Medieval History - By Category
Medieval History Basics
The sites below include introductions to medieval history, general overviews of the Middle Ages, recommended reading, and other resources that will help you get started in learning about the medieval era.
Quick Reference
These resources provide quick access to facts and figures about people, places, events and aspects of society in medieval times. Get definitions to obscure medieval terms in the glossaries, use timelines to see the progress of significant events or the sequence of rulers and dynasties, get a visual understanding of political boundaries with a map, or read period sources in online libraries.
People and Places of the Middle Ages
The directories here will help you find biographical information about notable individuals, historical background on cultural groups, and the history of various geographical areas throughout the Middle Ages.
Events and Eras of the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages cover well over a thousand years, and it can help the student to break it down into smaller eras. Below are directories to help you find websites that focus on specific sub-areas of medieval times and events of particular significance.
Medieval Arts, Architecture, Poetry, Drama, Literature and Music
The arts that survive from the Middle Ages offer an intriguing window into medieval life and times. Use these directories to find information about painting, architecture, epic poems, medieval drama, music and chant, literature, heraldry, and many other artistic expressions of medieval society.
Castles, Knights and Armor
Knights, the castles they lived in and the armor they wore exemplify the Middle Ages as no other icons. These directories offer sites with extensive information about these fascinating and picturesque aspects of medieval times, many with photos.
Crusades, Wars and Warfare
Crusades and other wars shaped the evolution of medieval society. These directories will help you find information on battles, strategy and tactics, weapons, armor, castles and other fortifications, and many different topics related to medieval military matters.
Daily Life and Social History in the Middle Ages
Details about how people lived at various times and places in the Middle Ages can vary greatly and are not always available for a given society and time frame. These directories will help you find available resources.
Exploration, Expansion and Discovery in the Middle Ages
The Age of Discovery marks the end of the Middle Ages for some scholars, but there was also significant explorations and adventures made earlier by such explorers as Marco Polo and Leif Ericsson. These directories will help you find more information about Viking expansion, the silk road, early seafaring monks and more.
Medieval Law and Legal History
Medieval society inherited laws and legal customs from the Roman empire and from Barbarian societies, and during the Middle Ages some significant legal advances were made. These resources examine these aspects of medieval law.
Medieval Religion, Theology and Philosophy
Religion was an integral part of medieval society. The Catholic Church had a strong influence on both politics and daily life in Christendom, and the interaction among Christians, Jews and Muslims would shape European history through the Middle Ages. Find out more about the evolution of religion in medieval times with these directories.
Medieval Science, Technology, Mathematics and Medicine
These directories lead to information on medieval astronomy, alchemy, mathematics, natural sciences, medical knowledge, disease, and the development of science and technology through the Middle Ages.