The Battle of Didgori and the Rise of Georgia Under the white-capped peaks of the Greater Caucasus live the Kartvelians. Jason’s Argonauts found them on the balmy shores and hills, retreating from the Black Sea as an already ancient people. Modern scholars estimate their occupation dating well into the Neolithic when the Kartvelians first made wine in

How African Slaves Helped Break the Caliphate In the sweltering August heat of Southern Iraq, an army of slaves and Bedouins laid siege to the wealthy city of Basra. Over a month the besiegers tightened the noose around the city, burning outlying villages, and ambushing reinforcements and supply trains bound for the city. By September 7th, 871 AD the rebel army had gained a foothold in the city and…

How Viking Trade Revitalized Europe In 655 AD the first Muslim fleet met the Byzantine navy off the coast of Anatolia. The rough seas forced both sides to lash their ships to one another and the two great rafts collided in a fierce battle. Soldiers and sailors jumped from ship to ship in ruthless melee combat. As the day wore on the Muslim fleet gained the upper hand. When enemies closed …

How Geography Has Shaped Levantine Politics On a scorching July day in Palestine Ludolf of Tournai clambered over the battlements and scattered his Fatimid foes. Ludolf fought wildly, desperately, he had endured years of suffering on behalf of his God to reach the Holy City. He had survived the arrows of Turkish horsemen as he thirsted on the Anatolian Plateau. He had braved the treacherous footp…

A historic game I like to play Before I get into today’s email, here’s a reminder that you can get signed books in time for the Christmas holidays. Here’s how:

A lecture from Southwark Cathedral Christmas books!

...one last lecture for this year... and more Hello, I’ve been writing a lot these last couple weeks - and doing a lot, I suppose.

…and the Tower of London In 1252 Henry III took delivery of a white bear, sent to him as a gift from King Haakon IV of Norway. He decided to keep it in the Tower of London. The bear was either too big or too exciting to be taken to Oxfordshire, where there had been a royal menagerie at Woodstock since Henry I’s reign. What’s more, it needed to fish.

This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Steve Tibble about who the Assassins were, what tactics they used in the Middle Ages, and what this legendary order stood for.

A sweeping exploration of pre-modern African history, this book traces the continent’s cultures, migrations, and identities. It blends rigorous research with personal reflection to highlight Africa’s global influence and enduring legacy.

Discover the extraordinary folk traditions surrounding St. Prokop of Sázava, a medieval Czech saint whose legend includes demon expulsions, devotion to the Slavonic rite, and a ghostly return to defend his monastery.

By Michael Goodyear The Middle Ages are replete with adventurous men who sailed across the seas, conquered foreign kingdoms, and left their imprint…

Though not as focussed on conquest as a hundred years earlier, the Roman legions of the second century AD had to contend with revolts, invasions, and civil war.  Theme: The Roman army in the 2nd century AD Murray Dahm, 'A century of war - Begin as you mean to continue'.  Lindsay Powell, 'Fighting under a flag - Roman army vexillations in the second century AD'. Jo Ball, 'A Roman career soldier - The story of Valerius Maximianus'. Mattia Caprioli, 'A very Severan civil war - The Battle of Issus'. Matej Kmošek, 'Signalling on a small scale - Legionary identity at Musov'. Graham Sumner, 'Hiding in plain sight - Portraits of Antonine soldiers from Fayum'. Murray Dahm, 'A brother goes to war - The Parthian monument of Lucius Verus'. Features: Dr Péter Bernát, 'Late Roman heavy cavalry - Forerunners of medieval knights'. Billy Duff, 'The Paean - Greek battle hymns'. Mark McCafery, 'Evocatio - Do you want to come to Rome?'. Boris Dreyer, 'Cross-country Celtic chariots - Longitudinal suspension and bent rims'.

In ancient Rome, as throughout the ancient world, people's lives were structured around religious rituals and festivals, they prayed to the gods for guidance, and it was believed the gods even interceded on their behalf.  Theme: Religion in ancient Rome Gwynaeth McIntyre, 'Worshipping the imperial family - When religion meets politics'. Stuart McKie, 'Curse tablets in the Roman world - Hidden secrets of ancient magic'. Amber Gartrell, 'Roman worship of Castor & Pollux - The best of brothers'. Laurie Porstner, 'Watching over the family - Roman household gods'. Jen Baird, 'Religious life in Dura-Europos - One town, many faiths'. Features: Jeremy McInerney, 'Centaurs - Wildness and the Greek imagination'. Stephen Hodkinson, 'Classical Sparta - A militaristic society?'. Sem van Atteveld, 'The snail craze - Producing Tyrian purple'. Stephen Roberts, 'Hengistbury Head - A vibrant Iron Age settlement'. Philip Matyszak, 'Widowhood in ancient Rome - Wealth, love, and politics'. Ulla Rajala, 'Peopling the past - Experiencing the Jewry Wall Museum'.

Vikings Behaving Reasonably: Nordic Hóf in Civic and Legal Rhetoric was written to try and make sense of the rhetoric shown in the Icelandic family sagas, but I expanded its scope to look more at how the medieval Scandinavians dealt with conflicts in both the civic and legal arenas. I found through my research that the medieval Scandinavians had a native rhetorical tradition outside of Classical influence.

Empire Earth remains one of my most favorite games for a reason. The game is a sandbox not just a game you play and put away then come back to it.

The Byzantine Empire is featured in Age of Empires IV's Sultans Ascend expansion, with a focus on the Macedonian Dynasty from 867 to 1055 A.D. The game highlights the Norse influence and the role of mercenaries in the weakened Byzantine Army after Basil II. Greater variety in gameplay suggests innovative directions for future installments.

Evidence emerges of the day in 1562 when an infamous Spanish cleric tried to destroy Maya religion