About 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.
A 12th-Century Pilgrim's Guide 2: The Camino de Santiago
Host [Host Name] explores a 12th-century pilgrim's guide to the Camino de Santiago, revealing its dangers, holy sites, and the author's candid opinions.
19 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT
A 12th-Century Pilgrim's Guide 1: The Source and the Way
The 12th-century text The Pilgrim's Guide to Compostela provided advice for travellers from France on the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage route which is still/again very popular today.
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Sources:
The Pilgrim's Guide to Santiago de Compostela, with translation and introduction by William Melczer. Italica Press, 1993.
The Pilgrim's Guide to Santiago de Compostela, with translation and introduction by Annie Shaver-Crandell, Paula Gerson, and the assistance of Alison Stones. Harvey Miller Publishers, 1995.
Alighieri, Dante. La Vita Nuova, translated by Andrew Frisardi. https://digitaldante.columbia.edu/text/library/la-vita-nuova-frisardi/
Martin, Craig. "How Long Does it Take to Walk the Camino de Santiago? A Beginner's Guide to This and More." Outside. https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/destinations/europe/walking-camino-de-santiago-beginners-guide/
Muñoz-Alonso, Lorena. "Spanish Electrician Who Stole Priceless Manuscript and €2.4 Million from Santiago Cathedral Gets 10 Years." Artnet. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/spanish-electrician-who-stole-priceless-manuscript-and-eur24-million-from-santiago-cathedral-gets-10-years-260703
Schrire, Dani. "The Camino de Santiago: The Interplay of European Heritage and New Traditions." Ethnologia Europaea. 36.2 (2006).
"Thirty Years of the Camino as the First European Cultural Route." El Camino con Correos, 2025. https://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/en/blog/thirty-yearsfirts-cultural-route
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24 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT
Medieval Lives 13: A Christmas Coronation
It's Christmas Day in 1066, and a new king is to be crowned. There will be all sorts of festive events: arrows in the eye, fires outside the church, and just a little holiday looting too.
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, and I have some things on Redbubble.
Sources:
Guy Bishop of Amiens. The Carmen de Hastingae Proelio. Edited and translated by Frank Barlow. Oxford University Press, 1999.
Lawson, M.K. The Battle of Hastings 1066. Tempus, 2002.
Orderic Vitalis. The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy, Volume 1. Translated by Thomas Forester. H.G. Bohn, 1853.
William of Poitiers. The Deeds of William. Oxford University Press, 1998.
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Inside a recent episode
A 12th-Century Pilgrim's Guide 2: The Camino de Santiago
Published 7 Mar 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] That established. Let's get back in to what our 12th century guidebook has to tell us. But what it has to tell us about, first of all, are the roads of St. James. That's what it opens with, which seems like a sensible enough first topic. But right away, we have an example of those shorter sections I mentioned, those meager crops as Meltzer had put it. This text is not going to linger here over any kind of detailed directions for the journey, nor will it be making any attempt to be all -encompassing, even in just giving a surface -level list of roads. Instead, we are told that there are four of those roads, and immediately given to understand that we aren't going to be exhaustive here. […]
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