
Hosted by Danièle Cybulskie · EN

Songs have a way of making us see and feel things unlike other forms of writing, which is why so many of us treasure the words of lyricists. And when it comes to early Christianity, no songs were more treasured and influential than those of Romanos. This week, Danièle speaks with Thomas Arentzen about the life and works of Romanos the Melodist, why his work is so important to the history of Christianity, and how this legendary lyricist wrote about women.This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please visit patreon.com/themedievalpodcast

Who’s the fairest of them all? And, more importantly, how did they get that way? This week, a new biography of Marilyn Monroe sends Danièle down the rabbit hole of medieval beauty, how it was achieved, and how it’s still influencing beauty standards today.This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please visit patreon.com/themedievalpodcast

A place of supernatural encounters both incredibly good and spectacularly bad, the Otherworld featured in stories and songs throughout the Middle Ages, especially on the storied isle of Ireland. This week, Danièle speaks with Lisa Bitel about what the Otherworld was like, why Otherworldly beings were interested in humankind, and where we find these enchanting stories.Sign up for the online course on The First Crusade at https://medievalstudies.thinkific.com/courses/first-crusade

When it comes to classics of literature, it can feel like there’s a lot of pressure to nod along with the crowd and say that some authors are just brilliant, full stop. But sometimes even great literature isn’t so great. This week, Danièle speaks with Tison Pugh about the good, the bad, and the downright ugly in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.You can support this podcast on Patreon. Go to www.patreon.com/medievalists

Across the world, there’s no shortage of contested sites where local identities, national identities, and international politics clash, often with high stakes for the people who live there. One of these places is the storied capital of Latvia: Riga. This week, Danièle speaks with Kevin O’Connor about medieval Riga, its tumultuous place as a trading post between West and East – as well as war between bishops and crusaders – and how its medieval history plays out in today’s politics.You can support this podcast on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/c/medievalists

New and high-tech solutions for a sustainable future are being proposed on the daily, but what if some of the best ideas actually reside in the past? This week, Danièle speaks with Annette Kehnel about the way medieval communities shared, recycled, and even upcycled.You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

Last week, we looked at the story of Richard II and Henry IV, and the way these two cousins wielded the power of the English crown. This week, we round out the cycle that makes up the Hollow Crown by looking at Henry V, a man who many - including this week's guest, Dan Jones - have called England’s greatest warrior king.Check out online courses in medieval studies at https://medievalstudies.thinkific.com/

Richard II came to the throne as a young child, only to lose it to his cousin Henry IV in 1399. But why did Henry take such drastic action? And what became of the teenage boy who stood up to a crowd of angry peasants and held his own? This week, Danièle speaks with Helen Castor about these rival cousins, the events that shaped them, and how an anointed king could lose his hollow crown.You can listen to this episode ad-free at https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

What’s so great about Charlemagne? We’re about to find out. This week, Danièle speaks with Cullen Chandler about the reign of Charlemagne, how he ruled such a massive empire, and how he still took the time to care about font.You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists

What's new and beautiful and hitting the medieval history section of the bookshop? This week, Danièle shares six new books spanning art, gunpowder, translation, and medicine in the Middle Ages.You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists