This video explores some of the images of Jews and Judaism in the ‘Vernon manuscript’, an important and extensive record of popular culture and belief from late fourteenth-century England. The Vernon manuscript allows us to consider the representation of Jews and Judaism about a century after the Jews had been expelled from England, and helps us understand the symbolic importance of Jews in medieval Christian popular religion.

This video focuses on a methodological approach to the study of Medieval Jewish art, using one peculiar example – the representation of Amalek in the Hammelburg Mahzor. The illuminator chose to depict Amalek as partially naked, an unusual and perplexing choice for a prayer book. Despite its seemingly scandalous appearance, this image was a carefully crafted companion to the liturgical text, included in the manuscript in order to help readers visualise and remember Amalek, thus achieving the goal of the accompanying text. Examining this image invites questions about how medieval artists used visual tools to enhance the interpretive power of their work and showcases the relationship between art and storytelling.

This video describes Jewish life in 13th century southern France according to the Song of the
Albigensian Crusade (Canso de la crozada) written in old Occitan by William of Tudela (Guilhèm de Tudèla). This presentation explains how one can learn about Jewish life during the period of the Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229) from this song, including details about their location in Languedoc, the changes they witnessed and suffered, and their relations with Christians, especially their local lords.

This video discusses covenantal bromances, a known social practice amongst traveling
Jewish men across Europe during the high and late Middle Ages. These were exclusive
relationships between two men based on trust and some emotional connection, they
sometimes included shared finances and were sometimes sealed with oaths. As far as we
know, they were non-sexual yet intimate friendships.

This video presents the portrayal of Bible study from a will written by Eliezer ben Shmuel HaLevi of Mainz in 1357. Bible study was integral to Jewish life and identity in medieval Ashkenaz, even beyond the Rabbis and scholarly circles who were involved in exegesis and polemics. This video considers Eliezer’s description of how, when, and where ordinary Jewish men and women should study the Bible, situating his suggestions against the backdrop of religious reading practices amongst Christian laity of the period. 

This video presents a brief introduction to the story of Licoricia of Winchester. Opening with the twenty-first century statue of Licoricia that now appears in Winchester’s City Center, the video launches into a retelling of important details in the life of this medieval English Jewish woman financier (or moneylender), Licoricia of Winchester.

This brief video considers the formal elements and design of a pair of medieval Jewish maps of the region around Jerusalem, sets them in the contexts of their production in Europe and their response to Jewish biblical commentary, compares them to more famous medieval Christian maps, and then attempts to explain key differences in these mapmaking traditions.

This video introduces a rebellion against the abbess of Sainte-Croix, Poitiers, Frankia in 590 described by Gregory of Tours. Factions of nuns debated who has the right to lead: women born to elite families or anyone from the community. Rebels protested mismanagement and corruption, and took violent action to draw attention to their grievances.

What are Books of Hours, how do they work, and who read them? Can I really engage with manuscripts if I don't know Latin? This introductory exploration of Books of Hours offers a starting point from which anyone, including non-medievalists, can begin their study of the "bestseller" of the Late Middle Ages.

This video surveys the significance of chess in medieval Europe, reflecting on the capacity of games to provide commentary on contemporary standards of behavior, respond to societal changes, and mediate relationships.

European Christians were first introduced to the Talmud in the twelfth century. By the thirteenth century, the Talmud had become the subject of a public disputation in Paris, was condemned by papal and secular Christian authorities, and was publicly burned in France. Yet by the end of the thirteenth century some Christian theologians—Christian Talmudists—would investigate the Talmud in search of hidden support of Christian doctrines.

Hildegard von Bingen was a profound medieval mystic who scribed and illustrated her visions in a book titled Scivias. Given the intersectionality of religion and gender during the medieval period, Hildegard is important to study because she retained divine authority in her works that lent them credibility in the eyes of the monastic world. In this video learn about mysticism and the prophetess Hildegard von Bingen while understanding the complexities of medieval society. 

This video provides a brief overview of women’s education in the Medieval West, comparing and contrasting it with educational opportunities for men. The resource also provides an introduction to the figure of Christine de Pizan to prepare students for engaging with her written work.

This video briefly introduces the causes, developments, prominent figures, and historiography of the 12th-century renaissance. In particular, the video highlights the contributions of Adelard of Bath, an English philosopher and natural scientist, who embodies the 12th-century spirit of intellectual curiosity and cross-cultural interaction.

This video provides an overview of the significance and legacy of Charlemagne. It examines where Charlemagne expanded his empire and his primary method of imperialism. The primary sources provide two authors’ characterizations of Charlemagne through the lens of religion. 

This video introduces the Gutenberg Bible and explains how various copies were created, used, and added to in the mid-fifteenth century. A copy of the Bible from Erfurt, Germany, which is now housed at Princeton University Library, is examined and its features discussed.

This video explores a beautiful book of illuminated Psalms from the manuscript collection at Princeton University Library, including many stories from the liturgical year. 

Watch a video interview about creating story maps that will help us understand anti-pollution measures in medieval Paris.

View a collection of digitized manuscripts found in Leiden University Libraries Digital Collections. 

View a video lecture discussing the case of Jean de Carrouges versus Jacques Le Gris, a lawsuit that occurred in Paris in 1386. It’s the subject of the book The Last Duel by Eric Jager, and also of the upcoming movie The Last Duel directed by Ridley Scott.