabbath.” In The Apocalypse in the Middle Ages, ed. Bernard McGinn, 234–55. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2002.

NOTE: As a rule of thumb, provide your reader with more and not less information: Include volume numbers, edition numbers, editors and translators etc. Precise formats for more complicated works can be found in the Chicago Manual of Style.

The Bible does not have to be included in your Bibliography. In your text, you can use standard biblical abbreviations and internal citation (2 Thess. 4:3; Gen. 14:13–25, etc.).

If you use JSTOR, please don’t include the link in your citation or bibliography: this is simply not necessary. The original journal is the “real” citation.

Introduction to the Middle Ages

The Lindisfarne Gospels , left: Saint Matthew, portrait page (25v); right: Saint Matthew, cross-carpet page (26v), c. 700 (Northumbria), 340 x 250 mm ( British Library , Cotton MS Nero D IV)

The dark ages?

So much of what the average person knows, or thinks they know, about the Middle Ages comes from film and tv. When I polled a group of well-educated friends on Facebook, they told me that the word “medieval” called to mind Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Blackadder, The Sword in the Stone, lusty wenches, feasting, courtly love, the plague, jousting and chain mail.

Perhaps someone who had seen (or better yet read) The Name of the Rose or Pillars of the Earth would add cathedrals, manuscripts, monasteries, feudalism, monks and friars.

Petrarch, an Italian poet and scholar of the fourteenth century, famously referred to the period of time between the fall of the Roman Empire (c. 476) and his own day (c. 1330s) as the Dark Ages. Petrarch believed that the Dark Ages was a period of intellectual darkness due to the loss of the classical learning, which he saw as light. Later historians picked up on this idea and ultimately the term Dark Ages was transformed into Middle Ages. Broadly speaking, the Middle Ages is the period of time in Europe between the end of antiquity in the fifth century and the Renaissance , or rebirth of classical learning, in the fifteenth century and sixteenth centuries.

North Transept Rose Window, c. 1235, Chartres Cathedral , France (photo: Dr. Steven Zucker , CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Not so dark after all

Characterizing the Middle Ages as a period of darkness falling between two greater, more intellectually significant periods in history is misleading. The Middle Ages was not a time of ignorance and backwardness, but rather a period during which Christianity flourished in Europe. Christianity, and specifically Catholicism in the Latin West, brought with it new views of life and the world that rejected the traditions and learning of the ancient world.

During this time, the Roman Empire slowly fragmented into many smaller political entities. The geographical boundaries for European countries today were established during the Middle Ages. This was a period that heralded the formation and rise of universities, the establishment of the rule of law, numerous periods of ecclesiastical reform and the birth of the tourism industry. Many works of medieval literature, such as the Canterbury Tales, the Divine Comedy, and The Song of Roland, are widely read and studied today.

The visual arts prospered during Middles Ages, which created its own aesthetic values. The wealthiest and most influential members of society commissioned cathedrals, churches, sculpture, painting, textiles, manuscripts, jewelry and ritual items from artists. Many of these commissions were religious in nature but medieval artists also produced secular art. Few names of artists survive and fewer documents record their business dealings, but they left behind an impressive legacy of art and culture.

When I polled the same group of friends about the word “Byzantine,” many struggled to come up with answers. Among the better ones were the song “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” sung by They Might Be Giants, crusades, things that are too complex (like the tax code or medical billing), Hagia Sophia, the poet Yeats, mosaics, monks, and icons. Unlike Western Europe in the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire is not romanticized in television and film.

Approximate boundaries of the Byzantine Empire, mid-6th century (underlying map © Google)

In the medieval West, the Roman Empire fragmented, but in the Byzantine East, it remained a strong, centrally-focused political entity. Byzantine emperors ruled from Constantinople, which they thought of as the New Rome. Constantinople housed Hagia Sophia , one of the world’s largest churches, and was a major center of artistic production.

Isidore of Miletus & Anthemius of Tralles for Emperor Justinian, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 532–37 (photo: Steven Zucker , CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

The Byzantine Empire experienced two periods of Iconoclasm (730–787 and 814–842), when images and image-making were problematic. Iconoclasm left a visible legacy on Byzantine art because it created limits on what artists could represent and how those subjects could be represented. Byzantine Art is broken into three periods. Early Byzantine or Early Christian art begins with the earliest extant Christian works of art c. 250 and ends with the end of Iconoclasm in 842. Middle Byzantine art picks up at the end of Iconoclasm and extends to the sack of Constantinople by Latin Crusaders in 1204. Late Byzantine art was made between the sack of Constantinople and the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

In the European West, Medieval art is often broken into smaller periods. These date ranges vary by location.

Bibliography

Smarthistory’s free Guide to Byzantine Art e-book

Art and Death in the Middle Ages on The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History)

Byzantium from The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History

Icons and Iconoclasm on The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History

Classical Antiquity in the Middle Ages, The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History

Hagia Sophia on The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History

Images for teaching and learning

Smarthistory images for teaching and learning:.

