Medieval Ghost Stories

Ghost stories have been told for millennia, but the medieval period was especially ripe for tales of the restless dead—an era of plague, intense piety, and harsh punishment. In this episode, Dan Snow is joined by historian Dr Eleanor Janega to explore popular medieval ghost stories and what they reveal about the anxieties and power structures of the time. The discussion highlights how such stories served as tools to enforce social and religious conformity, warning people to live according to the Bible or face a tormented afterlife.