A-Z of medieval life: E-H

Find out what letters E-H stand for in historian Dr Ian Mortimer's A–Z journey through medieval England…

Published: July 21, 2026 at 8:41 AM

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How hard was life in medieval England? The answer, says Dr Ian Mortimer, is far harder than most of us imagine.

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In this episode of Ian Mortimer's A–Z of medieval life, discover how a tiny shift in climate transformed England, what ordinary people actually ate, and why a single chicken could cost an entire day's wages. Join us to hear the full story about the surprising arrival of gunpowder in medieval warfare, why castles became obsolete, and what it was really like to live inside a 14th-century home.

In this six-part series, Mortimer explores the everyday realities of the 14th century – from medieval fashion and farming to mechanical clocks, relics and the cult of the dead, discover the surprising details that bring life in medieval England vividly into focus. Find episode two below.

Missed episode one? Catch up now, or discover more episodes in our HistoryExtra Academy

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Dr Ian Mortimer is the author of the four Time Traveller's Guides - to Medieval England, Elizabethan England, Restoration Britain and Regency Britain, and Medieval Horizons: Why the Middle Ages Matter, Mortimer's A-Zs of English History, and the forthcoming Through the Windows of an Ordinary House: A History of England (Bodley Head, September 2026)

Authors

Dr Ian MortimerHistorian and author

The Time Traveller’s Guide to Regency Britain

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