Between classical antiquity and modern times lies the Middle Ages. The dawn and dusk of this medieval era span several hundred years, with exact dates shifting between different areas. The medieval world spanned several continents and stretched from about the 3rd to 17th centuries. Use these resources to learn more about medieval history and the people who wrote it.
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The medieval instrumentation and lyric interpretation of modern pop, rock, metal, and hip-hop took off in April 2020, launching a new and growing genre. Bardcore is defined by its use of musical nostalgia and internet culture’s “memeification,” according to the historians in this nearly two-hour-long podcast. Listen to this episode to hear a medievalist and music historian break down the rise, relevance, and reasons behind Bardcore.
Long before modern healthcare, medieval Europe established hospitals that served multiple roles, including religious, social, and medical purposes. This podcast explores how institutions like Siena’s Ospedale di Santa Maria della Scala supported urban and rural communities for centuries.
In the Middle Ages, Europe was divided into hundreds of kingdoms, duchies, and territories, bearing little resemblance to modern borders. This map captures the political landscape in 1444, as the Ottoman Empire was in the midst of its rise.
Medieval bestiaries combined observed animals with fantastical creatures, using vivid imagery to convey symbolism and moral meaning. This lecture explores England’s Worksop Bestiary (c. 1185), showcasing over 100 illustrated beasts from the Morgan Library’s collection.
Between roughly 800 and 1200 CE, seafaring Vikings from Scandinavia combined skilled craftsmanship with violent coastal raids. Their expeditions extended cultural influence from the British Isles to Northern Africa, reshaping medieval trade, warfare, and settlement patterns.
The Black Death killed tens of millions across Europe, but the labor shortages that followed shifted economic power. With fewer workers available, survivors demanded higher wages and better conditions—sparking what historians call a medieval “Golden Age of Labor.”
While some knights guarded their combat knowledge, others recorded it in illustrated fighting manuals. Centuries later, scholars struggle to interpret these cryptic texts, revealing how much medieval martial knowledge was lost or obscured over time.
During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, narwhal tusks were believed to be unicorn horns, possessing healing and anti-poisonous properties. Coveted by Europe’s elites, they became royal gifts—with one even presented to Queen Elizabeth I by explorer Martin Frobisher.
Far from a “Dark Age,” the medieval era brought about significant innovations—from the printing press and mechanical clocks to navigational tools and early computing devices. This curated list of inventions demonstrates how profoundly medieval creativity has shaped the modern world.
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Between 750 and 1350 CE, some regions experienced temperatures that rivaled or exceeded late-20th-century averages, likely due to shifts in El Niño–La Niña cycles. The warmer, wetter climate in Europe and northeast North America boosted agriculture, while causing droughts elsewhere.
Weave together the many narratives of world history with our highly curated and expanding selection of diverse, fascinating resources designed to showcase the breadth and richness of Earth's story, from the earliest traces of human civilization to the dramatic developments of contemporary cultures.