This post was originally published on Audible.com.
The Medieval Era, the tumultuous centuries from the fall of the Roman Empire to the advent of the Enlightenment, is one of the most alluring and intriguing periods of human history. It's an era sometimes referred to as the Dark Ages, defined as it was by the Black Plague, warring civilizations, mass migrations, and political upheaval. Yet, as many of these Medieval audiobooks and podcasts make clear, it was also a time of rich cultural exchange and the beginnings of the scientific, medical, and philosophical advancements that would define the Enlightenment.
Medieval history is a broad field, and there are dozens and dozens of audiobooks and podcasts about the people, places, events, and ideas that defined the era. We've pulled together a list of some of the best Medieval listens out there. Maybe you're a lifelong Medieval history buff. Maybe you're looking for a comprehensive introduction to Medieval history. Maybe you're interested in the Middle Ages in Africa, Asia, and the Islamic world, or you're curious about what life was like for Medieval women. Whatever the reason you're seeking out listens on Medieval history, you're guaranteed to find something that will spark your interest on this list.
Ready to travel back in time? Check out these audiobooks and podcasts, which cover everything from Icelandic sagas and Medieval murder to the queens of Medieval England and the scientific advancements of the Arab World.
Audiobooks About the Middle Ages
In this thorough, and thoroughly engaging, history of the Medieval world, Susan Wise Bauer examines the roles that early Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and other religions played in shaping Medieval thought, philosophy, politics, and society. From the fall of Rome to the rise of the Tang Dynasty, she tells the fascinating and sometimes violent stories of the kings, warriors, and emperors who used divine grace as a justification for their power.
In this now classic work of narrative historical nonfiction, Barbara W. Tuchman offers a comprehensive history of the tumultuous 14th century. An accessible introduction to the Middle Ages, A Distant Mirror is often as thrilling as a novel. Tuchman's attention to detail is extraordinary, as is her ability to bring to life all the challenges and contradictions of Medieval life. She writes about not only kings and rulers but also merchants and philosophers, mercenaries and feminists. This is a people's history of the Middle Ages, riveting and unflinching.
Most of us know the Black Plague as the catastrophic event that defined the Medieval period. But the plague and its aftermath also shaped Western civilization. In this listen, part of The Great Courses series, Medievalist Dorsey Armstrong explores how the plague affected every aspect of Western culture, from politics and government to medicine and art. Tying the distant past to the present, The Black Death is a must-listen for anyone interested in human history.
Another installment in The Great Courses series, Medieval Myths & Mysteries is the perfect Audible Original to pick up if you're looking for something lighthearted and not too long. In a series of 10 lectures, Dorsey Armstrong takes a closer look at some of the most prevalent myths and legends surrounding the Middle Ages—yes, Robin Hood and King Arthur may be fabricated stories, but they have plenty to teach us about life between 500 and 1500. This audiobook will make you rethink everything you think you know about Medieval history, reinforcing that truth is often stranger than fiction.
If you're looking for an audiobook that hones in on a specific piece of Medieval history, you'll want to give The Story of Medieval England a listen. Jennifer Paxton expertly guides listeners through the 1,000-year history of Medieval England. You'll learn about the wars that shaped the country, the scope of the Black Death, the origins of the Robin Hood story, and more. Paxton also offers fascinating chapters on some of Medieval England's most notable historical figures, including Eleanor of Aquitaine and John Wycliffe.
Another finely honed history of a particular place, The Ornament of the World offers listeners an in-depth look at Medieval Spain. Covering roughly 700 years, it's an investigation and celebration of the remarkable confluence of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim cultures that flourished in Medieval Spain, and the literature, art, and science that this atmosphere of tolerance and respect produced.
Most Medieval history audiobooks focus on European history. But during the so-called Dark Ages, the Arab world was flourishing. In this exhaustively researched listen, Jim Al-Khalili explains how the roots of the European Enlightenment can be traced to the Arab Enlightenment. This period produced some of the most important breakthroughs in medicine, astronomy, and mathematics. As The House of Wisdom makes clear, it also laid the framework for the evidence-based scientific method that would revolutionize the world.
When Asia Was the World is another fascinating Medieval history about the non-European world. By tracing the journeys of the many merchants, travelers, scribes, and religious leaders who carried goods and information between Asia and Europe, Stewart Gordon paints a vibrant picture of cultural exchange. While this audiobook provides a comprehensive history of Asia between 700 and 1500, it's also full of personal stories about the ordinary people who contributed so much to science, art, literature, and philosophy.
