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Medieval Madness

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An armored knight on a lumbering steed, toiling serfs, tied to the lands of their lord, cloistered monks and nuns, lost in prayer, and don’t forget the scenery: high-walled castles, great gothic churches, farms, farms, and more farms. We all know the kind of things we’d find during the Medieval Age. But what actually was the Medieval Age? Join us here at MedievalMadness to find out...

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Yesterday · 15 min
The Middle Ages Most Mysterious Tunnel System...
Thought to have been built sometime between 800 and 1100 AD, around 2,000 Erdstall tunnels can be found across central Europe, particularly in Bavaria, where there are over 700. With only one way in and one way out some of these claustrophobic tunnels have crawl spaces that are just over one foot wide. Could they be graves for the souls of the dead or have some other religious purpose? Maybe they are hideaways from raiding parties or pillaging soldiers or as some have suggested the relics of aliens who left hundreds of years ago. Let’s join the archaeologists who are examining the Erdstall tunnels to try and determine their real purpose. 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Europe? 02:40 Deeper Underground 04:28 Tunnels, Tunnels Everywhere 05:34 An Underground Superhighway? 07:42 Hide and Seek 08:59 No Way Out Narrated by James Wade Written by Lisa E Rawcliffe Edited by Jamit Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thursday · 15 min
The Middle Ages Most Ambitious Mega Projects...
When many people think of the Medievals, they imagine castles and knights on white horses saving damsels in distress, or perhaps superstitious, backward-looking peasants, who’s only thought is to toil in the fields and serve their lord. It may come as a shock to discover that there were some great innovations in the Middle Ages, such as the mechanical clock, the printing press and coffee houses! But it is in construction, where we can see that the Medievals pushed their ingenuity to the limits. From bridges to cathedrals, and walls to cities, let’s travel back in time and take a look at some of these medieval feats of engineering. Welcome to Medieval Madness! 00:00 Introduction 00:56 “God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands” 02:17 Foreseeing the Flood – The Nilometer 03:45 The Earth Dragon -The Great Wall of China 04:48 A City Like No Other - Baghdad 05:55 A Wonderful Waterway– The Naviglio Grande 07:05 Piers & Arches – The Medieval Bridge 08:21 Harnessing Water – The Bazacle Dam 09:38 “A Gateway To the Divine” – Gothic Cathedrals Narrated by James Wade Written by Lisa E Rawcliffe Edited by Jamit Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tuesday · 33 min
The Great Fire of London: A Timeline of Tragedy
Today we thought we would travel outside of the Middle Ages and into the early modern period. But why? We hear you shout when you have 1,000 years of medieval history to go at. Well, the answer is easy. The Great Fire of London was one of the greatest catastrophes ever to befall the City and was a tale just too extraordinary not to be told. Over ffour days from Sunday 2nd to Wednesday 5th September 1666, London was over powered by the largest and fastest moving fire that it had ever faced. Fanned by easterly winds, it spread quickly across the city, like a relentless predator, consuming everything in its path. When the wind eventually dropped and the flames finally guttered out, the devastation was clear to see, causing the famed diarist Samuel Pepys to state that it was “the saddest sight of desolation that I ever saw”. Welcome to Early Modern Madness. 00:00 Introduction 01:21 A Whole New World 05:25 Tick, Tick, Boom! 08:13 Baker, Baker, Great Fire Maker 12:43 Bows and Arrows Against the Lightning 14:53 Hell Fire! 18:25 Burn Baby Burn 24:23 Firestarter? 27:36 Rise Like A Phoenix Narrated by James Wade Written by Lisa E Rawcliffe Edited by Jamit Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 4 · 15 min
Surviving Life as Baby in the Middle Ages...
The Medievals are often criticised for their bad child-rearing skills, such as sending their youngsters off to be fostered and trained by other families. Many of the decisions they made as parents are considered bizarre, if not downright cruel, today. So, just what was needed to survive babyhood in the Middle Ages? Let’s travel back in time now to discover how medieval babies were fed and clothed, how precarious their lives were, and how they were lucky to have been conceived at all. Welcome to Medieval Madness. 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Dirty Little Secret 01:56 It’s a Wrap 04:27 Breast is Best 06:53 Danger: Heartbreak Dead Ahead 09:51 High Hopes Narrated by James Wade Written by Lisa E Rawcliffe Edited by Jamit Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 30 · 15 min
Surviving Dwarfism in the Middle Ages...