[flickr_tags user_id=”82032880@N00″ tags=”MedievalIntro,”]

More Smarthistory images…

Important fundamentals

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Middle Ages

The Middle Ages, the medieval period of European history between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance, are sometimes referred to as the "Dark Ages."

People use the phrase “Middle Ages” to describe Europe between the fall of Rome in 476 CE and the beginning of the Renaissance in the 14th century.

Knights Templar

Who Were the Knights Templar? After Christian armies captured Jerusalem from Muslim control in 1099 during the Crusades, groups of pilgrims from across Western Europe started visiting the Holy Land. Many of them, however, were robbed and killed as they crossed through Muslim-controlled territories during their journey. Around 1118, a French knight named Hugues de […]

Hundred Years’ War

The name the Hundred Years’ War has been used by historians since the beginning of the nineteenth century to describe the long conflict that pitted the kings and kingdoms of France and England against each other from 1337 to 1453. Two factors lay at the origin of the conflict: first, the status of the duchy […]

Pandemics That Changed History

In the realm of infectious diseases, a pandemic is the worst case scenario. When an epidemic spreads beyond a country’s borders, that’s when the disease officially becomes a pandemic. Communicable diseases existed during humankind’s hunter-gatherer days, but the shift to agrarian life 10,000 years ago created communities that made epidemics more possible. Malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, […]

How did the real history of the Knights Templar become intertwined with the mysterious object known as the Holy Grail? Historian Dan Jones traces the medieval origins of the myth linking the cup of Christ to Crusader knights.

What Were the Crusades?

Christian knights waged a religious war against the Muslims in Jerusalem in an attempt to reclaim the Holy Land.

In the Middle Ages, the bubonic plague ravages Europe in one of the most deadly pandemics in human history.

Heavy Cavalry of the Middle Ages

See how the elaborate battle armor worn by medieval knights developed and evolved.

6 Surprising Discoveries From Medieval Times

The Middle Ages have yielded a series of amazing archaeological discoveries, from medieval swords to buried castle remains to evidence of zombie fears.

7 Mysterious Mass Illnesses That Defied Explanation

From a dancing plague to a laughing epidemic, the symptoms were clear—but the culprit was not.

Eight Knights Who Changed History

Well-trained, heavily-armored knights represented a triumph of military might during the Middle Ages.

A Brief History of Bloodletting

Find out more about this ancient treatment’s long history.

This Day in History

Joan of Arc is born

This Day in History Video: What Happened on November 27

Peasant army marches into london, pope urban ii orders first crusade, black death is created, allegedly.

Articles on Middle Ages

Displaying 1 - 20 of 50 articles.

What a bath, taken 1,000 years ago, can tell us about the conflicted English kingdom of the 11th century

Simon Trafford , School of Advanced Study, University of London

2 knights, 1 horse − how a legendary Knights Templar symbol has puzzled and fascinated since the Middle Ages

Andrew Latham , Macalester College

How the Middle Ages are being revisited through Indigenous perspectives

Brenna Duperron , Dalhousie University

Medieval Europe was far from democratic, but that didn’t mean tyrants got a free pass

Joelle Rollo-Koster , University of Rhode Island

Why so few witches were executed in Wales in the middle ages

Mari Ellis Dunning , Aberystwyth University

Centuries after Christine de Pizan wrote a book railing against misogyny, Taylor Swift is building her own ‘City of Ladies’

Jill R. Fehleison , Quinnipiac University

Can witches fly? A historian unpacks the medieval invention − and skepticism − of the witch on a broomstick

Michael D. Bailey , Iowa State University

Letters and embroidery allowed medieval women to express their ‘forbidden’ emotions

Pragya Agarwal , Loughborough University

Dogs in the middle ages: what medieval writing tells us about our ancestors’ pets

Emily Savage , University of St Andrews

Modern medicine has its scientific roots in the Middle Ages − how the logic of vulture brain remedies and bloodletting lives on today

Meg Leja , Binghamton University, State University of New York

From Luna Park to neo-Nazis – why the Middle Ages still matters to middle Australia

Miles Pattenden , Australian Catholic University

Friday essay: ‘black bile’, malaria therapy and insulin comas – a brief history of mental illness

Sidney Bloch , The University of Melbourne and Nick Haslam , The University of Melbourne

Why medieval manuscripts are full of doodles of snail fights

Madeleine S. Killacky , Bangor University

Curious Kids: who was the first person to speak English?

Ad Putter , University of Bristol

Beauty ideals were as tough in the middle ages as they are now

Laura Kalas , Swansea University

Buildings tumbling, survivors living in tents: medieval descriptions of an 1114 CE earthquake in present-day Turkey and Syria feel eerily familiar

Beth Spacey , The University of Queensland

How the Middle Ages’ female doctors were consigned to oblivion

Isabella Gagliardi , Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme (FMSH)

Cats in the middle ages: what medieval manuscripts teach us about our ancestors’ pets

Why the Middle Ages have such a bad reputation

Eduardo Baura García , Universidad CEU San Pablo

Penance and plague: How the Black Death changed one of Christianity’s most important rituals

Nicole Archambeau , Colorado State University

Related Topics

• Bubonic plague
• Christianity
• European Middle Ages
• Medieval art
• Medieval history
• Religion and society

Top contributors

PhD Candidate, Medieval Literature, Bangor University

Professor of History, Iowa State University

Professor of Political Science, Macalester College

Professor in High Medieval History, Durham University

Senior Lecturer, School of Philosophical, Historical & International Studies, Monash University

Professor of English, Macquarie University

Lecturer n History, The Open University

Hansen Lecturer in History, The University of Melbourne

Lecturer in Medieval History, Cardiff University

Senior Lecturer in Medieval English Literature, Swansea University

Associate Professor of English, UMass Amherst

Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, Western Sydney University

Lecturer in Organic Geochemistry, University of Aberdeen

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Byzantine History, Hitotsubashi University

Professor, University of Liverpool

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Humanities: Ancient to Medieval

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You may start with a broad topic, and not be sure how to focus it. By exploring background information you can learn about a topic and its parts. As you read through background information, consider if you can focus your topic in the following ways:

• Geographically - limit by a region, country, state, or city like Athens or Mediterranean
• Chronologically - limit by a time period like The Middle Kingdom or medieval
• People or Groups - limit to a specific person or group such as Alexander the Great or the Knights Templar
• Current or Historical Events - limit to a particular event such as the Crusades or the Norman Conquest
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Medieval Studies

Image from The Babees' Book: Medieval Manners for the Young by Edith Rickert (London, Chatto and Windus; New York, Duffield & co., 1923). From CRL collections.

The Middle Ages, or the medieval period, generally refers to the era 400 to 1500 C.E. in western Europe and the British Isles. These territories formed the Holy Roman Empire, when Christianity emerged as the dominant tradition with cultural roots stemming from ancient Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman traditions. The papacy provided a unifying institutional and political framework. Contact with an expanding Islamic world to the south and east along with unconverted Scandinavian and Germanic cultures to the north are other defining characteristics of medieval culture.  

Recent Areas of Scholarly Interest

Scholarship on the Middle Ages has provided an increasingly complex and nuanced picture of medieval culture, particularly of the early Middle Ages. In recent decades, advances in technology have brought the era more vividly into focus with newly digitized collections available in electronic databases. These databases enable scholars to interrogate large textual corpora of source material such as the Patrologia Latina and Corpus Christianorum in new ways.

The heretofore more narrow focus on the educated elite in western Europe under Roman Christendom has expanded to include other geographic regions, laymen and women, and a more diverse span of human experience. Medieval archaeology and sophisticated analyses of documentary and narrative sources have opened up the exploration of previously neglected or disregarded areas: peasants, family, women, and children, along with the rural and urban contexts in which most medieval people lived. 

Many medieval studies programs established in the 1970s and ’80s adopt multidisciplinary approaches. More recently, medieval studies, like the humanities overall, have faced declining support. Large amounts of primary source materials remain unfilmed or unscanned, making it necessary for scholars to travel to the archives where they are held. Medievalists are concerned about the perception, found even among academics, that history in general (let alone the Middle Ages) is irrelevant in a technologically oriented society. While answers to new questions and fresh answers to longstanding questions have been made possible through new technologies, substantial areas of historical understanding continue to be affected by scarcity in resources. The lives, experiences, and contributions of unlettered or marginalized individuals and communities continue to pose a vital challenge for recovery.

Contributors

Chris Africa, History & Social Sciences Bibliographer, University of Iowa Libraries

Jane Marie Pinzino, Humanities Librarian, Florida State University Libraries

Primary sources for medieval studies have typically consisted of manuscripts and incunabula housed in special collections, microform series containing voluminous manuscript collections, as well as print facsimile and standard critical editions of classic works. CRL’s medieval resources are primarily Western European and are a result of either deposit or the use of various collection programs CRL offers.  Examples of acquisitions include the set of microfiche Arabic Manuscripts in the British Library - Hadith Kalam from the Purchase Proposal Program, and the microfilm set Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts of St. John’s College, Oxford: manuscripts dating from the 10th century to the 16th century through the Shared Purchase Program. 

Doctoral dissertations, while not primary sources, offer vital resources for medieval studies. CRL holds more than 800,000 foreign doctoral dissertations from universities outside the U.S. and Canada. These dissertations provide North American researchers with the most current analyses from the European scholarly community. Access to European dissertations puts the North American medievalist in close dialogue with a vigorous community of scholarly inquiry into the Middle Ages in the contemporary U.K., France, Italy, Germany, and beyond. CRL’s collection of dissertations are included in the main catalog, and can be searched under the “Dissertations” tab on the online catalog page. A keyword search on “medieval” or “mediaeval” retrieves almost 1,000 records. Current acquisitions of dissertations focus on purchasing dissertations through the Demand Purchase Program.

Church Archives

Series 1 of the set Ecclesiastical Authority in England reproduces original manuscripts held at Cambridge University Library. Contains the main sequence of Instance Act Books (1374 – 1640), covering cases between parties, particularly marriage and tithe cases. Part 2 contains the Office Act Books (1469 – 1639), which treat the spiritual and moral welfare of both clergy and laity. This is supplemented by a collection of Formularies, dealing with matters as diverse as sequestrations, commissions of offices, proceedings against lollards, inquisitions, and dispensations

This set includes reproductions of original manuscripts of bishops’ registers, recording administrative acts of bishops and authorities. CRL holds eight parts of the set, which are also separately cataloged:

• pt. 1. Registers of the Archbishops of York, 1215–1650 [ catalog record ]
• pt. 2. Registers of the Bishops of Lincoln, 1209–1663 [ catalog record ]
• pt. 3. Registers of the Bishops of Coventry and Lichfield, 1295–1632; Carlisle, 1292–1656; Chester, 1541–1652; and Durham, 1283–1672 [ catalog record]
• pt. 4. Registers of the Bishops of Salisbury, 1297–1689 [ catalog record ]
• pt. 5. Registers of the Bishops of London, 1304–1660  [ catalog record ]
• pt. 6. Registers of Christ Church Cathedral Priory, Canterbury,1284–1661  [ catalog record]
• pt. 7. Registers of the Bishops of Ely, 1337-1619; Oxford, 1592–1663; and Wales,1389–1705 [ catalog record]
• pt. 8. Registers of the Bishops of Chichester, 1396-1675; Gloucester, 1541–1681; and Rochester, 1319–1683 [ catalog record ]
• 1. MS 1212: 13th cent. cartulary of the Archbishopric of Canterbury (c. 615–1290)
• 2. John Pecham, 1279–92; Robert Winchelsey, 1294–1313
• 3. Walter Reynolds, 1313–27; Simon Inslip, 1349–66
• 4. Simon Langham, 1366–68; William Whittlesey, 1368–74; Simon Sudbury, 1375–81
• 5. William Courtenay, 1381–96
• 6. Thomas Arundel, 1396–1414
• 7–8. Henry Chichele, 1414–43, vols. 1–2
• 9. John Stafford, 1443–52; John Kompe, 1452–54; Thomas Bourgchier, 1454–86
• 10. John Morton, 1486–1500; Henry Deane, 1501–03
• 11. William Warham, 1503–32
• 12. Thomas Cranmer, 1532–55; Reginald Pole, 1555–58
• 13. Matthew Parker, 1559–75
• 14. Edmund Grindal, 1576–83
• 15–16. John Whitgift, 1583–1604, vols. 1–3
• 17. Richard Bancroft, 1604–10
• 18–19. George Abbott, 1611–33, vols. 1–3
• 20. William Laud, 1633–45

This set includes microfilm copies of books printed in Belgium and the Netherlands and books printed in Flemish or Dutch in other countries before 1601. Partially based on Short-title Catalogue of Books Printed in the Netherlands and Belgium and of Dutch and Flemish Books Printed in other Countries from 1470 to 1600, Now in the British Museum . Publisher's announcement: “Titles of basic importance in all fields are selected from, though not restricted to, this source.”

GUIDE: Early English Books, 1475–1640: selected from Pollard and Redgrave’s Short-title catalogue: A Guide to... . CRL owns the first 56 units of this microfilm set of Pollard’s and Redgrave’s titles. Individual title access is through the guide; only a few of the titles are analyzed in CRL’s catalog.

GUIDE: Short-title catalogue of books printed in France and of French books printed in other countries now in the British Museum. This microfilm set is based on the British Library’s bibliography.  

GUIDE: Short-title catalogue of books printed in the German-speaking countries and German books printed in other countries from 1455 to 1600, now in the British Museum. This microfilm set includes a selection of German books on all subjects published before 1601. The initial selection is based on the Short-title Catalogue, but also includes works in the Bodleian, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, and other sources. 

This series, also called Hispanic books printed before 1601 , is based on the bibliographies listed below and covers early books printed in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America 

• Penney, Clara Louise, ed. List of Books Printed before 1601 in the Library of the Hispanic Society of America.
• Thomas, Henry. Short-title Catalogues of Spanish, Spanish-American and Portuguese Books Printed before 1601 in the British Museum.
• Simon Diaz, Jose. Bibliographia de la Literatura Hispanica. 

​Titles cataloged individually. 

CRL has the following units of this set: Units 46–47 , German vernacular literature; Units 54–55, Iberian printing; Units 56–59, 67, 78–79, 83, Bibles & commentaries; Units 70–72, 75, Printing in Florence; and Units 76–77 , Printing in Venice. 

