A New History of the Middle Ages with Janina Ramirez

Oxford and BBC historian Janina Ramirez has uncovered countless influential women's names struck out of historical records, with the word FEMINA annotated beside them. As gatekeepers of the past ordered books to be burnt, artworks to be destroyed, and new versions of myths, legends and historical documents to be produced, our view of history has been manipulated.

Only now, through a careful examination of the artefacts, writings and possessions they left behind, are the influential and multifaceted lives of women emerging. Femina goes beyond the official records to uncover the true impact of women like Jadwiga, the only female King in Europe, Margery Kempe, who exploited her image and story to ensure her notoriety, and the Loftus Princess, whose existence gives us clues about the beginnings of Christianity in England. See the medieval world with fresh eyes and discover why these remarkable women were removed from our collective memories.

Seb Falk is a historian, teacher, broadcaster and historical consultant. In 2016 he was named a BBC/AHRC New Generation Thinker. His first book, The Light Ages was a Book of the Year 2020 in The Times, The TLS, The Telegraph among publications. Seb teaches medieval history and history of science at the University of Cambridge where he is a Pro-Proctor and Fellow of Girton College. He specialises in the history of astronomy, navigation and mathematics – theories and technologies – from their ancient origins to modern developments.