Medieval

An illustration of a group of supposed witches

A very brief history of witches by Suzannah Lipscomb

A 14th-century depiction of bakers at work.

Social mobility in the Middle Ages: could medieval people improve their station?

A near-contemporary depiction of the 14th-century English monk, mathematician and astronomer Richard of Wallingford. Monks were among the leading scientific practitioners during the medieval period. (Photo by Bridgeman)

The genius of medieval science: from medicine to mechanical clocks

Alfred the Great (849–899). (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Who was King Alfred the Great?

Jim Leary on the HistoryExtra podcast. (Image by Getty Images)

Moving, medieval-style

An empty knight's armor sitting on a chest.

Q&A How did knights in armour go to the toilet?

The Knights of the Round Table are that the heart of many Arthurian legends

Who were the Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian legend, and where does the Holy Grail fit in?

The three shortlisted finalists for the 2020 Cundill History Prize.

Judges reveal the finalists of the 2020 Cundill History Prize

The Varangian Guard as depicted in the illuminated 12th-century manuscript known as the Madrid Skylitzes. These Viking warriors became the Byzantine emperors' personal bodyguard

What was the Varangian Guard? A brief history of the Viking warriors of the Byzantine empire

Camilla Townsend on the HistoryExtra podcast. (Image by Getty Images)

Aztecs in their own words

Richard M Eaton on the HistoryExtra podcast (Image by Getty Images)

A new take on India’s history

Thomas Penn on the House of York.

A Triple Bond Broken: The Destruction of the House of York

Edward the Confessor seated at a banquet

Edward the Confessor: England’s holy hardman

ever before,” says Margaret MacMillan. (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

“We’ve come to think that peace is normal, but that’s not the reality”: Margaret MacMillan on humanity’s compulsion to go to war

Halloween postcard

10 things you didn’t know about the history (and mystery) of Halloween