Medieval Archives

The Ghosts of Byland AbbeyExecutive Porducer:Michelle OleanderAssociate Executive Producer:Mari HopegoodAround the beginning of the fifteenth century, someone at Byland Abbey in Yorkshire began recording stories about ghosts said to haunt the surrounding countryside.These were not the pale, drifting spirits of later ghost stories. The ghosts of Byland could knock men from horses, tear their clothes, follow travelers for miles, change shape and, apparently, even be physically wrestled to the ground.Most were not simply wandering the earth to frighten the living. They had unfinished business. A debt remained unpaid, a sin required absolution, stolen property had to be returned, or some other wrong needed to be put right before the dead could finally rest.In this Medieval Archives Halloween special, we head into medieval Yorkshire to meet some of the strange spirits preserved in the Byland Abbey stories, including Snowball the Tailor and his shapeshifting ghost, the restless Robert of Kilburn, a dead rector who refused to stay buried, a traveler pursued along a dark road, and a father who encounters the child he never knew.So pull up a chair, pour yourself something appropriate for Halloween, and spend a little time with the dead.Well...the dead who refused to die.In This Episode:The ghost stories recorded at Byland Abbey around 1400Why medieval ghosts were surprisingly physicalSnowball the Tailor and one seriously persistent spiritRestless corpses, haunted roads and unfinished businessWhat the stories reveal about medieval ideas of sin, absolution and the deadThe strange and heartbreaking story of Richard Rowntree’s childRead More:Read the companion article: The Ghosts of Byland Abbey: Medieval Ghost Stories (00:00) - Medieval Archives Halloween Special (00:06) - Welcome to the Medieval Archives (02:19) - The Man with the Beans (03:52) - Snowball the Tailor (10:25) - Robert of Kilburn (12:02) - Stories of the Dead (16:25) - The Child on the Road (19:03) - The Sister of Adam de Lond (21:12) - The Stories from Byland Abbey (22:34) - Thank you for Listening! (23:15) - Become a Producer Creators & Guests The Archivist - Host <----------->Contact: [email protected] Medieval Archives on X.com | Mastodon | Bluesky📜Sign Up for our newsletter Medieval Archives is proudly independent and ad-free thanks to our community of producers. If you enjoy the show and want to help preserve and share medieval history, consider becoming a producer Love Medieval History? Help us spread the word and become a history-making legend!Share the epic tales:  Send it to a friend who enjoys medieval history or share it on social media. Become a proud producer: Support the show that keeps medieval history alive! Visit https://MedievalArchives.com/support for details or donate now via PayPal, or use Venmo or donate with StripeJoin the Credits:  Producers can have their names listed in the show credits and help keep Medieval Archives independent.  ★ Support this podcast ★ Thank You to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports the show. I appreciate you taking the time to listen to each episode. Share it with your friends!

Medieval Mythbusting: Mud, Misery and Other Medieval MythsExecutive Producers: Michelle OleanderAssociate Executive Producers:Mari HopegoodMedieval Archives is listener-supported and ad-free.Become a Producer and support the show at MedievalArchives.com/support.If medieval movies are to be believed, everyone in the Middle Ages was covered in mud, five-foot-two, drunk, and dead by 30.But was medieval life really one long, dirty, miserable Dark Age?In this episode of the Medieval Archives Podcast, we’re doing a little mythbusting, medieval style.Did medieval people believe the Earth was flat? Did the Church suppress science? Did everyone die at 30? Did medieval people avoid bathing, eat terrible food, and live powerless lives under the thumb of kings and lords?Some of these myths are easy to bust. Others contain just enough truth to survive.We’ll look at some of the most persistent myths about medieval life, then finish with a lightning round covering bad water, Viking helmets, witch burnings, and a few more.It’s time to separate medieval reality from the Middle Ages Hollywood gave us.Full show notes, sources, and bibliography: MedievalArchives.com/98Listen to A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman with a free Audible trial.Mentioned in this episode: Episode 12: Black Agnes(00:00) - Welcome to Medieval Archives (01:26) - Myth 1: Medieval Women Had No Rights (07:19) - Myth 2: Medieval People Thought the Earth Was Flat (10:38) - Myth 3: The Church Was Against Science (14:38) - Myth 4: The Middle Ages Were a Dark Age (20:13) - Myth 5: Everyone Died at 30 (26:20) - Myth 6: Medieval People Never Bathed (30:17) - Myth 7: Medieval Food Was Terrible (33:14) - Myth 8: Peasants Were Basically Slaves (37:10) - Lightning Round: More Medieval Myths (41:04) - Conclusions (41:38) - Thank you for Listening!  