The Middle Ages gave us one of the longest-lasting institutions of education: the university. And where there are universities, there are sure to be students sowing chaos and destruction. Olivia and Aran are joined by a special guest, Joe Mason, as they explore the medieval origins of universities and take a look at the lives and activities of those who studied at them. Also discussed are the dangers of tennis, the risks of kidnapping a bishop, and wrong way to behave in a tavern.

For more information about some of what we discuss, check out:

• The Life of Medieval Students as Illustrated by their Letters
  • https://www.jstor.org/stable/1832500
• Student power in medieval universities
  • https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/89561/j.2164-4918.1968.tb03142.x.pdf?sequence=1
• Sporting and Recreational Activities of Students in the Medieval Universities
  • https://www.medievalists.net/2010/07/sporting-and-recreational-activities-of-students-in-the-medieval-universities/
• Medieval murder maps
  • https://medievalmurdermap.co.uk/

The Weird Medieval Guys book is now out!!! Head to linktr.ee/weirdmedievalguys to pick up a copy!

Florence and its residents appear in late medieval popular culture across Europe, particularly in jokes at their expense. So why was everyone so obsessed with Florence? In this episode, Olivia and Aran take a look at how this Tuscan city grew to become a thriving centre of arts, banking, and trade by the 15th century, its resulting notoriety, and the conflicts that ensued between its different factions. Also discussed are Olivia's Italian heritage, why Master Splinter is a communist, and the Underwear Revolution.

For more on some of what we discuss, check out:

• Poggio Fiorentino's 1470 joke book "Facetiae"
  • https://elfinspell.com/PoggioSecondTitle.html
• The Economy of Renaissance Florence by Richard Goldthwaite
  • https://muse.jhu.edu/book/3422
• Plebeian Politics: Machiavelli and the Ciompi Uprising by Yves Winter
  • https://www.jstor.org/stable/41703099
• The Patron's Payoff by Jonathan K. Nelson and Richard J. Zeckhauser
  • https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691161945/the-patrons-payoff

In this special Halloween episode of the Weird Medieval Guys podcast, Olivia and Aran take a look at the confluence of fact, fable and fear that created the medieval vampire myth. We then explore how that myth developed into the modern image of vampires that most people think of today, most notably how the titular character of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula came to be. Also discussed are why Dracula is better in the original Spanish, Aran's suspicious new roommate from Transylvania, and recipes for Blood.

For more on some of what we discuss, check out:

• Circumcising Dracula
  • www.jstor.org/stable/43308497
• William of Newburgh's ghost stories as urban legends
  • www.jstor.org/stable/48577687
• Modern legend and rumour theory
  • www.jstor.org/stable/3814160
• Medieval conceptions of blood
  • www.jstor.org/stable/42001729

Jesters. They're just funny little guys with bells who hang around their medieval king and make wisecracks, right? As it turns out, there's actually a bit more to it. Olivia and Aran trace the origins and development of jesters, minstrels, fools, and other entertainers in the wider context of humour in the Middle Ages. Along the way, we meet some of medieval europe's weirdest guys and crack plenty of authentically medieval jokes! Also discussed are Critical Clown Studies, historical oppression of drummers, and the most single Welshman ever.For more information about some of what we discuss, check out:

• E.K. Chambers' The Mediaeval Stage (1903), in particular chapter 3: "The Minstrel Life"
  • https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.215896/page/n93/mode/2up
• Fooling Around the World: The History of the Jester
  • https://press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/640914.html
• More about Stanczyk the jester and Jan Matejko's famous painting of him
  • https://www.rhiannonpiper.com/blog/behind-the-painting-unveiling-the-layers-of-meaning-in-staczyk

• Age at first marriage in 13th-15th century Lincolnshire
  • https://www.jstor.org/stable/2174029
• Women and the law in early Ireland
  • https://celt.ucc.ie/women_law.html
• Divorce, Medieval Welsh Style
  • https://www.jstor.org/stable/3301214
• `Runaway Wives: Husband Desertion in Medieval England
  • https://www.jstor.org/stable/4491898

Olivia and Aran take on their greatest challenge to date: two bags of doritos. We attempt to answer with as much rigour as possible the question of whether a medieval peasant would be knocked dead by a taste of the delightful snack. Then, we explore why medieval people loved spices so much that they took over half the world looking for them. Also discussed are the secrets to good soup, the ports and gals of Portugal, and where Italians go when they die. For more information about what we cover, check out:

• Boccacio's Decameron translated into modern English (see "THE THIRD STORY" for a description of parmesan cheese mountain, or just Ctrl-F for "parmesan")

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/23700/23700-h/23700-h.htm

• A fun list of prices of various goods in medieval Europe, including several spices, compiled by Berkeley professor Kenneth Hodges

http://medieval.ucdavis.edu/120D/Money.html

• A quick look at salt in the Middle Ages on medievalists.net

https://www.medievalists.net/2016/01/using-salt-in-the-middle-ages/

• A more detailed look at the social role of spices in the Middle Ages by Stefan Halikowski Smith

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40110784

• An English Translation of Le Viandier de Taillevent, one of the most significant medieval cookbooks, featuring recipes such as "bright green soup" and "red deer testicle"

https://jpnet.ca/data/viandier/viandier1.html

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• Weird Medieval Guys @WeirdMedieval
• Olivia @olivia__ms
• Aran @aranptappers

Aran and Olivia cover one of the most iconic parts of medieval warfare: the siege. Learn more about the wacky weapons and machines that were used in medieval sieges plus the even wackier people who invented them.

Also discussed are giant eggs, wizards, and unbeatable strategies for rock paper scissors.

For more information about some of what we cover, check out:

• Orban and his giant cannon, Basilic

https://www.camrea.org/2017/09/11/orban-the-man-who-brought-down-the-walls-of-constantinople-part-i/

• A digitised 15th century illustrated manuscript of Bellifortis

https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668178/

• The social and historical background and impact of Bellifortis

https://www.jstor.org/stable/48578613

• Everyday Magic in the Middle Ages on medievalists.net

https://www.medievalists.net/2021/09/everyday-magic-middle-ages/

Olivia and Aran explore three guys from the Middle Ages who gained fame, power and notoriety through their wives. At a time when husbands were expected to exercise complete control over their spouses, these men's stories are inextricably linked with their affection and respect for their wives. Also discussed are the true nature of Parisians, how Grimace came to be, and historical parallels with the Joker and Harley Quinn.For more information about some of what we cover, check out:

• A rundown of the "wife guy" phenomenon

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/wife-guys

• An English translation of the full text of Procopius' Secret History, especially Chapter IX onwards for more about Theodora and her relationship with Justinian

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12916/pg12916.html

• A detailed discussion of the mosaics of Justinian and Theodora in Ravenna

https://brewminate.com/byzantine-art-as-propaganda-justinian-and-theodora-at-ravenna/

• The letters of Héloïse and Abelard

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/35977/35977-h/35977-h.htm

• A discussion of Héloïse's influence on Abelard's philosophy

https://www.jstor.org/stable/41963758

• The Wife of Bath's Tale translated into modern English

https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/English/CanterburyTalesVI.php

• A couple articles on gendered power dynamics in The Wife of Bath's Tale

https://www.jstor.org/stable/41925333https://www.jstor.org/stable/25093919Remember, you can read 100 JSTOR articles for free each month if you sign up for an account! (no payment needed!)Follow us on Twitter!Weird Medieval Guys @WeirdMedievalOlivia @olivia__msAran @aranptappers

Olivia and Aran take on five common modern-day misconceptions about the Middle Ages and dig into what makes them so prevalent. These myths are, in order:

1. The medieval world wasn't colourful (0:45)

2. Most people in the Middle Ages were illiterate

3. Medieval knights followed a strict chivalric code

4. Medieval communities were largely homogeneous

5. Medieval peasants worked less than modern people

Also discussed are appropriate names for baby boys, the Breaking Bad "Mexico" filter, and the beneficial relationship between good eyesight and firearm ownership.For more information about some of what we cover:

• A medieval castle restored to its original pink colour https://roaringwaterjournal.com/tag/lime-render-on-medieval-castles/

• The Medievalists.net podcast on literacy and education https://www.medievalists.net/2019/09/education-in-the-middle-ages/

• French Chivalry by Sidney Painter https://muse.jhu.edu/book/72155

• Graves in medieval London https://www.medievalists.net/2019/09/black-death-burials-reveal-the-diversity-of-londons-medieval-population/

• Richard Clark on medieval labour https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ehr.12528

• Nora Kenyon on medieval labour https://www.jstor.org/stable/2589850

Follow us on Twitter!Weird Medieval Guys @WeirdMedievalOlivia @olivia__msAran @aranptappers