The Origins of Cistercian Sign LanguageBy Scott G. BruceCîteaux: Commentarii cistercienses, Vol. 52 (2001)Introduction: In the summer of 1624, ten abbots of the Cistercian Strict Observance gathered at Vaux-de-Cernat near Paris to draft a series of reforming statutes intended to inspire a return to the heroic austerity of the monks of early Cîteaux.

Monasticism in the Middle Ages is the focus of this week’s issue of the magazine – we take a look at the role of abbot and the challenges of managing a medieval monastery. You can also read about the Teutonic Knights, the sanctuary of Michael Skellig, and how a 600-year old ship was raised from a river last week.

Cambridge University Press has come out with its major new survey of Irish history. Known as The Cambridge History of Ireland, this four-volume work tracks the island from the year 600 AD to the present-day.The first volume focuses on the medieval period and is edited by Brendan Smith, a professor at the University of Bristol.

There is a fascinating range of Historic Sites in Finland, from medieval castles to industrial landscapes. Together with its museums, these Historic Sites in Finland are a great way to discover the story of a nation which has, among other things, been ruled by the Swedish and the Russians before attaining independence in 1917.

The tower societies of medieval FlorenceBy Paul R. HarrisonMaster’s Thesis, San Jose State University, 2005Abstract: This thesis addresses the topic of the tower societies of medieval Florence during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It examines their origins and how they evolved from the fall of Rome to the advent of the commune.

One of the most important pieces of a furniture in the medieval home was the bed – it would not only be the place to sleep and have sex, but also where one would give birth and often where people would have their last moments.During the Middle Ages the bed would become elaborate and expensive. Writing about medieval England, Roberta Gilchrist notes that there would be “bed curtains from as early as the 11th century, and by the 14th century, elite houses possessed beds with elaborate canopies.