During the Middle Ages, disabled people were found in all parts of society. Those born into ordinary peasant families just got on with their lives and coped as best they could, whatever their impairment, be they “lame”, “blynde,” or “dumbe”. However, the ‘Little People’ with their short stature found themselves popular with monarchs across Europe. At court, they were required to fill roles such as the King’s Fool or Jester, giving them a level of prestige that the Medieval disabled person couldn’t find anywhere else. Welcome to Medieval Madness. 00:00 Introduction 00:52 Closer To God 02:43 It Is Hard For A Rich Man To Enter Heaven 04:51 Mind Matters 07:07 It's Just Foolishness 08:42 Let's Hear it For The Little Guy Narrated by James Wade Written by Lisa E Rawcliffe Edited by Jamit Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 27 · 16 min
Surviving a Winter Storm in the Middle Ages...
The 14th century wasn’t a great time for sunbathing in Europe. Right from the start it seemed as though a distinct chill had settled over the land. The Baltic Sea froze over twice in 1303 and again over the winter of 1306 to 1307. For many years following there were cold storms and heavy rains, resulting in a rise in levels in the Caspian Sea. What the Medievals could not have known then, was that this was the start of what we now call the ‘Little Ice Age’. It wasn’t a real ‘Ice Age’, more of a cooling down of the temperature, and it caused havoc for the Europeans. Let’s travel back in time now to take a look at rain, snow and cannibalism in the Middle Ages. Welcome to Medieval Madness. 00:00 Introduction 00:55 It's Cold Up North 03:08 The Hunger 06:19 Here Comes The Rain Again 07:38 Stormy Weather 08:39 Let It Snow 11:28 Frozen Narrated by James Wade Written by Lisa E Rawcliffe Edited by Jamit Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 24 · 15 min
Halloween in the Middle Ages...
For most of us, Halloween is the commercial holiday celebrated every year on the 31st of October, when people carve jack-o-lanterns from pumpkins and dress up in scary costumes to go out trick or treating. But what did Halloween mean to the Medievals and how did their superstitions and beliefs influence how we celebrate Halloween today? Let’s travel back now to a time of witches, soul-hunters, and ‘Stingy Jack’. Welcome to Medieval Madness! 00:00 Introduction 00:46 Do You Believe in Magic? 02:35 Strange Magic 04:02 Sinners, Saints & Souls 06:01 Hallowmass 08:20 Devil In Disguise? 10:14 The Subtle Shifts Narrated by James Wade Written by Lisa E Rawcliffe Edited by Jamit Productions Thank you for watching. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 22 · 15 min
Staying Pretty in The Middle Ages...
Like us, the Medievals wanted to step out looking and smelling their best. For women especially, grooming was not just about creating the illusion of beauty, it was also a way to show off their social status because the higher the rank and wealth then the more access people had to expensive cosmetics made with rare ingredients. Let’s travel back to the Middle Ages to take a look at male and female grooming and discover how people used their available resources to create beauty products, that still inspire and influence cosmetics manufacturers today. 00:00 Introduction 00:45 The Beautiful People 02:13 All The Pretty Faces 05:14 Not A Hair Out of Place 06:44 Manscaping 09:37 Smile Like You Mean It Narrated by James Wade Written by Lisa E Rawcliffe Edited by Jamit Productions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 30 · 15 min
This Medieval Knight Was a Total D*&k...
English soldier and knight, condottiero, Captain-General of Florence, Duke of the Duchy of Spoleto. Who was this man? A man nicknamed John Sharp by the Italians in reference to his “cleverness and cunning”. A man so highly thought of by the Italians that he is depicted in a fresco painted by Uccello at the Duomo in Florence. Could such an honourable man really be responsible for one of the worst massacres of the Middle Ages? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 28 · 14 min
Dying in The Middle Ages...
Where do we go when we die? It’s a question that humans have been pondering for thousands of years. For the Christian Medievals, there were only three options – heaven, hell, or purgatory. The problem was, they didn’t know what condition their soul was in until they died and that was causing concern. Even the theologians, with all their ecclesiastical knowledge and writings, debated the problem without success so what chance did the common people have? Welcome to Medieval Madness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 27 · 15 min
The Medieval Murder Mystery You Didn't Read in History Class...