GUIDE: Short-title catalogue of books printed in Italy and of Italian books printed in other countries from 1465 to 1600, now in the British Museum. This set reproduces 15th- and 16th-century books in all subject areas. The initial selection for the microfilm set is based on the Short-title Catalogue, but titles from other collections also are included.

GUIDE: Medina, Jose Toribio. Biblioteca Hispano-Americana, 1493–1810. This set contains microfilm copies of titles in Medina’s bibliography and represents a history of the Spanish-speaking peoples of the western hemisphere. Most individual titles are not cataloged at CRL.

GUIDE: This is a microfilm set of a selection of Scandinavian books printed before 1700, based on the bibliographies below:

• Collijn, Isak. Sveriges bibliografi intill are 1600.
• Nielsen, Lauritz M. Dansk bibliografi, 1482–1550, 1551–1600, med saerligt hensyn til dansk bogtrykkerkunsts historie.
• Bruun, Chr. V. Bibliotheca danica, 1482–1830.
• Pettersen, Hjalmar Marius. Bibliotheca norvegica, 1643–1813.
• Collijn, Isak. Sveriges bibliografi, 1600–talet.

Manuscripts

GUIDE: List of ancient correspondence of the Chancery and Exchequer preserved in the Public Record Office. List and Index Society, v. 15. This set contains more than 12,400 individual documents spanning the reigns of King John to King Henry VII and includes: state papers; correspondence of kings, bishops, Popes, knights, noblemen, royal servants, and Lord Chancellors; and medieval and other records. Topics covered by this collection include: the diplomatic relations between Britain and France; the political struggles between the king and barons; ecclesiastical elections; sieging of castles; packing of wool; trading; escapes from imprisonment; protection of lepers; enclosures; keeping of servants and falcons; and even the slowness of letters in transit. It is a useful source for the study of economic, military, diplomatic, ecclesiastical, social, and literary history. The originals are part of the records of the PRO Special Collections (PRO S.C. 1/1-64).

This microfilm set of the 1427 survey of Florence is complete, except for areas of Pistoia, Pisa, and Arezzo. The census includes volumes on the technical regulations and laws concerning the Catasto. Title on container labels: “Florence census 1420, 1427.”

GUIDE: Short-title catalogue of books printed in the Netherlands and Belgium and of Dutch and Flemish books printed in other countries from 1470 to 1600, now in the British Museum. Z2402.B7 Cockx-Indestage, Elly, and Genevieve Glorieux. Belgica typographica 1541-1600. Z2402.C6 This set includes microfilm copies of books printed in Belgium and the Netherlands and books printed in Flemish or Dutch in other countries before 1601. The initial selection is based on the works cited above. This set has been expanded to include the 17th century. This is a continuing project, with additional reels received periodically. Most of the titles have been cataloged with over 2,300 individual titles in CRLCATALOG.

GUIDE: British literary manuscripts from the British Library: an inventory to parts one and two of the Harvester microform collection, based on the Sloane and additional manuscripts series. This set includes material from the Sloane collection. Entries from the British Library’s catalogs of manuscripts precede each reel. Prominent works include four texts of The Canterbury Tales (Sloane 1685, 1686; Add. MSS. 5140, 35286), The Legende of Good Women (Add. MS. 12044), and Troilus and Cresseide (Add. MS. 12044), as well as a rich cache of religious and devotional material. CRL owns Parts 1–2 of this series.

A joint project of the American Council of Learned Societies and the Library of Congress, the collection consists of reproductions of nearly five million pages of manuscripts and, in a few instances, rare printed materials found in some of the major public and private collections of England and Wales. American scholars in many fields of knowledge selected the works for their intrinsic importance to learned studies. The collection spans several centuries; it includes many types of works (letters, treaties, public records, grants, papal indulgences, speeches, stories, poems, pedigrees, deeds, tracts, court cases, treasurer's accounts, journals, petitions, homilies, and commentaries), and covers a wide range of subjects (politics, religion, philosophy, literature, science, history), in many languages (English, Latin, Greek, Arabic, Welsh, French, etc.). This collection contains many important collections from the British Museum as well as the Public Record Office. CRL holds limited reels of this collection, some of which are cataloged under separate headings. The following is a short checklist of items, with the listing of the depository, LC Reel number, and corresponding BMP item numbers (these are in numerical sequence and may not match the order of LC Reel numbers). Titles can be checked through the checklist or via the online version at the University of Michigan.