Creators & Guests The Archivist - Host <----------->Stay ConnectedHave a question, comment, or idea for a future episode?Email: [email protected] Medieval Archives on X.com | Mastodon | Bluesky📜 Sign up for The Weekly Herald for medieval history, news, discoveries, and new episodes delivered to your inbox.Support Medieval ArchivesMedieval Archives is independent, ad-free, and supported by listeners like you.If you enjoy the podcast and want to help keep Medieval Archives going, consider becoming a Producer.  Your support helps fund the podcast, website, research, and hosting so Medieval Archives can continue preserving and sharing medieval history. Become a Producer: MedievalArchives.com/support ★ Support this podcast ★ Thanks for listening, subscribing, and supporting Medieval Archives.Chronica pergunt.The Archivist

🌾Hunger Games: The Great Famine of 1315🌾Executive Producers wanted:⭐YOUR NAME HERE; Thank you to all the listeners!💰Become a Producer! DONATE to the show via PayPal, or use Venmo You can also donate with Stripe 📜Sign Up for our newsletter The 14th century opened with a nightmare beginning a period called the Crisis of the Late Middle Ages, which lasted almost 200 years and was filled with famine, plague, religious schisms and wars, lots of wars. Sadly, it’s the beginning of the end for the medieval era.After centuries of warmth, prosperity, and booming harvests, Europe plunged into a cold, wet catastrophe, the Great Famine of 1315. In this episode, you’ll learn about the end of the Medieval Warm Period and the disaster that began the Crisis of the Late Middle Ages.The Great Famine of 1315–1317 was the beginning of the crisis and one of the most devastating in 14th century Medieval Europe, a harrowing event that killed millions and reshaped the fabric of society. From endless rain and rotting grain to livestock dying in the fields and desperate people turning to unthinkable acts, the famine reshaped Europe for generations.We'll look at the medieval world before the famine, down the science, politics, and human stories behind one of medieval Europe's worst disasters. Learn how years of cold rain, crop failure, and desperation changed the course of European history. You'll hear firsthand accounts from chroniclers, discover the volcanic eruptions that may have triggered the cooling and ushered in the "Little Ice Age." Learn how years of relentless cold rain led to crop failures, the collapse of livestock populations, and mass starvation that reshaped Europe forever.In this episode, you’ll learn:🌾 How centuries of agricultural success led to a fragile, overpopulated Europe.🌧️ How the endless rains of 1315 destroyed crops and livestock across the continent.🧂 Why salt, vital for preserving meat, suddenly vanished, worsening starvation.🕊️ How famine fueled crime, cannibalism, and the collapse of faith in the Church.🌋 How volcanic eruptions from Indonesia to Iceland may have triggered the cooling.🧙‍♂️ The real famine folklore behind the Brothers Grimm’s Hansel and Gretel.💀 How the Great Famine killed over 25% of Europe’s population and set the stage for the Black Death.The Great Famine of 1315–1317 marked the first great crisis of the Late Middle Ages. For three years, unrelenting rain, crop failure, disease, and starvation devastated Europe. It was the end of the Medieval Warm Period and the dawn of the Little Ice Age, a chilling prelude to the horrors of the Black Death three decades later.“When God saw that the world was so over proud,He sent a dearth on earth, and made it full hard...”