Welcome to another peaceful journey through history. Tonight on Boring History for Sleep we’re taking an extended exploration of medieval cookery and mealtimes in twelfth-century France. Over the next two hours, we’ll move slowly and thoroughly through the intricate world of castle kitchens, feast preparation, and dining customs, examining each detail with the kind of … Read more
The modern pet industry is a global behemoth, a world of designer dog breeds, gourmet cat food, social media influencers with millions of animal followers, and even canine yoga classes. It is an industry built on the premise that a pet is not just an animal, but a cherished member of the family. This level … Read more
In the candlelit corridors of medieval Europe, justice often wore a solemn face. Among the rituals that surrounded death, one stands out for its quiet peculiarity: the final meal. Whether it was a simple crust of bread or a goblet of spiced ale, this last sustenance offered to condemned prisoners carried with it a weight … Read more
Tonight, we begin our journey with a whisper from the past—a time when the supernatural was as tangible as morning bread, and the soul’s fate was negotiated daily. Forget the orderly hymns of textbook piety; medieval Christianity was a vivid tapestry of dread and delight. In this world, bones of saints were potent medicine, and … Read more
In the quiet corridors of time, nestled among the cold stones of a 13th-century French castle, a peculiar form of childhood took root. Education among the medieval nobility was no gentle nursery affair; it was a calculated and exhaustive preparation for leadership, warfare, and courtly life. From the age of seven, noble children were molded … Read more
Before plumbing, porcelain, or privacy, medieval people had to rely on forests, chamber pots, and drafty castle chutes. Toileting in the Middle Ages was not glamorous, but it was practical—and it shaped medieval life in surprising ways. This post (and the linked Boring History for Sleep episode) explores how peasants, nobles, and townsfolk managed sanitation … Read more
In the quiet corridors of 13th-century Europe, wedding preparations unfolded not only as family celebrations but as demonstrations of wealth, lineage, and religious order. Clothing at these ceremonies was more than decoration—it was a code. Every thread, cut, and color carried meaning. This episode of Boring History for Sleep explores the richly embroidered world of … Read more
The daily life of a noblewoman The year is 1250. We stand before the fictional Castle of Saint Alex in northern France, a massive stone fortress that has already stood for nearly six centuries. This is medieval Europe at its height—a world of kings, lords, knights, and peasants, where power and wealth were built on … Read more