The Sixth Age: A Medieval History Podcast https://thesixthage.podbean.com The Sixth Age: A Medieval History Podcast

Forget everything you think you know about the "Dark Ages." The Sixth Age is a deep dive into Medieval History that strips away modern myths to reveal the world as it was actually lived.

Why did people in the Middle Ages see the world the way they did? From the fall of Rome to the dawn of the Renaissance, we reconstruct the Medieval worldview using primary sources and period-accurate perspectives. If you’re a fan of European history, historiography, and immersive storytelling, join us as we reject later stereotypes to rediscover the vibrant, complex, and often surprising lives of our ancestors.

Subscribe to The Sixth Age for a fresh, authentic look at the history of the Medieval world.

]]> Fri, 22 May 2026 14:14:16 -0300 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. History 1440 episodic Mason Hughes Mason Hughes No true https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/22157251/podcast.png The Sixth Age: A Medieval History Podcast https://thesixthage.podbean.com 144 144 The Sons of the Sea-Monster: The Merovingians and the Making of France The Sons of the Sea-Monster: The Merovingians and the Making of France https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/sea-beast-origins-the-myth-and-rise-of-the-merovingians/ https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/sea-beast-origins-the-myth-and-rise-of-the-merovingians/#comments Fri, 22 May 2026 14:14:16 -0300 thesixthage.podbean.com/1135f904-fde0-3224-a343-2ecd7798788f This episode explores the legendary and historical origins of the Merovingian dynasty, from the myth of Merovich’s sea-monster conception to Clovis’s military conquests and conversion to Christianity.

It examines Frankish identity, Roman influence, the synthesis of Roman and Germanic cultures, and how Clovis’s actions set the foundation for the medieval kingdom of France.

]]> This episode explores the legendary and historical origins of the Merovingian dynasty, from the myth of Merovich’s sea-monster conception to Clovis’s military conquests and conversion to Christianity.

It examines Frankish identity, Roman influence, the synthesis of Roman and Germanic cultures, and how Clovis’s actions set the foundation for the medieval kingdom of France.

]]> Mason Hughes true No 1780 10 full Christian Creeds: Formalizing Ancient and Early Medieval Christianity, from Nicea to Chalcedon Christian Creeds: Formalizing Ancient and Early Medieval Christianity, from Nicea to Chalcedon https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/the-emperors-creed-how-constantine-and-theodosius-shaped-christianity/ https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/the-emperors-creed-how-constantine-and-theodosius-shaped-christianity/#comments Fri, 15 May 2026 13:41:58 -0300 thesixthage.podbean.com/652ee3da-6113-37c8-95c0-eca54bb90e6a This episode traces early Christianity’s theological diversity and the struggle to define orthodoxy from grassroots movements to imperial councils.

It explains how emperors like Constantine and Theodosius used councils (Nicaea, Ephesus, Chalcedon) to settle disputes over Jesus’ nature, label heresies, and enforce creeds—reshaping the Christian world and provoking enduring schisms.

]]> This episode traces early Christianity’s theological diversity and the struggle to define orthodoxy from grassroots movements to imperial councils.

It explains how emperors like Constantine and Theodosius used councils (Nicaea, Ephesus, Chalcedon) to settle disputes over Jesus’ nature, label heresies, and enforce creeds—reshaping the Christian world and provoking enduring schisms.

]]> Mason Hughes true No 5806 9 full Saint Brigid: Breaking Boundaries in Medieval Ireland Saint Brigid: Breaking Boundaries in Medieval Ireland https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/saint-brigid-breaking-boundaries-in-medieval-ireland/ https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/saint-brigid-breaking-boundaries-in-medieval-ireland/#comments Fri, 08 May 2026 15:10:48 -0300 thesixthage.podbean.com/5cfc5ef4-9309-306f-856a-5338a750c268 How do you turn a pagan goddess into a Christian saint? That's what we're asking in this week's episode on Saint Brigid, the boundary-breaking Irish woman who was venerated across Medieval Europe. We'll be talking about Brigid's pagan origins, as well as examining her relationship with some modern-day Irish social movements. 

Learn more at our website!

]]> How do you turn a pagan goddess into a Christian saint? That's what we're asking in this week's episode on Saint Brigid, the boundary-breaking Irish woman who was venerated across Medieval Europe. We'll be talking about Brigid's pagan origins, as well as examining her relationship with some modern-day Irish social movements. 

Learn more at our website!

]]> Mason Hughes true No 1676 8 full Theodoric the Great, and the Foundation of Medieval Italy Theodoric the Great, and the Foundation of Medieval Italy https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/theodoric-the-great-and-the-foundation-of-medieval-of-italy/ https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/theodoric-the-great-and-the-foundation-of-medieval-of-italy/#comments Sun, 03 May 2026 12:59:38 -0300 thesixthage.podbean.com/9c84d39c-a244-365f-88da-ac45423151a0 This week we're diving into the life of Theodoric the Great, the Ostrogothic King who conquered Italy and ruled Barbarian and Roman alike. We'll be focusing on the way Theodoric blended Roman and Gothic culture to rule effectively, and talk about how his rule paved the way for an Italian Kingdom, independent of Constantinople's oversight. 