• Bath, Marquises of. Library, Longleat., Coventry Papers LC Reels: Bath 1–65 BMP no.: 1–79 See also Coventry Papers
• British Museum. Dept. of Manuscripts, Cotton Appendix LC Reels: BMab 349, 380 BMP No.: 687, 692–693
• British Museum. Dept. of Manuscripts, Cotton Caligula LC Reels: BMab 174 B, 179, 455 BMP No.: 710, 712, 715, 720
• British Museum. Dept. of Manuscripts, Cotton Galba LC Reels: BMab 282 BMP No.: 898–899
• British Museum. Dept. of Manuscripts, Cotton Julius LC Reels: BMab 104, 189 BMP No.: 926, 933, 941, 964, 967
• British Museum. Dept. of Manuscripts, Cotton Nero LC Reels: BMab 278, 380 BMP No.: A27, A64
• British Museum. Dept. of Manuscripts, Cotton Titus LC Reels: BMab 104, 345, 346, 348, 349, 350, 373, 380 BMP No.: A143, A145, A147, A156–157, A160, A179, A201, A203–204
• British Museum. Dept. of Manuscripts, Cotton Tiberius LC Reels: BMab 189 BMP No.: A107
• British Museum. Dept. of Manuscripts, Cotton Vespasian LC Reels: BMab 278, 281, 307, 308, 309, 310, 312 BMP No.: A242, A245, A251–258, A309, A311, A313
• British Museum. Dept. of Manuscripts, Cotton Vitellius LC Reels: BMab 314 BMP No.: A351, A355
• Cambridge University. Library LC Reels: Camb 231–232 BMP No.: B571–580
• Cambridge University. Pembroke College LC Reels: Camb 162 BMP No.: C694, C698, C741,
• Cambridge University. Trinity College LC Reels: Camb 386 BMP No.: C957–959, D95–97
• Downshire, Marquesses of. Library. Trumbull mss. Papers of William Trumbull, the Elder LC Reels: Camb 203–205, 216–229 BMP No.: D103, D125–130, D153–186
• (Miscellaneous Collections) Singer, Dorothea (Waley), Bibliography (#4701120) LC Reels: Misc 16–36 BMP No.: F214–216
• Northumberland, Dukes of. Library (Alnwick Castle)., Manuscripts LC Reels: Aln 1, 2, 6, 7, 47, 54, 55 BMP no.: F233–238, F247–251, F315, F320–323, F333, F360, F402–404, F415, F449, F476-478
• Northumberland, Dukes of. Library (Syon House) LC Reels: Aln 93, 104, 106, 107, 112 BMP no.: F500–504, F576–579, F606–612, F646–683, F850, F910, F912–916, F939, F941-949
• Oxford University. Bodleian Library, Laud Misc. LC Reels: Oxf 30, 34 BMP No.: G457, G460, G468, G474, G476, G478, G488–489, G496, G500, G503–505
• Oxford University. Bodleian Library, Bodley LC Reels: Oxf 30 BMP No.: G88
• Oxford University. Bodleian Library, Tanner LC Reels: Oxf 99, 141, 144, See Also Tanner Manuscripts
• Oxford University. Bodleian Library, Rawlinson LC Reels: Oxf 226–228, 231–240, 243–244, 246–252, 266 See also Rawlinson Manuscripts
• Penshurst. De l'Isle and Dudley, Barons of. Library. Penshurst Muniments LC Reels: Camb 752, 773, 786 BMP No.: H748–754, H938–940, J386–387, 389–429
• Great Britain. Public Record Office., War Office. Amherst Papers LC Reels: PRO 239–411 BMP No.: E425–678 See also Amherst Papers

GUIDE: British Manuscripts Project: A Checklist of Microfilms Prepared in England and Wales for the American Council of Learned Societies (1941–45).

Manuscripts, including chronicles, geneologies, letters, and various documents chiefly related to land, law, politics, and religion in England. CRL owns part 1 (manuscripts Dd–Gg) and 2 (manuscripts Hh–Oo and additional works).

This set contains transcripts of more than 22,600 deeds and testaments disposing of real property from the Court of Husting, the principal court of medieval London. The deeds specify details of the property, names of owners and tenants, and other information about individual properties, streets, markets, and other features of London.

CRL owns sections IV (law) and V (medical & natural sciences). Section IV contains the Decretals of Gregory IX and of Gratian, Justinian's Works, as well as the works of many Popes (Innocent IV, Boniface VIII etc.). Section V includes such works from the Christ Church collection as the Lectio Astronomica (1703) and a 17th-century Euclides Elementum . Those from New College include works by Hippocrates, Pliny, Ptolemy, Aristos, Galen, Averroes, and Roger Bacon.

This set has seven parts:

• Pt. 1: Cotton Julius-Cotton Tiberius
• Pt. 2: Cotton Caligula-Cotton Claudius
• Pt. 3: Cotton Nero-Cotton Otho
• Pt. 4: Cotton Vitellius
• Pt. 5: Cotton Vespasian
• Pt. 6: Cotton Titus
• Pt. 7: Cotton Domitian, Cotton Cleopatra, Cotton Faustina, and Appendix

CRL has the following parts:

• Pt. 1: Arundel-Cotton Nero
• Pt. 2: Cotton Otho-Cotton Roll
• Pt. 3: Egerton-Lansdowne 
• Pt. 4: Royal-Add. Roll

CRL holds parts 1–4, selected volumes in the Rawlinson A; parts 5–6, selected volumes in the Rawlinson B; and part 7, selected volumes in the Rawlinson C collections. The bulk of the microfilm edition is dated c.1540 to c.1680, although the Rawlinson manuscript collection contains letters, papers, and records from 1253 to 1753. The microfilm edition is selective and excludes most volumes concerning the history of continental Europe or other parts of the World or British history if of less significance for public affairs. Most of the Thurloe Manuscripts (Rawlinson A Volumes 1–67) have been omitted. The set is also known as Sixteenth and Seventeenth-Century Manuscripts from the Rawlinson Collection . A finding aid is at beginning of each reel.