We’ll begin, as all good murder stories do, with the finding of a body. It was the end of May 1375, in the Lincolnshire countryside when the decomposing remains of a man were discovered in the fields near Grayingham. The man was about 30 years old and had been lying there for several months but his clothes showed he was a man of means. On examining the body, the coroner decided he had died from “diverse mortal wounds” caused by a knife. But who was the man? What was the motive for his murder? And what has a court case between William’s brother Nicolas and Nicolas’s wife, some seven years earlier, have to do with anything? Let’s travel back in time now to the late 14th century to discover treason, conspiracy, a tiny penis, and the connection between a wife, her lover, the chambermaid, the cook, the squire, and their neighbour. Welcome to Medieval Madness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 26 · 15 min
Getting Wasted in the Middle Ages...
The Medievals consumed alcohol all the time. At every event, whether that was a wedding, a funeral, a business negotiation, or the completion of an apprenticeship ... they didn’t really need an excuse. They even drank at work, all day, every day. Which begs the question. Were the people who lived through the Middle Ages always drunk? It makes you wonder how they could work, fight their many wars, or even function properly when they were all constantly hammered. Welcome to Medieval Madness! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 2 · 15 min
Surviving Summer in the Middle Ages...
For the Medievals, summer was a time of celebration for all classes. Perhaps the best time of the year for social gatherings. But work still had to be carried out in the fields and summer was also a time of heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, plague, and fever. Welcome to Medieval Madness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 1 · 15 min
What Did Medieval People Think of UFOs & Alien Life?
In the West, the Middle Ages was a superstitious time, a time when what was real and unreal became blurred. Dragons, witches, basilisks, and zombies were just some of the beasts that offered an ever-present threat to Christian society. Is it any wonder then, that in a time when everything had a religious significance, any unexplained phenomenon in the skies was interpreted as either an omen, the manifestation of an angel or demon, or even a message from God himself? It was a time rich with mystery and wonder. Was it possible that the Medievals were not alone in the universe? Welcome to Medieval Madness! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 25 · 15 min
Cats During The Medieval Times...
The Egyptians treated them with reverence and adoration having, first domesticated them 4,000 years ago. Since then the small, carnivorous mammals have played a major part in religion, folklore, art, and community health across the world. However, in 13th-century Western Europe, cats became associated with the supernatural, when Pope Gregory IX called them an instrument of Satan. Let’s travel back in time now to the Middle Ages and discover why cats were linked to witchcraft, why they were pl...
June 23 · 14 min
The Medieval Robbery Your School Didn't Teach You About...
In 1303, Westminster was an important place. West from the City of London, it was protected by its own walls and gates. Westminster Palace was there, which was once the main residence of the kings of England. On the evening of the 12th of May, in Westminster Abbey, which lay just across the pathway from the Palace, the Benedictine could be heard singing compline, their final prayer at the end of the day before they retired to their sleeping quarters. In the Abbey, beneath the Chapter House is...
June 18 · 14 min
The Medieval Blood Ritual You Didn't Learn About in School...
The 22nd of March 1144 was Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Outside the city walls, the forester Henry de Sprowston was riding through Thorpe Wood on the outskirts of Norwich, England. Among other things, Henry was looking for thieves, who were known to cut timber without permission. Suddenly he came across a peasant who led him to the mutilated body of a young boy lying under a tree. It was obvious that a crime had been committed. The boy's name was William, and no one could have imagin...
June 16 · 15 min
Surviving Life as a Woman of the Medieval Crusades...
Going on a Medieval Crusade was a male mission, a military enterprise in which only men could fight. Obviously, the women stayed home and did womanly things while their dashing, knightly husbands rode off and defended the Holy Land. Right? Wrong. Actually, many women also took up the cross and went off on Crusade, and they weren’t just the important warrior noble women, like Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Described as being “essential yet despised”, there were also the servants who looked after ...
June 11 · 15 min
The Most Feared Building of The Middle Ages...
The White Tower, as it was originally known, was a fortress-stronghold built by the first Norman king, William the Conqueror. It was intended to protect against foreign invasion and intimidate the citizens of London in equal measure. But the Tower also had other uses. It operated as a royal residence and was where monarchs would stay as they awaited their coronation. However, The Tower of London's most famous role, one that it played for over 850 years, was as a prison, detaining a list of pe...
June 9 · 14 min
Surviving Life During The Mongol Empire...
From an insignificant tribal clan, the Mongols seemed to come out of nowhere to rule over the greatest empire in the world, before disappearing just as quickly three centuries later. Their lands reached out across the Mediterranean to the Pacific from the Arabian Desert in the south to the tundra of Northern Russia and from the forests of Poland to the mountains of China. At the empire’s height, the Mongols controlled a staggering 12 million square miles of territory. But what was it like to ...

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