logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
50m 1s

Why the Early Middle Ages Matter

History Hit
About this episode

What do the terms 'medieval' and 'early medieval' truly mean? When did these periods begin and end? Why is it inaccurate - even offensive - to refer to them as the 'Dark Ages'? Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis put their heads together to demystify the terminology used to define different historical periods and clarify some common misconceptions.


Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis. Edited by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. 


You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
May 1
Christine de Pizan: Pioneering French Feminist
How did a widowed mother transform loss, politics and misogyny into one of the most accomplished literary careers in medieval history?From the Parisian court to contemporaneously telling the story of Joan of Arc, Christine de Pizan was Europe’s first professional woman writer and ... Show More
56m 40s
Apr 28
Saving Byzantium
Did Constantinople’s fall in 1453 end the Byzantine Empire as neatly as we think?Dr. Eleanor Janega and Dr. Laura Bolick unpack the Empire's dramatic final years and reveal a story far more complex than simple decline. Through the lives of Isidore of Kiev and Bessarion, they expl ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 24
Offa, King of the Mercians
Was Offa a tyrant whose reputation was forever tainted by the killing of his prospective son-in-law? Or a visionary ruler whose achievements have been overshadowed by legend?Offa is largely known for murderous acts and building a dyke. But he was so much more: a great leader who ... Show More
1h 4m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
Medieval Sex Myths
<p>From medieval d*ck pics to sex with monks, how did people in medieval times think about sex and sexuality?</p><br><p>It was a period that spanned roughly 1,000 years and even though views on sex were largely shaped by the dominant Christian faith, whether this filtered down to ... Show More
46m 4s
Jan 2025
Medieval Lesbians
<p>How do you begin to look for examples of lesbians in the medieval period?</p><br><p>Even though it was deeply frowned upon by the powers that be, the clues are very much there... if you know where to look.</p><br><p>What examples do we have? How did the male-run church respond ... Show More
45m 38s
Oct 2025
Medieval Sex
Warning: this episode contains explicit language.Medieval people weren’t prudish—far from it. Dan is joined by medieval historian Dr Eleanor Janega to explore sex, marriage, and desire in the Middle Ages. They delve into the beliefs around sodomy as “non-procreative sex”; pilgrim ... Show More
42m 14s
Aug 2025
Boring History For Sleep | What GETTING HIGH Was Like in Medieval Times and more
Boring History For Sleep | How People Got High in the Middle Ages is a slow, relaxing storytelling experience designed to help you unwind while learning unusual and fascinating facts about medieval life. In this episode, we explore the strange substances, bizarre rituals, and sur ... Show More
41m 48s
Aug 2025
Boring History For Sleep | What Was S3X Really Like in Medieval Times and more
Drift off to sleep as we quietly uncover what sex, love, and intimacy were really like in medieval times. From marriage customs and societal expectations to private moments behind closed doors, this episode explores the unfiltered truth of romance in an age without modern comfort ... Show More
40m 23s
Oct 2025
Wife-Swapping Magician of the Tudor Court
The 16th century was a dangerous time to be talking about magic and hidden forces, so how did John Dee end up being invited into Elizabeth I's court?He was an astronomer, occultist and alchemist who dedicated his life to understanding how celestial activity influenced life on ear ... Show More
38m 54s
Sep 2024
Medieval documents in danger
Just how far does our understanding of the medieval past rely upon written sources? And what happens when these precious fragments of knowledge are destroyed? Taking in shocking cases of destruction and disaster, Robert Bartlett tells Emily Briffett about the material that has be ... Show More
44m 11s
Nov 2025
Who was the Husband Poisoner of Renaissance Italy?
Odourless, tasteless, colourless, lethal. In the mid-17th century, men were dropping like flies in Italy. And this wasn't just the plague - it was the work of the poison Aqua Tofana.So what is Aqua Tofana? And who was its apocryphal purveyor, Giulia Tofana? In this episode we are ... Show More
35m 20s
Aug 2025
Did Henry VI Have A Sex Coach?
Henry VI didn't fit the medieval image of masculinity, or that much of a king, either.Who gave sex education to someone of this stature? How did his controversial marriage to the French Margaret of Anjou effect his reputation? And what problems were they facing in the bedroom?Joi ... Show More
48m 8s