The Ming Dynasty with Craig Clunas

The Ming Dynasty with Craig Clunas

Author: Danièle Cybulskie August 20, 2026 Duration: 48:05
When it comes to powerful and impressive dynasties of the Middle Ages, it’s hard to compete with China’s Ming Dynasty. And yet, a lot of us didn’t learn much about the Ming in school. If you’re looking to start your journey on all things Ming, this is the episode for you. This week, Danièle speaks with Craig Clunas about how the Ming Dynasty began, how it functioned, and how it lasted for centuries.

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Step back in time without the dust and difficulty of old archives. The Medieval Podcast, hosted by Danièle Cybulskie, is your accessible gateway to a thousand years of human experience. This isn't a dry recitation of dates and battles, but a vibrant exploration of how people lived, thought, and created. Each week, Danièle brings her genuine curiosity and conversational style to interviews with leading scholars, uncovering the fascinating details that textbooks often miss. You'll find yourself immersed in discussions that might cover the economic significance of pigs, the beauty and complexity of Persian poetry, or the tumultuous drama of the Plantagenet dynasty. The scope is deliberately broad, touching on history, arts, literature, and the intricacies of daily culture and society, all through the medieval lens. Listening to this podcast feels like having a friendly chat with a knowledgeable guide who is just as excited to learn as you are. It’s designed for anyone with a spark of interest, whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or just wondering what daily life was really like between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance. The conversations are deep yet digestible, always aiming to connect the medieval world to our own in unexpected ways. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged and your curiosity ignited as Danièle and her guests illuminate the shadows of the past, one compelling story at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Medieval Podcast
Podcast Episodes
A Medieval Paper Armoury with Chassica Kirchhoff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:59
To picture the Middle Ages is to picture knights in shining armour. Custom-made, fashionable, and often beautiful, medieval armour was more than just practical: it was art. And in the late Middle Ages, a collection of ta…
The Peasant Kitchen with Luis Almenar Fernández [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:28
So often, we see the homes – and lives – of peasants represented as drab and empty. But the reality is bright, busy, fashionable, and colourful. This week, Danièle speaks with Luis Almenar Fernández about how peasants st…
Royal Receipts with Abigail S. Armstrong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:22
You can tell a lot about people by their spending habits. What do they buy for themselves? And what do they buy for other people? This week, Danièle speaks with Abigail S. Armstrong about royal financial records, what th…
Medieval Pubs with Peter Dobek [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:12
It’s the local watering hole. The place where business is done, and moments are celebrated. And it’s the place where you can literally see a man about a horse. It’s the medieval pub. This week, Danièle speaks with Peter…
Europe's Last Pagan Peoples with Francis Young [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:22
A couple of weeks ago, we looked at the practices of ancient and medieval Celts, and how those practices were transformed and integrated into Christianity over time. Today, we’re shifting the lens eastward to investigate…
Medieval Mass Expulsions with Rowan Dorin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:09
The medieval period is well known for several large-scale and horrific persecutions, especially ones based on religious grounds. One of these is a succession of expulsions of the Jews from one kingdom after another. Pers…
Celtic Magic with Brigid Ehrmantraut [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:35
Have you ever wanted to put a curse on someone? How about ask a river goddess for some healing? Or maybe speak a charm that’ll make your life better? If so, today’s episode is for you. This week, Danièle speaks with Brig…
The Life and Voyages of St. Brendan with Gordon Barthos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:00
Just in time for his feast day on May 16, we’re looking at St. Brendan, an Irish saint whose holy encounters included island-sized whales, lava-slinging smiths, and rodents of unusual size. This week, Danièle speaks with…
Mary Magdalene on Stage with Joanne Findon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:39
In the medieval world, people interacted with Biblical history and the adventures of their favourite saints in all sorts of ways – including through plays. One of the most beloved saints – Mary Magdalene – is the main ch…
Financing Queenship with Michele Seah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:13
The English queens of the fifteenth century have had a serious popularity boost in the last twenty years, thanks to novels and TV series showing the glamour and drama of their lives. Queenship could have serious advantag…