Offered as part of the set “Making of Modern London,” the repertories of the Court of Aldermen—one of the two assemblies responsible for administering London—give a detailed record of London and its people over four centuries. The records describe local administrative issues (police, water supply, building codes, citizenship) and related matters. To date, only the repertories from 1495 to 1692 have been produced.

The set is issued in several sections and parts, which are also cataloged separately:

• Section I: Law manuscripts [ catalog record ]
• Section II: Medica [ catalog record ]
• Section III: Mathematica [ catalog record ]
• Section IV: Illuminated manuscripts [ catalog record ]
• Section V: Literature. Part A, General [ catalog record ]
• Section V: Literature. Part B, Classics [ catalog record ]
• Section VI: Secular mss. Part B, History, etc. [ catalog record ]
• Section VII: The Bible. Part A, Biblical texts [ catalog record ]
• Section VII: The Bible. Part B, Biblical studies [ catalog record ]     
• Section VIII: Theology. Part A, General [ catalog record ]
• Section VIII: Theology. Part B, Patristics [ catalog record ]

In addition to the digitized guide below, see the searchable catalogue online at Trinity College.

• Catalogue of Digitized Medieval Manuscripts : This site was designed to help users find currently available fully digitized manuscripts. (In 2013 active development on the CDMMSS ceased, and in 2015 the site was retired.)
• Digital Scriptorium : an image database of medieval and renaissance manuscripts that provides detailed manuscript descriptions.
• Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index : an open-access bibliographical database maintained by Haverford College and the University of Iowa covering women, sexuality, and gender during the Middle Ages.
• International Center of Medieval Art : a worldwide organization dedicated to the study of medieval art and culture.
• Latin Manuscript Books before 1600 : A List of Printed Catalogues and Unpublished Inventories of Extant Collections : the e-version of Paul Kristeller’s inventory, as revised by Sigrid Krämer (2003).
• The Medieval Review , sponsored by the Medieval Studies Institute and the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University, Bloomington: publishes reviews of current work in medieval studies.
• Scriptorium/Bulletin Codicologique : This site includes a comprehensive manuscript index of the journal Scriptorium and its Bulletin Codicologique, one of the most efficient tools for finding secondary literature published in the last half century on a given medieval manuscript.
• Austenfeld, Anne Marie. “Virtual Reunification as the Future of ‘Codices Dispersi’: Practices and Standards Developed by E-codices—Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland.” IFLA Journal 36, no. 2 (2010): 145–54.
• Nichols, Stephen G. “Born Medieval: MSS. in the Digital Scriptorium.” Journal of Electronic Publishing 11, no. 1 (2008). Accessed February 10, 2011. http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=jep;view=text;rgn=main;i... .
• Saenger, Paul. “In the Age of the Web: Strategies for Building a Collection of Primary Sources for European History from the Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century.” Library Trends 52, no. 1 (2003): 30–48.
• Slowik, Amy J. W. “Collecting Medieval Manuscripts.” Collection Building 28, no. 3 (2009): 126–30.
•   Medieval Resources Several speakers discussed medieval studies in North America, primary and secondary resources available at CRL, and various programs available to librarians, researchers, and students.

In the age of the Web: strategies for building a collection of primary sources for European history from the Middle Ages to the eighteenth century

Past events, further reference.

Don’t see your topic of interest listed here? We also provide Reference Consultations to help you identify material in our collection that is relevant to your field. You can get help from Marie Waltz , CRL’s Head of Access Initiatives.

Home — Essay Samples — History — Medieval Europe — Middle Ages

Essays on Middle Ages

Prompt examples for middle ages essays, feudalism in the middle ages.

Discuss the system of feudalism in the Middle Ages. Explore its structure, roles of various social classes (lords, vassals, serfs), and the economic, political, and social implications of feudalism on medieval society.

Medieval Castles and Their Significance

Examine the construction, architecture, and strategic importance of medieval castles. Analyze how castles served as both defensive structures and symbols of power during the Middle Ages.

Medieval Monarchy and Kingship

Discuss the role of kings and monarchs in medieval Europe. Analyze the powers, responsibilities, and challenges faced by medieval monarchs. Explore the development of centralized authority and the emergence of nation-states during this period.

The Crusades: Motives and Consequences

Examine the motives behind the Crusades and their impact on the Middle Ages. Discuss the religious, economic, and political factors that led to the Crusades and analyze their consequences on Europe, the Middle East, and cross-cultural interactions.

