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PODCAST

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World

A narrative history podcast following the journeys of medieval travellers and their roles in larger historical events. Telling great stories, showing the interconnected nature of the medieval world, and meeting Mongols, Ottomans, Franciscans, merchants, ambassadors, and adventurers along the way.

history places & travel

All Episodes

39:48

Afanasy Nikitin 2: Return from India

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2025/11/02

The 15th-century Russian merchant and traveller journeys back from India.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my Patreon is here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I'm on BlueSky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@a-devon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humancircuspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and I have some things on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Redbubble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sources: Afanasy Nikitin's Voyage Beyond The Three Seas, 1466–1472. Geografgiz, 1960. Alam, Muzaffar and Subrahmanyam, Sanjay. Indo-Persian Travels in the Age of Discoveries,

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32:31

Afanasy Nikitin 1: Journey Beyond the Three Seas

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2025/10/29

Afanasy Nikitin, a 15th-century Russian merchant, sets out from Tver and immediately runs into trouble before travelling to India.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my Patreon is here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. I'm on BlueSky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@a-devon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humancircuspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and I have some things on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Redbubble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sources: Afanasy Nikitin's Voyage Beyond The Three Seas, 1466–1472. Geografgiz, 1960. Alam, Muzaffar and Subrahmanyam, Sanjay

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45:51

Osman of Timisoara 5: Osman's Great Escape

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2025/10/28

Osman flees Vienna and reaches freedom, with success and suffering on the other side. If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠my Patreon is here⁠⁠⁠⁠. I'm on BlueSky ⁠⁠⁠⁠@a-devon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠, Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@humancircuspod⁠⁠⁠⁠, and I have some things on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Redbubble⁠⁠⁠⁠. Sources: Osman Aga of Timisoara. Prisoner of the Infidels. Edited, translated, and introduced by Giancarlo Casale. University of California Press, 2021. Olin, Timothy. The Banat of

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41:52

Osman of Timisoara 4: Imperial Pastry Prep and Tavern...

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2025/07/30

Osman's time in the city of Vienna is punctuated by violent misadventure, an unlikely career in sweets, and an ethical failing.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, ⁠⁠⁠my Patreon is here⁠⁠⁠. I'm on BlueSky ⁠⁠⁠@a-devon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠, Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@humancircuspod⁠⁠⁠, and I have some things on ⁠⁠⁠Redbubble⁠⁠⁠. Sources: Osman Aga of Timisoara. Prisoner of the Infidels. Edited, translated, and introduced by Giancarlo Casale. University of California Press,

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41:20

Osman of Timisoara 3: Hunger, Illness, and Intimacy

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2025/07/27

The story of Osman of Timisoara continues, and on this episode we follow him out of his initial adventures in captivity and into the years that came after, years of "toil and misery," he would say, along with hunger and sickness, but also of surprising moments of friendship and intimacy.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, ⁠⁠my Patreon is here⁠⁠. I'm on BlueSky ⁠⁠@a-devon.bsky.social⁠⁠, Instagram ⁠⁠@humancircuspod⁠⁠, and I have some things on

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37:26

Osman of Timisoara 2: Ransom, Boats, and Bandits

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2025/07/25

In a fit of extreme absentmindedness, I forgot to upload this episode after recording it and then did the same thing for part 3 in the series! Osman of Timisoara 3 and 4 will follow this over the next few days. Within the larger life-travels of Osman's book, this is going to be a relatively short journey, but as you'll hear, it will still be quite a stressful one. Osman needed to get to Timisoara, collect the payment for his freedom, and then bring that money back to his captor. You will not be

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40:06

Osman of Timisoara 1: Prisoner of the Infidels

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2025/04/25

A departure from our usual historical period for the 17th-century story of Osman Agha of Timisoara, an Ottoman soldier taken prisoner in the years after the Battle of Vienna. If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: Osman Agha of Timisoara. Prisoner of the Infidels. Edited, translated, and introduced by Giancarlo Casale. University of

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42:04

Medieval Lives 11: William Fitz Osbert and the Unrest...