In this stereotype-busting history, Maria Teresa Brolis offers a dynamic portrait of 16 Medieval women who didn't fit the mold of docile wife and doting mother. While the Middle Ages were certainly a challenging time for women, some nevertheless managed to lead extraordinary lives. In this audiobook, you'll meet saints and healers, artists and agitators, famous rulers and lesser-known merchants as Medieval women and their accomplishments take center stage.
While learning about the wars and political upheavals that shaped history is important, and often fascinating, a lot of us really want to know what life was like for ordinary citizens of the past. What did they eat? What did their houses look like? How did they support themselves? In this creative work of social history, Ian Mortimer sets out to answer those questions. Listening to this audiobook is like taking a trip back to the 14th century, without sacrificing your 21-century comforts.
During the Middle Ages, the African continent was home to a variety of thriving civilizations. Its many ports and cities served as centers of cultural exchange where European travelers and African philosophers, artists, rulers, and scientists swapped goods and ideas. In The Golden Rhinoceros, historian and archeologist François-Xavier Fauvelle draws on primary sources and archeological artifacts to tell the vibrant but too-often ignored history of Medieval Africa.
In Queens of the Crusades, the second volume in her series about Medieval queens, renowned scholar Alison Weir turns her attention to the five Plantagenet queens, starting with Eleanor of Aquitaine, who were in power in England from 1154 to 1291. A definitive history of their lives, actions, and legacies, this is a must-listen for anyone interested in the high drama, adventure, and romance—and sometimes low politics—of English Medieval royalty.
Podcasts About the Middle Ages
In this fun podcast about the famous Icelandic sagas, hosts John and Andy, two professors of Medieval history and literature, regale listeners with stories about the Vikings. The Icelandic sagas, which explore the history of Iceland in the Middle Ages, were written in Old Icelandic and exemplify classic Icelandic literature. But you don't have to delve into the sagas to experience their tales of brotherhood, betrayal, survival, and sacrifice—you can simply listen to the charming and informative Saga Thing.
A 20-hour audiobook can be daunting. If you're looking for an easier intro to Medieval history, this twice-weekly podcast from History Hit is a great place to start. Each 35-minute episode of Gone Medieval tackles a different aspect of Medieval history in Europe and beyond, from knights and the importance of castles to childbirth, disease, and taxes.
This is another fantastic intro-to-the-Middle-Ages podcast, covering a variety of topics and events to keep you engaged. Episodes are usually 45 minutes to an hour in length. Whether you're interested in Viking warriors, music inspired by the War of the Roses, Medieval earthquakes, or The Canterbury Tales, there's a Medieval Archives episode out there to feed your fascination.
The Medieval period is generally acknowledged to have begun in the 5th century with the fall of the Roman Empire. But mighty empires don't simply dissolve into nothing. This podcast takes a look at the history of the Roman Empire and the Byzantine world during the Middle Ages, from 476 to 1453, with attention to the wrong turns, missed opportunities, failed campaigns, and bad leadership that led to its demise.
If you're curious about Medieval Scandinavia, The History of Vikings is definitely the podcast for you. In each episode, host Noah Tetzner invites a scholarly guest onto the show, and they discuss all things Viking, Norse myth, and Scandinavia during the Middle Ages. While it's certainly full of interesting tidbits about Viking warriors and famous Norse legends, this podcast is unique because of its format. Tetzer's expert guests offer their own opinions on the subject matter, which often sparks lively debate and unexpected detours into interesting tangents.
This Medieval podcast delves into the history of the Islamic Medieval world. Episodes include interviews with scholars, artists, historians, academics, and archivists, always focusing on a different aspect of Medieval life, thought, and scholarship throughout the Islamic world. Over the course of its 12 episodes, you'll hear the fascinating stories of Islamic doctors and poets, religious leaders and inventors whose contributions are too often omitted from mainstream Medieval histories.
True crime and history fans, rejoice! This podcast delivers exactly what its name implies: stories of Medieval crimes. Murders, assassinations, forgeries, kidnappings, treason—the Middle Ages were rife with crimes of all kinds, both chilling and absurd. In each episode, hosts Anne Brannen and Michelle Butler focus on a different crime. Spanning an era of bad behavior, True Crime Medieval is a wonderful gateway into Medieval history. Each crime is a riveting story on its own, but the hosts also place these crimes in context, illuminating broader historical and cultural trends.
