Eleanor Janega
Medieval historian at the LSE; writes Going Medieval and The Middle Ages: A Graphic History, and spends a lot of it correcting what people think the period was like.
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What they believe
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There is no such thing as revisionist history: re-evaluating the sources and controlling for bias is simply what writing history is.
There is no such thing as revisionist history. Writing history is a constant process of re-evaluation of sources and attempts to control for the biases of the past as well as our own.
going-medieval.comSaid 25 Nov 2025This on korrents
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How harshly people judge the Middle Ages tracks how little they know about it.
Clearly as well we see that the more people know about the medieval period, the more likely they are to be correct about it.
going-medieval.comSaid 30 Apr 2025This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These 2: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
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From one piece On contrarian history 4 beliefs · going-medieval.com
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Their words
Further, the fact that there is no such thing as a ‘Dark Ages’ and that a term we used for source survival has escaped containment and been rendered meaningless by a bunch of poorly read self-congratulatory dolts is, in fact, what we call ‘settled academic fact’.
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Their words
Because of how source survival works, or indeed, how architectural survival works, we are often encouraged to think of the past as a place populated entirely by the wealthy elite.
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Their words
The Roman Empire, therefore, is actually not necessary for keeping industry going.
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Their words
There is no such thing as revisionist history. Writing history is a constant process of re-evaluation of sources and attempts to control for the biases of the past as well as our own.
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From one piece On what Americans know about medieval history 2 beliefs · going-medieval.com
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Their words
I am not here to tell you that the medieval period is a specifically peaceful time, but it pales in comparison to what goes down in the early modern period, in which both the apparently beloved Renaissance and Enlightenment periods lie.
On what Americans know about medieval historygoing-medieval.com
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Their words
Clearly as well we see that the more people know about the medieval period, the more likely they are to be correct about it.
On what Americans know about medieval historygoing-medieval.com
31 March 2025
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Nothing matches.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 6 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
Each is a — compiled by korrents.com, not by them: the one-line wordings are korrents', the quotes are theirs.
Recent
There is no such thing as revisionist history: re-evaluating the sources and controlling for bias is simply what writing history is.
There is no such thing as revisionist history. Writing history is a constant process of re-evaluation of sources and attempts to control for the biases of the past as well as our own.
On contrarian history Said 25 Nov 2025
The Roman Empire was not necessary to keep industry going: metal production in Britain rose after the Romans withdrew.
The Roman Empire, therefore, is actually not necessary for keeping industry going.
On contrarian history Said 25 Nov 2025
We picture the past as populated entirely by the wealthy, because the wealthy are whose documents and buildings happened to survive.
Because of how source survival works, or indeed, how architectural survival works, we are often encouraged to think of the past as a place populated entirely by the wealthy elite.
On contrarian history Said 25 Nov 2025
Show 3 more
There was no "Dark Ages": the term described gaps in the surviving sources, and its popular use is not a live scholarly position but a settled error.
Further, the fact that there is no such thing as a ‘Dark Ages’ and that a term we used for source survival has escaped containment and been rendered meaningless by a bunch of poorly read self-congratulatory dolts is, in fact, what we call ‘settled academic fact’.
On contrarian history Said 25 Nov 2025
How harshly people judge the Middle Ages tracks how little they know about it.
Clearly as well we see that the more people know about the medieval period, the more likely they are to be correct about it.
On what Americans know about medieval history Said 30 Apr 2025
The Renaissance and early modern period were not a better time to be alive than the Middle Ages they are said to have rescued Europe from.
I am not here to tell you that the medieval period is a specifically peaceful time, but it pales in comparison to what goes down in the early modern period, in which both the apparently beloved Renaissance and Enlightenment periods lie.
On what Americans know about medieval history Said 30 Apr 2025
Beliefs others hold too
The Renaissance and early modern period were not a better time to be alive than the Middle Ages they are said to have rescued Europe from. 2 hold this
I am not here to tell you that the medieval period is a specifically peaceful time, but it pales in comparison to what goes down in the early modern period, in which both the apparently beloved Renaissance and Enlightenment periods lie.
On what Americans know about medieval history Said 30 Apr 2025
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Recommends rcmnd
rcmnd What they recommend 10 things — each backed by an exact quote.
Compiled by rcmnd.app, not by them: the quotes are theirs, and each links to the post it was copied from.
Recent
Recommends Chivalry and Courtesy: Medieval Manners for a Modern World
This is a great little guide, and I particularly recommend it for young people who are interested in the medieval world.
going-medieval.com 18 Dec 2023
What others say about Chivalry and Courtesy: Medieval Manners for a Modern World →
Liked Beatrice’s Last Smile: A New History of the Middle Ages
This book? This book made me think.
going-medieval.com 18 Dec 2023
What others say about Beatrice’s Last Smile: A New History of the Middle Ages →
Loved The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts
Quite possibly one of the most fun books I read this year – Badder and Norman have written an absolute romp of a supernatural history.
going-medieval.com 18 Dec 2023
Show 7 more
Loved Eleanor of Aquitaine, as It Was Said: Truth and Tales about the Medieval Queen
This was one of my favourite books of the year just due to the historical technique that Sullivan displays here.