Medieval Religion and the Church

Explore the role of religion in medieval Europe, with a focus on the Catholic Church. Discuss the influence of the Church on daily life, culture, and politics. Analyze the challenges and reforms within the Church during this era.

Medieval Literature and Art

Discuss the literary and artistic achievements of the Middle Ages. Explore notable works such as epic poems, chivalric romances, and illuminated manuscripts. Analyze how medieval literature and art reflected the values and beliefs of the time.

The Black Death: Causes and Impact

Examine the causes and consequences of the Black Death (bubonic plague) in the Middle Ages. Discuss the social, economic, and demographic effects of the plague on medieval Europe and its long-term repercussions.

Medieval Knights and Chivalry

Explore the role of knights in medieval society and the code of chivalry they followed. Discuss the training, duties, and ideals of knights. Analyze the romanticized versus the historical realities of knighthood.

The Hundred Years' War

Discuss the Hundred Years' War between England and France during the 14th and 15th centuries. Examine the causes, key battles, and outcomes of the conflict. Analyze the impact of the war on the political and social landscape of Europe.

Medieval Trade and Commerce

Examine the growth of trade and commerce in medieval Europe. Discuss the role of guilds, fairs, and trade routes such as the Silk Road. Analyze the economic impact of trade on medieval cities and the development of the merchant class.

Feudalism and The Manor System

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Social Effects of The Black Plague

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Americans are split over the state of the American dream

“The American dream ” is a century-old phrase used to describe the idea that anyone can achieve success in the United States through hard work and determination. Today, about half of Americans (53%) say that dream is still possible.  

Pew Research Center asked Americans about their views of the American dream as part of a larger survey exploring their social and political attitudes.  

We surveyed 8,709 U.S. adults from April 8 to 14, 2024. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and its methodology .

Another 41% say the American dream was once possible for people to achieve – but is not anymore. And 6% say it was never possible, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey of 8,709 U.S. adults.

While this is the first time the Center has asked about the American dream in this way, other surveys have long found that sizable shares of Americans are skeptical about the future of the American dream .

Who believes the American dream is still possible?

There are relatively modest differences in views of the American dream by race and ethnicity, partisanship, and education. But there are wider divides by age and income.

Americans ages 50 and older are more likely than younger adults to say the American dream is still possible. About two-thirds of adults ages 65 and older (68%) say this, as do 61% of those 50 to 64.

By comparison, only about four-in-ten adults under 50 (42%) say it’s still possible for people to achieve the American dream.

Higher-income Americans are also more likely than others to say the American dream is still achievable.

While 64% of upper-income Americans say the American dream still exists, 39% of lower-income Americans say the same – a gap of 25 percentage points.

Middle-income Americans fall in between, with a 56% majority saying the American dream is still possible.

Race and ethnicity

Roughly half of Americans in each racial and ethnic group say the American dream remains possible. And while relatively few Americans – just 6% overall – say that the American dream was never possible, Black Americans are about twice as likely as those in other groups to say this (11%).

Partisanship

While 56% of Republicans and Republican leaners say the American dream is still possible to achieve, 50% of Democrats and Democratic leaners say the same.

A 57% majority of adults with a bachelor’s degree or more education say the American dream remains possible, compared with 50% of those with less education.

Age and income differences within both parties

Age and income differences in views of the American dream persist within each political party.

Clear majorities of both Republicans (64%) and Democrats (67%) ages 50 and older say achieving the American dream is still possible.

In contrast, just 38% of Democrats under 50 and 48% of Republicans under 50 view the American dream as still possible.

In both parties, upper-income Americans are about 25 points more likely than lower-income Americans to say it is still possible for people to achieve the American dream.

Do people think they can achieve the American dream?

Americans are also divided over whether they think they personally can achieve the American dream. About three-in-ten (31%) say they’ve achieved it, while a slightly larger share (36%) say they are on their way to achieving it. Another 30% say it’s out of reach for them. These views are nearly identical to when the Center last asked this question in 2022.

White adults (39%) are more likely than Black (15%) and Hispanic adults (19%), and about as likely as Asian adults (34%), to say they have already achieved the American dream.

Black (48%), Hispanic (47%) and Asian adults (46%) are more likely than White adults (29%) to say they are on their way to achieving it.

Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say they have achieved the American dream (38% vs. 28%). But Democrats are somewhat more likely than Republicans to say they’re on the way to achieving it (38% vs. 34%). Democrats are also more likely than Republicans to view the American dream as personally out of reach.

Income and age

Older and higher-income Americans are more likely than younger and less wealthy Americans to say they have achieved or are within reach of the American dream. These patterns are similar to those for views about the American dream more generally.

Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and its methodology .

• Economic Conditions
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Gabriel Borelli is a research associate focusing on U.S. politics and policy at Pew Research Center .

Income inequality is greater among Chinese Americans than any other Asian origin group in the U.S.

The state of the asian american middle class, the state of the american middle class, is college worth it, 7 facts about americans and taxes, most popular.

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