Would a single dorito really kill a medieval peasant?

Weird Medieval Guys

Olivia and Aran take on their greatest challenge to date: two bags of doritos. We attempt to answer with as much rigour as possible the question of whether a medieval peasant would be knocked dead by a taste of the delightful snack. Then, we explore why medieval people loved spices so much that they took over half the world looking for them. Also discussed are the secrets to good soup, the ports and gals of Portugal, and where Italians go when they die. For more information about what we cover, check out:

• Boccacio's Decameron translated into modern English (see "THE THIRD STORY" for a description of parmesan cheese mountain, or just Ctrl-F for "parmesan")

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/23700/23700-h/23700-h.htm

• A fun list of prices of various goods in medieval Europe, including several spices, compiled by Berkeley professor Kenneth Hodges

http://medieval.ucdavis.edu/120D/Money.html

• A quick look at salt in the Middle Ages on medievalists.net

https://www.medievalists.net/2016/01/using-salt-in-the-middle-ages/

• A more detailed look at the social role of spices in the Middle Ages by Stefan Halikowski Smith

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40110784

• An English Translation of Le Viandier de Taillevent, one of the most significant medieval cookbooks, featuring recipes such as "bright green soup" and "red deer testicle"

https://jpnet.ca/data/viandier/viandier1.html

Follow us on Twitter!

• Weird Medieval Guys @WeirdMedieval
• Olivia @olivia__ms
• Aran @aranptappers