The Scholarly Pilgrim - History of the Camino de Santiago

May 03 2024 4

The Scholarly Pilgrim - History of the Camino de Santiago Podcast artwork

Why did the Camino de Santiago develop and what was it like as it became one of the top European pilgrimages in the Middle Ages, laying the foundation for thousands of pilgrims to still walk it today? Every month historian John Seasholtz will discuss people, places and power in communities along the medieval pilgrim roads to Santiago de Compostela. The podcast should be of interest to modern-day pilgrims or anyone with a curiosity to learn more about the history of pilgrimage, medieval Europe and Spain during a formative time in our human experience. Additional information can be found at scholarlypilgrim.com.

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S2 E2 - Women on the Medieval Camino de Santiago

May 03 2024 31 mins

Women now make up just over half of the pilgrims traveling into Santiago de Compostela. But in the Middle Ages, female pilgrims would have been in the minority, and their experiences would have been profoundly different than those traveling along the Camino de Santiago today. This episode explores the moral and social environment of medieval Europe and how it impacted women and the

S2 E1 – The Legend of Santiago Matamoros on the Medieval Camino de Santiago

Feb 23 2024 30 mins

This episode discusses how the image of St James was transformed into a knight leading Christian military efforts against the Muslims in Spain. It will explore the role of Compostela’s cathedral chapter in creating and promoting this new image and discuss how the shrine benefited politically and economically from the association. It will further show how the legend of the so-call

S1 E11 - Season 1 Recap: Golden Age of the Camino de Santiago

Nov 20 2023 32 mins

This episode provides a recap of the ten episodes in Season 1. It discusses the Camino de Santiago’s origins and patrons, pilgrim motivations, events and trends that contributed to its exploding popularity, and its impact on the people who lived along the pilgrim roads in the 12th century, the golden age of the pilgrimage.

S1 E10 - Jewish Communities on the Medieval Camino de Santiago

Sep 25 2023 31 mins

This episode discusses the Jews who lived in pilgrim towns along the medieval Camino de Santiago. It will explore the origins of Jewish communities, the role they played in the pilgrimage’s devotional infrastructure and the nature of their interactions with neighboring Christians. It will also discuss how Jews were viewed by monarchs and Church elites, and the issues which contri

S1 E9 - Franks and Native Spaniards on the Medieval Camino de Santiago

Aug 23 2023 31 mins

This episode discusses the burgos of medieval Pamplona as a means to explore the complex state of relations between Franks and native people in pilgrim towns along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. It will also explain how tension between these groups was enflamed by the notion of Frankish cultural superiority which was propagated through stories about Charlemagne and native Spania

S1 E8 - Medieval Guilds of Compostela and Camino de Santiago

Jul 19 2023 30 mins

This episode will explore the development of influential guilds in Santiago de Compostela that allowed merchants and artisans to significantly advance their economic and spiritual interests. It will also discuss how these guilds helped tradespeople and the shrine of St James to overcome the moral stigma from their association with money while dramatically enhancing the infrastructu

S1 E7 - Templars and Hospitallers on the Medieval Camino de Santiago

Jun 16 2023 29 mins

This episode will explore the roles played by the Templars and Hospitallers along the medieval Camino de Santiago. In addition to providing security and hospitality these military orders cared for the spiritual wellbeing of pilgrims and helped facilitate the movement of wealth along the pilgrim roads. Legends and mysteries surrounding the Templars will also be discussed.

S1 E6 - The Role of Money on the Medieval Camino de Santiago

May 12 2023 29 mins

This episode attempts to unravel a mystery surrounding a group of minters found on the twelfth-century façade of the church of Santiago in the pilgrim town of Carrión. The complex role of money on the medieval Camino de Santiago will be explored. What message did the sculptures on the façade send to those who handled money along the Camino?

S1 E5 - Urban Revolts on the Medieval Camino de Santiago

Apr 07 2023 30 mins

As pilgrim traffic started to boom in the 12th century, merchants and artisans living along the Camino de Santiago became wealthy and sought a greater say in the administration of towns and markets. Simmering tension between townspeople and local lords, including abbots and bishops, sometimes exploded into chaotic and violent rebellions. This episode will discuss events surrounding

S1 E4 - The Rise of Pilgrim Towns on the Medieval Camino de Santiago

Mar 09 2023 32 mins

This episode focuses on the second half of the 11th century, the pivotal period that set the stage for a boom in pilgrim traffic in the 12th century, the golden age of the Camino de Santiago. It will discuss changing power dynamics in Spain which led to an increasing emphasis on the pilgrimage. It will then show how the monarchs developed or repopulated a chain of towns along the C