The Sixth Age: A Medieval History Podcast

Ever wondered where the term "vandalism" came from? Listen to this podcast to find out. I cover the Vandal tribes, from their first appearance in written records through the Vandal Sack of Rome in 455 AD. 
If you like this episode, make sure you subscribe so you don't miss part two. As always, you can leave feedback or review the show's bibliography at https://www.6thagepod.com/.
 
 

In this episode, we do a deep dive on early Medieval heroic traditions - including Germanic and Celtic legends. Also, there's a brief summary of Beowulf and a little bit of historical and literary analysis you can dive into. Enjoy!
As always, you can review my sources or leave questions and comments at the podcast website, www.6thagepod.com

This episode traces the end of Roman rule in Britain, the withdrawal of imperial protection around 410 AD, and the rise of Germanic settlers (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) who mixed warfare, settlement, and legend with the Romano‑British population.
Learn more at www.6thagepod.com

This week we're covering the origins of Medieval European Serfdom, through the eyes of an Italian couple. As always, you can leave comments, view bibliographies, and support the show on the podcast website.

In this episode we trace the Jin Empire’s collapse in the 4th–5th centuries: pressure from nomadic invasions and disastrous internal politics and taxation under the Sima family. 
 
Read the podcast substack at https://6thagepod.substack.com/

In the 4th–5th centuries AD the Gupta Empire’s golden age—shaped by rulers like Samudragupta and Chandragupta II, thriving trade with Rome, and rich religious and urban life—was shattered by repeated invasions by the Huns. Reliant on Roman gold and international trade, the Guptas could not withstand the sustained pressure.
The episode traces the Guptas’ rise, their ties to Roman commerce, the Hunnic invasions and attacks on monasteries, and the empire’s collapse into regional kingdoms—drawing parallels to the fall of Rome and the birth of medieval societies in India and Europe.

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 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.

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!

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.