going-medieval.com 18 Dec 2023
Loved Peasants Making History: Living in an English Region 1200-1540
Dyer does a masterful job in this book of bringing the world of English peasants to life.
going-medieval.com 18 Dec 2023
What others say about Peasants Making History: Living in an English Region 1200-1540 →
Loved The Deorhord: An Old English Bestiary
Hana Videen’s absolutely delightful Deorhord is a romp through old English words and medieval ideas about animals.
going-medieval.com 18 Dec 2023
What others say about The Deorhord: An Old English Bestiary →
Liked The Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe
It’s a fairly rare feat: a history that manages to deep dive on local histories while also giving you a large overview.
going-medieval.com 18 Dec 2023
What others say about The Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe →
Recommends Abortion in the Early Middle Ages, c. 500-900
Zubin Mistry, Abortion in the Early Middle Ages, c. 500-900, (York: York Medieval Press, 2015). Does what it says on the tin. A masterful look at the early medieval social context for abortion.
going-medieval.com 29 Jun 2022
What others say about Abortion in the Early Middle Ages, c. 500-900 →
Recommends Medieval Death: Ritual and Representation
Not on Black Death per se but it includes some great discussions about it and art: Paul Binski, Medieval Death: Ritual and Representation (London: British Museum Press, 1996).
going-medieval.com 24 Apr 2020
What others say about Medieval Death: Ritual and Representation →
Recommends The Black Death
Great over-all reads: Philip Ziegler, The Black Death. (New York: HarperCollins, 1969). There is a great new edition out on Harper Perennial from 2009 though too!
going-medieval.com 24 Apr 2020
Where they publish
Blog Going Medieval Her blog on the middle ages and what people get wrong about them. Has a feed.
Recent
- On contrarian history 25 Nov 2025 Unfortunately, though I have made the world’s best booty shorts and deployed them with great skill and aplomb, there are still those in our society who refuse to heed my message, and also to learn basic history. This fa…
- On AI and the golem 21 Oct 2025 Recently I, like a lot of people who make their living by creating things, have been thinking a lot about so-called AI. I have been forced to do this because so many companies have been stealing the output of people lik…
- On Crusades, or, how not to identify with losers 9 Jul 2025 I think about Crusades a lot because that’s my job. I also think about them a lot because, well, there were a lot of them – which is pretty wild when you consider they didn’t exist as a phenomenon until the high medieva…
Show 7 more
- On what Americans know about medieval history 30 Apr 2025 Being a medieval historian is weird, in general. I spend a lot of time reading and thinking about a thousand years of history which is largely ignored. When I do manage to then attempt to share my love (or obsession, if…
- In praise of difficult histories, or, I saw Edward II at the RSC and it was so so so good 31 Mar 2025 I was lucky enough to get to see a production of Christopher Marlow’s (1564 – 1593) Edward II at the Royal Shakespeare Company this week, and as with any good piece of art I come across, I have been thinking a lot about…
- On what we choose to remember 12 Feb 2025 The other day I had the pleasure of ducking into the Temple Church here in London. I’ve been by a number of times, but never actually in, and so I was looking forward to being a little history nerd in a cool old space.…
- On spooky animals 30 Oct 2024 I’ve been thinking a lot about ghosts lately. No, not because it’s October. That sort of seasonal interest in ghosts is for amateurs, and your girlie is thinking about ghosts 24/7 365. I don’t get ready for spooky seaso…
- On side hustles 27 Sept 2024 I am adamantly opposed to the conception of grind culture. I swear to god, if you 💯💯💯 me, I will consider it a hate crime, and will report you to my local self-governance group for a reparative harm process. This isn…
- On body count 21 Aug 2024 I’m not really on twitter that much anymore because of all the generalised unpleasantness. I mostly go to let people know I have done something that they can go read, watch, or listen to, and then I scuttle away to frit…
- Let me explain something to you: the mendicants 27 Jun 2024 So over at my cute little podcast We’re Not So Different we are currently running a book club for patrons. As a part of this I am rereading the classic The Name of the Rose, which has made me realise one of the arcane p…
Link verified 20 Sept 2026. Recent items update automatically from the channel.
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Recent
- Gotta say this is one of our best. Perfect podcasting, really. 22 Aug 2026
- Time for everyone's problematic fav - Peter Abelard. Come for the theology, stay for the castration, I guess? 12 Aug 2026
- It's like a real cool afterlife concept but girl what is the deal with the fire thing? 31 Jul 2026
Show 6 more
- We liked it! But we are still gonna complain because slut representation matters. 29 Jul 2026
- It's the EU5 run so good it summoned me to this ap just to rub my hands together like a sicko. Yes. Hell yeah. It is happening. 24 Jul 2026
- We also talked a lot about the mighty Derby County FC. You're welcome. 7 Nov 2025
- I read a terrible book for you, please respond. 22 Oct 2025
- We are back at it answering questions this month, all of which were super good. Some were also stories that make me want to be sick. 💖💖💖 8 Oct 2025
- This week we are talking about medieval assassinations, doing a lot of hash, and how Richard the Lionheart is deeply sus. 1 Oct 2025
Link verified 23 Sept 2026. Recent items update automatically from the channel.
Bluesky @goingmedieval.bsky.social Their Bluesky account.
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Link verified 23 Sept 2026. Recent items update automatically from the channel.
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