Feudalism, Female Scriptoria, and the Medieval World
Lydia Rodgers | Guest Interview | May 2025
Dear Medieval Musers,
One of the greatest delights about Substack is its potential for connecting like-minded individuals across the globe.
Sometimes, us ‘little fish’ are able to meet the ‘big fish’ of the history world, like when
started recommending (nope, still not over that, don’t think I ever will be, will keep going on about it). More often, though, we get the chance to meet peers and colleagues, as with my recent Substack Live with Viking history expert , plus my previous interview with another Viking expert .Today, it’s my pleasure to bring to you an interview with of here on Substack.
Lydia and I originally connected over our shared love of super-early medieval history: for our academic work, we are both thoroughly stuck in 7th and 8th century Europe, specifically Merovingian Francia. It’s unusual to find others with the same niche research interests, so we quickly got to know each other through comments and chat threads.
Most of the questions are my own, though there were three from subscriber
, who I have gifted a month’s paid membership to say thank you. For all subscribers, there is the option to unlock this post for free as a one-off, provided you have not already used this option on a previous post.I do hope you enjoy Lydia’s insights into the early medieval world: her book recommendations, in particular, are fantastic!
All the best as always,
Holly
What questions did we cover?
Would you mind telling us a little about yourself? What does life look like for you and how does history research and writing currently fit into that?
Have you always been interested in medieval European history? If so, where did that passion begin and how has it evolved over time? If not, are there other times and places that captivate you?
Why do you think history students cling so tightly to constructs such as feudalism, the ‘Dark Ages’, and the ‘collapse’ of the Roman Empire?
Do you think it’s possible that women in England were more involved in politics than sources such as Bede give them credit for?
- asks: ‘I am curious about female scriptoria. Who controlled the material and economic basis of writing? Why is female writing so underrepresented in the early medieval world? What was the function of writing in early medieval Europe?’
Firstly, would you mind telling us a little about yourself? What does life look like for you and how does history research and writing currently fit into that?
I live outside of Austin, Texas with my husband and two sons. I consider myself an eternal student, a voracious reader, and medieval history nerd...to. the. core. I am currently in graduate school for history. I also homeschool my eldest son. So, I’m teaching (and learning alongside) him by day, then researching and studying for grad school by night. I research and write for my Substack whenever I can find time...which is not as often as I’d like!
You first described yourself to me as a ‘grad school student stuck in the Middle Ages’. Have you always been interested in medieval European history? If so, where did that passion begin and how has it evolved over time? If not, are there other times and places that captivate you?
I fell in love with medieval history through historical fiction. Back then, I had all the medieval tropes embedded in my knowledge and was in awe of the women overcoming their inferior status, bravely dealing with their fates being decided by others, trying to find joy and agency in the Dark Ages. I was always curious what part of the stories I was reading were actual facts. So, I began reading non-fiction and just got hooked. So many of my preconceived ideas about the Middle Ages were either false, or true, albeit a lot more nuance than I had considered. Over time my interests broadened, and I eventually found myself stuck in the Early Middle Ages, the world of the “barbarian” kingdoms, the transformation of the Roman Empire, the rise and spread of Christianity and monasticism, and some of the most fascinating women I’ve ever met. I love the clash of the old and new, different cultures and societies being birthed and transforming, all the changes and continuities in every aspect of life. I’ve been stuck there for years; I can’t seem to leave! If I were to stray to a different time though, I’d like to study the more ancient empires: Babylonian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and Roman.
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