Medieval Minims
The hidden meaning of a medieval pen-twister.
History Matters
Thoughts, opinions and commentary on all things historical.
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Harold Moody’s Fight for Racial Equality
The pioneer of the British civil rights movement is no less significant than his American counterparts.
Celibacy, Misogyny, and Sodomy
The medieval insistence on clerical celibacy had dangerous and long-lasting consequences.
‘Did You Hear the One …’
What to do when a good joke becomes bad taste.
The Original Anti-Vaxxers
When widespread vaccination was introduced there were objections – some justified, some not.
An Outbreak of Heartbreak
‘Crazy Jane’ was ubiquitous in the late 18th century, the archetypal figure of those driven mad by heartbreak. Was the plight of the love sick a performance or a pandemic?
When They Get to the Border
The Aliens Act of 1905 was the culmination of decades of anxiety about migrants – some of whom attempted to reach Britain by clandestine means.
After Me, Conquest
Edward the Confessor, a model of medieval piety, was a surprisingly effective ruler.
Illuminating Conspiracy
Demonology is a long-established if little known political tradition in the United States.
A Lost City in the North Caucasus
The identification of Magas, capital of the medieval Kingdom of Alania, reveals a civilisation forged by global interconnections.