Medievalist

A medievalist is a fascinating career for someone who loves history and enjoys diving deep into the past, specifically the Middle Ages. This period generally spans from the 5th century to the 15th century, so that's a whole thousand years to explore! As a medievalist in the UK, your main job often involves research and teaching at a university. You might spend your days studying old manuscripts in Latin or Old English, examining ancient buildings, or analysing artefacts to understand how people lived, thought, and organised their societies hundreds of years ago. You will write books and articles, present your findings at conferences, and inspire university students with your knowledge of knights, castles, kings, queens, and the everyday lives of medieval people. It is a job that requires a lot of reading, critical thinking, and patience, as you often work with incomplete information or difficult-to-read sources. You might specialise in a particular area, like medieval art, warfare, religion, or even specific regions like Anglo-Saxon England or Norman France. Many medievalists also spend time in archives and libraries, both in the UK and abroad, to uncover new information. It is a rewarding career if you have a real passion for history and want to contribute to our understanding of this crucial period that shaped so much of modern Britain and Europe.