MW01 - Why should we learn about Medieval Warfare?

MW01 - Why should we learn about Medieval Warfare?

Author: The History Network March 13, 2017 Duration: 38:39

There are hundreds, if not thousands of historians who research and write about wars, battles, and the military of the Middle Ages. Why do we want to do this, and what is it that we think the world should know about medieval military history. Our guests for today are:

Daniel Franke is assistant professor of history at Richard Bland College of William and Mary in Petersburg, Virginia, and he researches military networks and the intersection of strategy, policy, and culture on military operations in the Hundred Years War.

An award-winning professor and writer, Michael Livingston holds degrees in History, Medieval Studies, and English. He teaches at The Citadel, in Charleston, South Carolina, where he specializes in medieval military history and culture. His last book, 'The Battle of Crécy: A Casebook', won the 2017 Distinguished Book Prize from the Society for Military History.


Step beyond the castle walls and into the tumultuous, fascinating world of Medieval Warfare podcast, brought to you by The History Network. This isn't just a recitation of dates and kings; it's an immersive audio journey into the strategy, chaos, and human stories behind the conflicts that shaped a millennium. Each episode feels like a deep dive into a specialized history journal, guided by the editor of Medieval Warfare magazine alongside a roster of expert guests. You'll hear detailed analyses of famous sieges and forgotten skirmishes, the evolution of weapons and armor, and the complex realities of knightly chivalry that often differed from the romantic tales. The discussions go beyond battles to explore the logistics, the politics, and the social structures that fueled centuries of conflict, from the Viking longships raiding coasts to the clashing armies during the Crusades. This podcast is for anyone who wants to understand the how and why of medieval combat, listening to leading historians unpack the intricacies of military organization, tactical innovations, and the sheer human experience of warfare in a distant age. Tune in for conversations that are both rigorously academic and vividly compelling, offering a fresh perspective on the forces that built and shattered empires between the fall of Rome and the dawn of the Renaissance.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 18

Medieval Warfare podcast
Podcast Episodes
MW16 - Researching military history [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:37
Clifford Rogers is our guest on this episode of the podcast. A professor of history at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Rogers is well known for his work on military revolutions and the Hundred Years War…
MW15 - Museums and the Middle Ages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:14
This summer we had the chance to take in several museums and their medieval collections. We talk about how to show the Middle Ages with Elisabeth Taburet-Delahaye, director of Musée de Clunyin Paris, and Bianca Gendreau,…
MW13 - The Warriors of Valhalla [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:08
We take a look into the world of Odin, Loki and Thor in this episode as were joined by Carolyne Larrington, author of The Norse Myths: A Guide to the Gods and Heroes.
MW12 - Why Gawain was the best knight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:05
We're joined by Daniele Cybulskie, aka The Five Minute Medievalist, to talk about the Arthurian legends, and why she thinks that Sir Gawain was the greatest knight from the Round Table.
MW11 - The Woman Warrior Revisited [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:12
Valerie Eads joins the podcast to give a paper she originally delivered earlier this year at the International Congress on Medieval Studies. A fascinating and thought-provoking examination of how historians have been loo…
MW 10 - Churchmen and War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:04
We welcome Craig Nakashian to the podcast to talk about how bishops and other clergy could find themselves involved in medieval warfare. If someone took up the ecclesiastical life in the Middle Ages, could they still be…
MW09 - Logistics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:41
This episode of medieval warfare podcast takes a look at a topic not discussed enough: logistics. We're joined by John Hosler and Ilana Krug to talk about how medieval armies get organized, fed and supplied, and how this…
MW08 - The Medieval Centre, Denmark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:52
Peter is joined by Peter Vemming of the Medieval Centre in Demark. The Middelaldercentret is an experimental living history museum in Denmark, which depicts the middle ages in the Denmark of the late 14th and early 15th…