Episode notes

Olivia and Aran take on five common modern-day misconceptions about the Middle Ages and dig into what makes them so prevalent. These myths are, in order:

The medieval world wasn't colourful (0:45)
Most people in the Middle Ages were illiterate
Medieval knights followed a strict chivalric code
Medieval communities were largely homogeneous
Medieval peasants worked less than modern people

Also discussed are appropriate names for baby boys, the Breaking Bad "Mexico" filter, and the beneficial relationship between good eyesight and firearm ownership.For more information about some of what we cover:

A medieval castle restored to its original pink colour https://roaringwaterjournal.com/tag/lime-render-on-medieval-castles/
The Medievalists.net podcast on literacy and education https://www.medievalists.net/2019/09/education-in-the-middle-ages/
French Chivalry by Sidney Painter https://muse.jhu.edu/book/72155
Graves in medieval London https://www.medievalists.net/2019/09/black-death-burials-reveal-the-diversity-of-londons-medieval-population/
Richard Clark on medieval labour https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ehr.12528
Nora Kenyon on medieval labour https://www.jstor.org/stable/2589850