Medieval Morsels —Medieval Cheaters

In this episode of Medieval Morsels, we continue our exploration of medieval games by turning to one of the most controversial forms of play in the Middle Ages: dice. Small enough to fit in a pouch but powerful enough to provoke sermons, laws, debts, fights, and moral panic, dice games occupied a strange place in medieval society.

Part 2B examines why dice were so popular across taverns, courts, military camps, and city streets—and why churchmen and rulers so often condemned them. We look at games of chance such as hazard, the relationship between gambling and sin, and the way medieval writers connected dice with greed, blasphemy, drunkenness, and disorder.

Along the way, we consider voices from medieval literature and law, including Chaucer’s Pardoner’s Tale, royal attempts to regulate gambling, and the fascinating tension between recreation and moral danger. Were dice merely harmless entertainment, or did they reveal something deeper about medieval fears of fortune, fate, and human weakness?

Grab your cup, pull up a chair, and join us as we roll the bones in the medieval world.

Topics in this episode include:

Medieval dice games and gambling culture The game of hazard and its reputation Dice in taverns, streets, courts, and military life Church criticism of gambling and idleness Chaucer’s Pardoner’s Tale and moral corruption Royal laws against dice-playing Fortune, chance, sin, and medieval theology Why games of chance fascinated and frightened medieval people

Primary and historical sources discussed include:

Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, especially “The Pardoner’s Tale” Jean de Joinville, Life of Saint Louis Alfonso X of Castile, Libro de los juegos / Book of Games Medieval legal and moral writings on gambling and dice

Listen in and discover how a simple throw of the dice could reveal the medieval struggle between pleasure, danger, chance, and the soul.

The Medieval Craftsman: Making the Dice

A pair of medieval dice may seem like a simple object—but each one tells a remarkable story.

In this episode of Medieval Morsels, we step inside the workshop of the medieval craftsman to explore how dice were made from bone, antler, ivory, and other materials. Discover the skill required to create a perfectly balanced gaming die and learn why these tiny objects have become invaluable to archaeologists studying everyday life in the Middle Ages.

We'll examine fascinating discoveries from excavations in London, York, and Novgorod, revealing how dice were used by merchants, knights, sailors, students, and nobles alike. Along the way, we'll uncover what the materials, craftsmanship, and wear patterns of surviving dice reveal about medieval trade, social status, and recreation.

Far more than children's toys or gambling accessories, medieval dice provide an extraordinary window into craftsmanship, leisure, and daily life across medieval Europe.

In This Episode

• How medieval craftsmen carved dice from bone, antler, ivory, and jet
• Why opposite sides of a die always total seven
• Archaeological discoveries from medieval London, York, and Novgorod
• What gaming artifacts reveal about everyday medieval society
• How craftsmanship and material reflected wealth and social status
• Why dice remain one of the most important artifacts for understanding medieval leisure

Featured Historians & Sources

• David Parlett
• Irving Finkel
• Barbara Hanawalt
• Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA)
• York Archaeological Trust

Join me as we continue our journey through the fascinating world of medieval gaming—one roll of the dice at a time.

What did a pair of dice mean to someone living in the Middle Ages?

Far more than simple entertainment.

In this episode of Medieval Morsels, we journey into the lively taverns, bustling marketplaces, noble courts, and monastery cloisters of medieval Europe to uncover the surprising history of dice, gambling, and games of chance. From bone dice discovered by archaeologists to the thrilling game of Hazard—the medieval ancestor of modern craps—we explore how games shaped everyday life across every level of society.

Along the way, we'll examine fascinating primary sources from Tacitus, Geoffrey Chaucer, Thomas Aquinas, and medieval church councils, while drawing on the work of leading historians and archaeologists to understand why gambling was both wildly popular and fiercely condemned. We'll also uncover evidence of loaded dice, medieval cheating scandals, and the Church's struggle to reconcile chance, providence, and morality.

Whether you're a tabletop gamer, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about how medieval people spent their leisure time, this episode reveals that the roll of the dice could change fortunes—and sometimes even lives.

Join me as we discover how one of humanity's oldest games offers an extraordinary window into the beliefs, culture, and daily life of the medieval world.