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2025/04/09

A 12th-century execution and the mixed messages in the chronicles around how things had gotten to that point. Did William with the Long Beard offer a better life to those unhappy in Richard I's London, or did he just take advantage of their misery to serve his own vices? If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: The Annals of Roger de

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48:59

Nasir Khusraw 3: Makkah and the Way Home

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2025/03/31

The conclusion of Nasir Khusraw's story, following his repeated trips from Cairo to Makkah, his struggles in crossing the Arabian Peninsula, and then his journey toward Khorasan.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: Hunsberger, Alice C. Nasir Khusraw, the Ruby of Badakhshan: A Portrait of the Persian Poet, Traveller and Philosopher

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42:01

Nasir Khusraw 2: Fatimid Egypt

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2025/03/18

***This episode was much delayed by my forgetting to upload it here. The next Nasir Khusraw episode will be along shortly.An 11th-century journey from Jerusalem to Fatimid Egypt. If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: Fulton, Michael S. Contest for Egypt: The Collapse of the Fatimid Caliphate, the Ebb of Crusader Influence, and the

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41:08

Nasir Khusraw 1: Wine, Waking, and the Journey to...

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2024/12/31

Nasir Khusraw was around 40 years old when he experienced the vision that turned his life onto a new path and sent him out on the road in search, perhaps, of wisdom.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Twitter @circus_human, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: Hunsberger, Alice C. Nasir Khusraw, the Ruby of Badakhshan: A Portrait of the Persian Poet, Traveller and

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23:35

A Medieval Christmas, 2024

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2024/12/22

Happy Holidays! This episode is about festive "medieval" poetry. If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Twitter @circus_human, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: Andrews, William. At the Sign of the Barber's Pole: A Study in Hirsute History. Lethe Press, 2008. Cook, Megan. "Dirtbag Medievalism," Avidly. July 14, 2021. Eco, Umberto. Travel in Hyperreality. Harcourt, inc,

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37:38

Medieval Lives 10: Pietro d'Abano

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2024/12/05

Born in the 13th century, Pietro d'Abano was referred to variously as “the Great Lombard,” “the Conciliator,” and, in at least one case, a “great necromancer.” This scholar and physician faced various troubles relating to heresy or sorcery, and stories swirl around him of calling on demons or magically making spent coins return to his purse.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Twitter @circus_human, Instagram

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33:05

A Medieval Haunting in the Annales Fuldenses

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2024/10/30

The Annales Fuldenses, or Annals of Fulda, is a source for 9th-century events in Carolingian lands: the incursions of the Northmen, fighting among the royal relatives, and omens in the sky. It also contains the story of an unfortunate village, an even more unfortunate villager, and the evil spirit that haunted both.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Twitter @circus_human, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I

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36:46

Medieval Lives 9: John Crabbe

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2024/10/28

The story of a 14th-century Flemish pirate, merchant, and adventurer, a man who took prizes at sea and took whatever side he needed to on land, crossing paths with various counts and kings as he went. If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Twitter @circus_human, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: Barrell, Andrew D. M. Medieval Scotland. Cambridge University Press,

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38:24

Pedro Tafur 7: Losing Teeth, Losing Swords

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2024/10/11

Our 15th-century Spanish traveller goes home, mixing with the imperial elite along the way.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Twitter @circus_human, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Source: Pero Tafur: Travels and Adventures (1435-1439), translated and edited with an introduction by Malcolm Letts. Harper & brothers, 1926. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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40:10

Pedro Tafur 6: In the Baths and at the Fairs

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2024/10/02

Our 15th-century traveller returns to Venice and goes overland into central and western Europe, making friends and catching up with some old ones along the way. He'll heal at the thermal baths, and there's talk of Bruges, Antwerp, medieval trade and textiles, and the fairs.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Twitter @circus_human, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: Pero

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42:15

Pedro Tafur 5: Doomed Empires and Slavery on the...

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2024/09/04

Pedro Tafur ventures out from Constantinople to visit a sultan, an emperor, and the centre of the Black Sea slave trade.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Twitter @circus_human, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: Pero Tafur: Travels and Adventures (1435-1439), translated and edited with an introduction by Malcolm Letts. Harper & brothers, 1926. Barker, Hannah. That

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40:18

Pedro Tafur 4: Cyprus, Chios, and Constantinople

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2024/07/27

Our 15th-century traveller dodges catastrophe on the Mediterranean and drops in on late-imperial Constantinople, where there's plenty of seafood and the roots of Pedro's family tree.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Twitter @circus_human, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: Pero Tafur: Travels and Adventures (1435-1439), translated and edited with an introduction by

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41:12

Pedro Tafur 3: From Cyprus to Cairo

Human Circus: Journeys in the Medieval World ·

2024/07/02

As our Castilian traveller makes his roundabout way toward Mt Sinai, he finds ill-health but lots of help on Cyprus, while around Cairo he's struck by the street food and crocodiles.If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on BlueSky @a-devon.bsky.social, Twitter @circus_human, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: Pero Tafur: Travels and Adventures (1435-1439), translated and edited with an introduction by

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147 results

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