Can you recommend a Medieval History podcast?
Listen Here
In our latest episode, we take a deep dive into the chaotic and fascinating world of medieval history. Join hosts Taylor and Farz as they expertly weave together stories of disasters, failures, and intriguing moments from the past that help us understand the human experience.
Starting with the Nika riots of 532, we explore the tumultuous events in Constantinople where two rival factions, the Greens and the Blues, clashed in a sports riot that escalated into a bloody conflict. This sets the stage for the unpredictable nature of the medieval period, a time marked by power struggles and social upheaval.
We then shift our focus to the vengeful Saint Olga of Kyiv, a queen who avenged her husband's death with a series of cunning and brutal tactics. Her story is just one example of the fierce and often violent nature of medieval politics.
The episode also covers the pivotal year of 1066, when William the Conqueror invaded England and changed the course of history. The Battle of Hastings remains a landmark event, and we discuss its implications for England's future. Alongside this, the construction of the Tower of London and the role of medieval executioners are explored, revealing the darker aspects of life during this era.
As we transition into the late medieval period, we highlight Geoffrey Chaucer and the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, shedding light on the social tensions that arose in the wake of the plague. The revolt was a moment of reckoning for the lower classes who realized their worth in society, a theme that resonates even today.
Our discussion doesn't stop there; we also touch on the extravagant and dangerous Bal des Ardennes, the heroic tales of Jan Žižka, and the tragic fate of the Guanches civilization. The episode culminates with the birth of Nostradamus and the creation of the Mona Lisa, two figures that continue to captivate our imaginations.
With over 200 ad-free episodes available, this podcast is a treasure trove for history enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. If you're curious about the stories that shaped our world, tune in to this episode and immerse yourself in the chaos of medieval history. Don't forget to check out the show notes for links to all the episodes mentioned, and let us know what you think!
🏛 Early Medieval (c. 500–1000 CE)
532 - The Nika Riots: In Constantinople, under Emperor Justinian, what starts as a sports riot turns into a full-blown class riot with many people being hacked to death in the hippodrome. It’s a bloody start to this brutal time period.
890 - Olga of Kiev Born: The future Saint Olga doesn’t suffer fools—or murderers. She’ll go on to take spectacular revenge for her husband's death with fire, pit traps, and a touch of mass slaughter.
🏰 High Medieval (c. 1000–1300 CE)
1066 - Battle of Hastings: William the Bastard becomes William the Conqueror by crushing the Anglo-Saxons. Spoiler: there’s a lot of eye-stabbing and arrow-to-the-face action.
1078 - Construction begins on The Tower of London (by William the Conqueror): Built by William to intimidate Londoners, the Tower goes on to be a prison, zoo, and execution site. It’s the most iconic “doomed to fail” Airbnb of all time.
Let’s pop in to talk about executions here! The racks, the spikes, the dungeons - imagine Robin Hood Prince of Thieves + The Princess Bride.
🕯 Late Medieval (c. 1300–1500 CE)
1343 - Geoffrey Chaucer Born: The father of English literature will write The Canterbury Tales, packed with horny nuns, fart jokes, and death. Middle English never sounded so messy.
1380 - Poggio Bracciolini Born: This book-hunting humanist saves ancient texts from oblivion—right before Europe burns them again. A hero of the Renaissance, with a side of spicy gossip.
1381 - Peasants’ Revolt: Fed up with taxes and plague-era inequality, English peasants rise up and nearly overthrow the king. It ends, of course, with heads on pikes.
1393 - A fiery mistake at the Ball: When the king of France and his friends dress up as “wild men” with flammable costumes, one torch turns the party into a deadly inferno.
1410 - First Battle of Jan Žižka: Blind in one eye and armed with war wagons, Žižka kicks off a string of battles that make him one of the only undefeated generals in history.
1496 - The Guanches Defeated: The last resistance of the Indigenous Guanches of the Canary Islands is crushed by the Spanish, marking an early and bloody step in European imperialism.
🌅 Medieval-to-Renaissance Cusp (c. 1500–1517)
1503 - Nostradamus Born: He’s born during plagues and portents—and grows up to write cryptic rhymes that somehow predict everything from Hitler to TikTok (allegedly).
1503 - Mona Lisa Started: Leonardo da Vinci begins painting a mysterious woman with an even more mysterious smile. Centuries later, we still can’t stop staring.
