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As medieval scholarship attempts to decenter the West and move towards a global and multicultural approach, we frequently ask: how do we mimic this move in the classroom? Most often, however, this question and its suggested solutions still presuppose a primarily Western and English-native speaking population of students, as well as courses situated within U.S. or European institutions. Informed by her experience teaching comparative medieval courses in both U.S. and non-U.S. institutions (China), Dr. Elizabeth Liendo refocuses our attention in this episode on pedagogy of non-Western and especially non-U.S. institutions. She asks: How can we reconceptualize our understanding of the global medieval and the pedagogy of teaching the medieval period in non-Western institutions, to primarily non-Western and English second language students? How can we make the medieval and early modern period meaningful to an audience that should not be expected to center Western cultural narratives, texts, or history? How do we confront the overweighting of Western texts in the canon while also ensuring that our students receive a similar level of canonical competence as their U.S. counterparts? Dr. Liendo ultimately proposes a more global pedagogical practice that brings a more diverse range of students to the table. She explores challenges such as the Western-centric timeline of the medieval era itself, the association of medieval studies with white or European narratives, and the overweighting of Middle English authors, as well as outlining some potential solutions for class design, course materials, and practical teaching methods. Follow this link for more information about Dr. Liendo and this topic: https://tinyurl.com/2p9bn3hu.

In this episode, join Reed O'Mara (GSC) as she interviews Elina Gertsman (Case Western Reserve University) and Sonya Rhie Mace (Cleveland Museum of Art) about their experiences co-teaching undergraduate- and graduate-level courses on the "global Middle Ages." Follow this link for more information about Reed, Dr. Gertsman, Dr. Rhie Mace, and this topic: https://tinyurl.com/2p9bn3hu.

In this podcast, Dr. Stephanie Azzarello explores several miracle legends depicted in images that have been excised from a series of early fifteenth-century Venetian choir books. The legends include the so-called “Beirut Miracle,” the “Matariya Bathing miracle” and what may (or may not be) the miracle of the “Holy House of Loreto.” Follow this link for more information about Dr. Azzarello and this topic: https://tinyurl.com/2p9bn3hu.

In a 1998 roundtable discussion, historian Ian Wood pithily said that there were more than two ethnic groups in Early Medieval Gaul, responding to a comment by fellow scholar Giorgio Ausenda. Much discussion surrounds Franks and Romans, but the ethnic landscape was indeed much broader, and extreme fluidity was the norm: strategies of identification prevailed over any biological sense of ethnicity. Samuel Rowe takes a historical, historiographical and analytical look at how ethnic identities coexisted and evolved in the 6th century. Follow this link for more information about Samuel and to learn more about this topic: https://tinyurl.com/2p9bn3hu.

Trans people and non-cis cultures and artifacts are not only a part of, they shape and define the Middle Ages. Legendary saints and military leaders, theology, poetry and science, documented religious and regular people, mainstream fictional characters, allegories, mythological figures, alchemical and celestial bodies are part of nonbinary, gender fluid, trans, asexual, queer, non-cis, non-normative history. Medieval Trans Studies enable us to see that gender was variable and contingent in global medieval cultures. The scholars whose voices you hear in this podcast work not only on trans studies, but also critical race studies, disability, social justice and diversity in education and employment. They discuss the ethics of scholarship and the future of trans studies. Gabrielle Bychowski speaks on Eleanor Rykener, Micah Goodrich on Piers Plowman, Blake Gutt on Old French literature, Anna Kłosowska on Polish court depositions and Clovis Maillet on Byzantine, Latin, French, German and Italian trans saints, trans knights and trans historical figures. In the work of these scholars, specialists will find topics they can teach and research, and non-specialists can learn about the importance of recovering trans experiences, as well as how the medieval archive speaks back to modern understandings of identity. Drawing on literary traditions and documents from Byzantium to Rome, from France to Poland, this podcast is about the beauty and joy of trans. Follow this link for more information about Gabrielle, Micah, Blake, Anna, and Clovis, and to learn more about their conversation: https://tinyurl.com/2p9bn3hu.

This episode introduces approaches that museum curators take to bring a global Middle Ages to life for a range of audiences. We focus on the exhibition and publication, The Fantasy of the Middle Ages: An Epic Journey through Imaginary Medieval Worlds (Getty 2022) to address everything from the Grimm Brothers’ whimsical tales to Game of Thrones’ bloody battles, from The Lord of the Rings’ Middle-earth to Dungeons & Dragons’ mythical beasts, from Medieval Times to the Renaissance Faire to Disneyland. Transcending simply a fact-check of the medieval past, we aim to mobilize medievalisms in order to counter racist, misogynist, and homo/transphobic ideas perpetuated by popular culture. This episode was contributed and hosted by Bryan C. Keene and Larisa Grollemond. Follow this link for more information about Bryan, Larisa, and their conversation: https://tinyurl.com/2p9bn3hu.

Does the medieval period really span 500-1500CE? Are knights, cathedrals, and jousts really the best representatives of the time? And what does it mean to call the Middle Ages... well, middle? Join season hosts and producers Jonathan Correa-Reyes, Reed O'Mara, and Logan Quigley as they discuss these questions and welcome you to the inaugural season of The Multicultural Middle Ages. This podcast is a space where medievalists from all professional and disciplinary tracks can come together to think and talk about the oft-unsung reality of the Middle Ages as a diverse historical and cultural period. We offer public-facing, open access content directed at experts and non-experts alike to offer updated, accurate, and culturally responsible accounts of the plurality of the medieval period. To learn more about this podcast, follow this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9bn3hu.