Comments, questions, or concerns can be left at 6thagepod.com/contact

Apologies for the dog eating his lunch in the background. Mic filters are on the way, so there should be less background noise in future episodes. 

]]> This week we're diving into the life of Theodoric the Great, the Ostrogothic King who conquered Italy and ruled Barbarian and Roman alike. We'll be focusing on the way Theodoric blended Roman and Gothic culture to rule effectively, and talk about how his rule paved the way for an Italian Kingdom, independent of Constantinople's oversight. 

Comments, questions, or concerns can be left at 6thagepod.com/contact

Apologies for the dog eating his lunch in the background. Mic filters are on the way, so there should be less background noise in future episodes. 

]]> Mason Hughes true No 2161 7 full The First Pilgrim: Saint Helena of Constantinople The First Pilgrim: Saint Helena of Constantinople https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/the-first-pilgrim-saint-helena-of-constantinople/ https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/the-first-pilgrim-saint-helena-of-constantinople/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:13:40 -0300 thesixthage.podbean.com/a063a559-f644-352c-9db4-f3ed5bae54b8 Join us this week as we do a deep dive on the first Christian pilgrim, Saint Helena of Constantinople. Her story provides us an insight into women's role in the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman world, and she set the stage for the centuries long tradition of Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem that persists today. 

]]> Join us this week as we do a deep dive on the first Christian pilgrim, Saint Helena of Constantinople. Her story provides us an insight into women's role in the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman world, and she set the stage for the centuries long tradition of Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem that persists today. 

]]> mason2j true No 2095 6 full Saint Augustine Saint Augustine https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/saint-augustine/ https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/saint-augustine/#comments Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:53:36 -0300 thesixthage.podbean.com/ded0b3ab-356b-3343-a06c-e71511cda545 Learn about the quintessential Medieval saint and theologian, Augustine of Hippo. 

Please ignore the dog eating his lunch in the background. 

The podcast website is now up! Visit 6thagepod.com today. 

]]> Learn about the quintessential Medieval saint and theologian, Augustine of Hippo. 

Please ignore the dog eating his lunch in the background. 

The podcast website is now up! Visit 6thagepod.com today. 

]]> mason2j true No 1873 5 full Meet the Barbarians Meet the Barbarians https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/meet-the-barbarians/ https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/meet-the-barbarians/#comments Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:01:38 -0300 thesixthage.podbean.com/8af673b6-b5a1-3420-98e9-6c4964597419 It's time for a whirlwind tour of the Barbarian peoples settling along the Roman Empire's fringes. These guys will undermine the Empire from the inside, and ultimately lay the foundations for the Medieval Kingdoms we know and love. 

]]> It's time for a whirlwind tour of the Barbarian peoples settling along the Roman Empire's fringes. These guys will undermine the Empire from the inside, and ultimately lay the foundations for the Medieval Kingdoms we know and love. 

]]> mason2j true No 3815 4 full New Rome Who Dis New Rome Who Dis https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/new-rome-who-dis/ https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/new-rome-who-dis/#comments Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:26:09 -0300 thesixthage.podbean.com/2eeceee4-2b80-3408-a9ad-ccb68402401a Rome fell in 476 AD. Or did it? This episode dives into the transition from the Roman world to the Medieval one, and tackles some of the biggest misconceptions we have about the Fall of the Roman Empire. 

]]> Rome fell in 476 AD. Or did it? This episode dives into the transition from the Roman world to the Medieval one, and tackles some of the biggest misconceptions we have about the Fall of the Roman Empire. 

]]> mason2j true No 2410 3 full Clovis and Hannah Clovis and Hannah https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/clovis-and-hannah/ https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/clovis-and-hannah/#comments Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:24:59 -0300 thesixthage.podbean.com/47c61e29-0596-3f3f-b0fd-6b16e9e26335 The story of a Jewish Builder, sharing his visions of the end of the world. 

]]> The story of a Jewish Builder, sharing his visions of the end of the world. 

]]> mason2j true No 3368 2 full Introduction Introduction https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/introduction/ https://thesixthage.podbean.com/e/introduction/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:54:27 -0300 thesixthage.podbean.com/0c6f52f5-b550-3b61-9964-f1f62c4e284a Welcome to the Sixth Age: A Medieval History Podcast. Learn about our approach to Medieval History here!

]]> Welcome to the Sixth Age: A Medieval History Podcast. Learn about our approach to Medieval History here!

]]> mason2j true No 530 1 full