logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
37m 26s

Could You Survive Medieval Childbirth?

History Hit
About this episode
tail spinning
Up next
Jul 17
The Truth About Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso's impact on the art world was sensational, but what impact did he have on the people around him?His relationship history contains some problematic moments, to say the least, so we are asking if you can - or even if you should - separate the art from the artist.Joini ... Show More
46m 39s
Jul 14
Sex Work in Soviet Russia
After the Russian Revolution in 1917, sex work was a prime example of what capitalism did to society. Under communism, sex work would no longer need to exist in society.Spoiler: it very much still existed.How were sex workers treated in Soviet Russia? Why were they glamourised? A ... Show More
41m 16s
Jul 10
Why Helen Of Troy Is The Real Star Of 'The Odyssey'
Beautiful women are always causing trouble in history, and perhaps none more so than Helen of Troy.She's the daughter of Zeus and a human mother, after all.With the new film Odyssey hitting the big screen, find out all about the formidable Helen of Troy who was supposedly the mos ... Show More
47m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2025
Childbirth in Medieval Times with Kate Lister
<p><strong>This episode contains explicit language and graphic descriptions of birth</strong></p><br><p>Today we're delving into historical childbirth's stark realities, facing the medieval attitudes toward childbirth, its dangers, and grizzly details. Dr. Eleanor Janega pays a v ... Show More
37m 8s
Mar 2023
Medieval women: everything you wanted to know
What chores did medieval women have to get through each day? How could plucking your eyebrows in the Middle Ages land you in hell? And why did people believe that older women’s looks could kill? In our latest “Everything you wanted to know” episode, medievalist Dr Eleanor Janega ... Show More
1h 4m
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 2022
A History of Childbirth
Throughout history one thing has had more impact on women’s lives than almost anything else - giving birth to children. In this episode we will explore various aspects of this paramount and awe-inspiring process and how it has changed across cultures and through time. From how we ... Show More
51 m
Jun 2021
Sex in the Middle Ages
<p>Despite being a key part of society and everyday life, medieval sexuality was probably left out of your history lessons at school. But how much do we really know about these very private aspects of life in the Middle Ages? Dr Cat Jarman is joined by historian Dr Eleanor Janega ... Show More
31m 36s
Feb 2023
Queens & Princesses of England who Died in Childbirth
Please take my listener survey to help improve the podcast: www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave  In Europe in the middle ages about one in three women died in their child-bearing years. Here are the stories of 7 Queens and Princesses of England who died tragically as a result of child ... Show More
18m 7s
Oct 2024
Medieval Writers, Extraordinary Women
<p>**This episode contains some strong language**</p><br><p>Few women had the luxury of writing down their thoughts and feelings during medieval times. But remarkably, there are at least four extraordinary women who did. Marie de France, a poet; Julian of Norwich, a mystic; Chris ... Show More
39m 5s
Jun 2022
191. Childbirth
In today's episode, Tom and Dominic talk to Sara Read about the history of childbirth. Sara unveils the origin of the word 'gossip' and its connection to midwifery. As well as this, they discuss how someone would qualify as a midwife; the relationship between religion and childb ... Show More
47m 1s
Mar 2024
Sex Work in Medieval Times
<p>Prostitutes were everywhere in the streets and neighbourhoods of medieval cities. In one and the same building, there might be a school upstairs, while downstairs prostitutes plied their nefarious trade. But how did such a situation come to pass? And how could such a world exi ... Show More
39m 45s
Aug 2022
Viking Sex
<p>In this episode of <em>Gone Medieval</em>, presenter Dr. Cat Jarman swaps seats and becomes the guest of Dr. Kate Lister’s brilliant podcast from History Hit, <em>Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society</em>.&nbsp;In it, she delves into the topics that they d ... Show More
45m 40s