Where to find medieval sources online

A grand Gothic-style building with arched windows, intricate stonework, and a towering entrance. The golden-hued facade is illuminated by sunlight, with a lawn and people walking nearby.
Oxford Hall. © History Skills

Finding historical sources for the medieval period of history can often be challenging because many documents survive only in scattered archives, or are written in difficult languages, or exist in fragile manuscripts that are not easy to access.

 

As a result, students and researchers can struggle to locate reliable material without knowing where exactly to look.

 

However, online tools have made this task far easier by bringing together things like translated texts, academic articles, and curated databases into digital collections hosted by universities and historical organisations.

 

Thankfully, this means that they now provide convenient access to sources that were once available only to specialists.

Below are some general resources for finding sources for Medieval History. However, there are also dedicated sections for:

Primary Sources


Medieval Sourcebook

Fordham University provides a list of links to online primary sources from the medieval era.

 

The Labyrinth

The Labyrinth provides free, organized access to resources in medieval studies. The Labyrinth’s easy-to-use links provide connections to databases, services, texts, and images around the world.

Secondary Sources


Medievalists.net

A website offering a range of academic and popular articles regarding the Middle Ages.

JSTOR

An online academic database used by universities worldwide that is a superb resource for History students. To view full articles, you will require membership.

Medieval History Flipboard Magazine

A collection of online articles and news reports about the Middle Ages.

Please Note: Some internet browsers do not handle the Flipboard website very well, and it is sometimes better to have the Flipboard App on your device to view the magazine.

Google Scholar

This searches internet sites for academic articles and books. It often only provides one or two pages, but it is often enough to find quotes and bibliographical details.

JURN Search Engine

Search millions of free academic articles, chapters, and theses.