~ The Evil Times of Edward IIGet all the links and see the bibliography in the show notes on Medieval Archives!Grab a free copy of A Distant Mirror by Barbara TuchmanOther episodes to explore:Ep. 42 - Medieval Diseases and “Cures”Ep. 75 - Natural Disasters: Earthquakes that rocked the Middle Ages(00:17) - 14th Century or Bust! (01:10) - Thanks to all the producers! (01:54) - Life in the 13th century (04:20) - Little Ice Age Begins (05:38) - Rain, rain, go away (06:57) - Crop failure, livestock death & price gouging (12:21) - No relief, abandoned chldren and 'Hansel & Gretel (13:16) - Cannibalism, Fact or Fiction? (14:25) - Black Horseman of Famine and loss of faith (16:41) - You are my sunshine (18:28) - Poems, Folk Tales & Consequences (21:07) - Volcanic activity led to the LIttle Ice Age (26:58) - Volcanic Eruption & Bibliography (27:05) - Get your free audio book! (27:57) - Sharing is caring (28:06) - Become an Executive Producer with a 1315 donation  Creators & Guests The Archivist - Host <----------->Contact: [email protected] in to the Medieval Archives hotline at +1 720.722.1066Follow Medieval Archives on X.com | Mastodon | Blue Sky📜Sign Up for our newsletterMedieval Archives is AD free and AI free because of our wonderful producers. Help keep Medieval History alive by becoming a producer today.Love Medieval History? Help us spread the word and become a history-making legend!Share the epic tales: Your friends will thank you for introducing them to the fascinating world of Medieval history.Become a proud producer: Support the show that keeps medieval history alive! Visit https://MedievalArchives.com/support for details or donate now via PayPal, or use Venmo or donate with StripeLeave your mark on history: Get your name listed in the credits – a lasting legacy for your love of the Middle Ages!Boost the show and see the artwork with a Podcasting 2.0 certified app: Castamatic | iCatcher! | Pocket Casts | Fountain | Breez | Sphinx ★ Support this podcast ★ RSS Podcast FeedIntro music provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.comThank You to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports the show. We appreciate you taking the time to listen to each episode. Share it with your friends!Copyright © 2025 · Dragon Moon MediaAll Rights Reserved. No Infringement is Intended.Medieval Archives & Dragon Moon Media production. 

🎃Trick or Terror: The Halloween Candy Scare of the 1980s🍬⭐This is a Bonus episode from Dragon Moon Media. We have launched another 'Archives' podcast, this one focusing on the late 20th century. If you have no interest in 20th century history you could skip this episode. However, I say give it a chance. You never know what new knowledge you may gain from listening. After all we're talking about poison candy, apples with razor blades and canceling Halloween. I hope you listen and enjoy the episode. ⭐------------Halloween night, 1980s, the streets were full of ghosts, goblins, clowns and one unshakable fear: poisoned candy. If you were a kid in the '70s and ’80s you remember it, your parents inspecting every piece of candy bar and throwing out the homemade treats.Did apples contain hidden razor blades? Was candy laced with poison? Was there really anything to fear?  Discover how Ronald "The Candyman" O'Bryan and the Tylenol Murders turned a fun night of trick or treating into a nationwide fear of candy. Join us as we unwrap the truth behind the myths that terrified parents, filled headlines, and became one of America’s most enduring urban legends. Read the 1970 New York Times article that started it all.Get all the links and see all the Dear Abby and Ann Landers articles in the show notes on Gen X Archives!Check out our partner site The Retro Network for more great retro content! (00:06) - Welcome to the premiere episode! (01:19) - Halloween PSA 1977 (01:51) - Trick or Treating in the 1970s & 80s (04:50) - Humbug Billy and Aresnic poisoning (05:44) - Dr. Shyne & Heart Shaped "Candy" (06:25) - Helen Pfeil The Long Island Poisoner (06:57) - NYT Paranoid Article (08:01) - Detroit candy laced with heroin (08:34) - "The Candyman" (11:59) - 1982 News Break - Poisonous Candy (12:32) - Chicago Tylenol Murders (13:17) - Tylenol Murder fears (14:59) - James Lewis Profile (18:17) - Poison candy; Real or Urban Legend? (19:23) - Halloween changed forever (20:32) - Kids, don't eat the candy (21:13) - Wrapping it up (21:46) - Share with your friends, or Whatever!  <----------->Contact: [email protected] in to the Gen X Archives hotline at +1 720.722.1066Follow Gen X Archives on X.com | Mastodon | Blue Sky📜Sign Up for our newsletterGen X Archives is independent and AD free because of our wonderful producers. Help keep Gen X History alive by becoming a producer today.Keep Gen X History Alive!Share the glory days: Introduce your friends to the music, movies, TV, and pop culture that defined our generation—they’ll thank you for the trip down memory lane.Become a Latchkey Legend!: Help keep the Gen X stories alive! Visit GenXArchives.com/support to donate via PayPal, Venmo, or Stripe.Immortalize your awesomeness: Get your name in the credits, a permanent shout-out for your love of all things Gen X. Support the stories you grew up with. Make your mark today!Boost the show and see the artwork with a Podcasting 2.0 certified app: Castamatic | iCatcher! | Pocket CastsRSS Podcast FeedThank You to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports the show. We appreciate you taking the time to listen to each episode. Share it with your friends!Copyright © 2025 · Dragon Moon MediaAll Rights Reserved. No Infringement is Intended.Gen X Archives & Dragon Moon Media production.  ★ Support this podcast ★

🎃Tales of Medieval Revenge by Edgar Allan Poe🎃Executive Producer:⭐Lilac Square Antiques & Books💰Become a Producer! DONATE to the show via PayPal, or use Venmo You can also donate with StripeOn this Medieval Archives Halloween Special we're listening to two tales of revenge by the the master of gothic horror, Edgar Allan Poe.This isn't the first time Poe has made an appearance on Medieval Archive. I love Poe's work, one of my favorite stories is "The Tell-Tale Heart." It's not medieval but it is fantastic. On past Halloween episodes we featured The Masque of the Red Death and The Pit and the Pendulum. The two stories on this episode are "Hop-Frog" and "The Cask of Amontillado." "Hop-Frog" focuses on Hop Frog, a court jester who is constantly humiliated by the king and his men. When the King demands Hop Frog create a unique custom for a masquerade ball Hop Frog devises a terrible plan for revenge.The story takes inspiration from the Ball of the Burning Men in 14th century France during the reign of King Charles the Mad. If you listened to episode 31 of the podcast you might know where the story of Hop Frog is going. If not, you're in for a nice tale of revenge.The Cask of Amontillado is another tale of revenge. While not specifically medieval it is close the the middle ages and the entire story takes place in creepy medieval catacombs under an Italian palazzo.Montresor opens the story by stating he has suffered a "thousand injuries" and a final, unforgivable insult from his acquaintance, Fortunato. It leads to  Montresor plotting his revenge to teach Fortunato a lesson.Get all the links and see the bibliography in the show notes on Medieval Archives!Grab a free copy of The Complete Works of Edgar Allan PoeOther episodes mentioned:Ep. 31 - Mad Monarchs of the Middle AgesEp. 77 - The Masque of the Red DeathEp. 69 - The Pit and the Pendulum Listen to all the Medieval Halloween Episodes!(00:08) - Welcome to Medievel Archives 🎃Halloween Special (00:54) - Thank you Producers! (01:10) - Email your thoughts and comments (01:32) - Edgar Allan Poe Introduction (03:02) - Hop-Frog (27:28) - The Cask of Amontillado (42:46) - Get your free audio book (43:06) - Give your friends a treat! 🍬 (43:18) - Become an Executive Producer! (43:43) - Thank You for your Support!!  Creators & Guests The Archivist - Host <----------->Contact: [email protected] in to the Medieval Archives hotline at +1 720.722.1066Follow Medieval Archives on X.com | Mastodon | Blue Sky📜Sign Up for our newsletterMedieval Archives is AD free and AI free because of our wonderful producers. Help keep Medieval History alive by becoming a producer today.Love Medieval History? Help us spread the word and become a history-making legend!Share the epic tales: Your friends will thank you for introducing them to the fascinating world of Medieval history.Become a proud producer: Support the show that keeps medieval history alive! Visit https://MedievalArchives.com/support for details or donate now via PayPal, or use Venmo or donate with StripeLeave your mark on history: Get your name listed in the credits – a lasting legacy for your love of the Middle Ages!Boost the show and see the artwork with a Podcasting 2.0 certified app: Castamatic | iCatcher! | Pocket Casts | Fountain | Breez | Sphinx ★ Support this podcast ★ RSS Podcast FeedIntro music provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.comThank You to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports the show. We appreciate you taking the time to listen to each episode. Share it with your friends!Copyright © 2025 · Dragon Moon MediaAll Rights Reserved. No Infringement is Intended.Medieval Archives & Dragon Moon Media production.