20 Best Books On Medieval History (2023 Update)

A masterful narrative of the middle ages, when religion became a weapon for kings all over the world.in her earlier work, the history of the ancient world, susan wise bauer wrote of the rise of kingship based on might. but in the years between the fourth and twelfth centuries, rulers had to find new justification for their power, and they turned to divine truth or grace to justify political and military action. right began to replace might as the engine of empire. not just christianity and islam but also the religions of the persians, the germans, and the mayas were pressed into the service of the state. even buddhism and confucianism became tools for nation building. this phenomenon—stretching from the americas all the way to japan—changed religion, but it also changed the state. the history of the medieval world is a true world history, linking the great conflicts of europe to the titanic struggles for power in india and asia. in its pages, el cid and guanggaeto, julian the apostate and the brilliant emperor, charles the hammer and krum the bulgarian stand side by side. from the schism between rome and constantinople to the rise of the song dynasty, from the mission of muhammad to the crowning of charlemagne, from the sacred wars of india to the establishment of the knights templar, this erudite book tells the fascinating, often violent story of kings, generals, and the peoples they ruled.

The medieval world and beyond explores the legacy of civilizations from europe, africa, and the middle east to asia and the americas. from the decline of feudalism to the revolutions in science, exploration, and thought that are the foundations of our modern world, students will discover rich connections to the past.

If you want to discover the captivating history of the medieval england, then keep reading… medieval england's history starts with the fall of the roman empire in the 5th century. in the 11th century, the anglo-saxon elite was completely replaced by the invading normans. william the conqueror and his successors brought novelties to england such as castles and cavalry. the last phase of medieval england started with the great famine and black death in the 14th century, when millions of lives were lost, resulting in england losing half of its population. in this book, you'll get insights into all of the above events and many more. prepare to discover england in one of its most interesting times. in medieval england: a captivating guide to english history in the middle ages, including events such as the norman conquest, black death, and hundred years' war, you will discover topics such as roman province the anglo-saxon invasion christianity in anglo-saxon england viking attacks norman invasion the consequences of norman conquest race for power henry ii richard and john late middle ages and the black death the hundred years war war of the roses, the end of an age and much, much more so if you want to learn more about the medieval england, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button

National bestseller – the perfect st. patrick's day gift, and a book in the best tradition of popular history—the untold story of ireland's role in maintaining western culture while the dark ages settled on europe.every year millions of americans celebrate st. patrick's day, but they may not be aware of how great an influence st. patrick was on the subsequent history of civilization. not only did he bring christianity to ireland, he instilled a sense of literacy and learning that would create the conditions that allowed ireland to become "the isle of saints and scholars"—and thus preserve western culture while europe was being overrun by barbarians. in this entertaining and compelling narrative, thomas cahill tells the story of how europe evolved from the classical age of rome to the medieval era. without ireland, the transition could not have taken place. not only did irish monks and scribes maintain the very record of western civilization — copying manuscripts of greek and latin writers, both pagan and christian, while libraries and learning on the continent were forever lost—they brought their uniquely irish world-view to the task. when the seeds of culture were replanted on the european continent, it was from ireland that they were germinated. in the tradition of barbara tuchman's a distant mirror, how the irish saved civilization reconstructs an era that few know about but which is central to understanding our past and our cultural heritage. but it conveys its knowledge with a winking wit that aptly captures the sensibility of the unsung irish who relaunched civilization.

For five decades, medieval europe: a short history has been the best-selling text for courses on the history of medieval europe. this acclaimed book has long been applauded for both its scholarship and its engaging narrative. oxford university press is pleased to continue this tradition of excellence with a new, affordable, and streamlined twelfth edition featuring a new coauthor, sandy bardsley. the new edition offers increased coverage of race and ethnicity, more incorporation of archaeological data, an overall streamlining of the text, and more.

Overview: 'god wills it!' with that cry of medieval knights a new era in european history began. across europe a wave of pious enthusiasm led many thousands to leave their homes, family, and friends to march to a distant land in a great struggle for christ. yet the crusades were more than simply a holy war. they represent a synthesis of attitudes and values that were uniquely medieval-so medieval, in fact, that the crusading movement is rarely understood today. this book places the crusades within the medieval social, economic, religious, and intellectual environments that gave birth to the movement and nurtured it for centuries. the events of the crusades to palestine and europe's periphery are narrated in a clear, concise, and compelling manner. special attention is also given to the crusades' effects on the islamic world and the christian byzantine east. also included is a historiographical overview of the subject as well as an up-to-date select biography.

In 1963, norman f. cantor published his breakthrough narrative history of the middle ages. further editions of this immediately celebrated book appeared in 1968 and 1974. now, a thorough revision, update and significant expansion of the book has been made with a third of the text new. the civilization of the middle ages incorporates current research, recent trends in interpretation, and novel perspectives, especially on the foundations of the middle ages to a.d. 450 and the later middle ages of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, as well as a sharper focus in social history, jewish history, and women's roles in society, and popular religion and heresy. while the first and last sections of the book are almost entirely new and many additions have been incorporated in the intervening sections, cantor has retained the powerful narrative flow that made the earlier editions so accessible and exciting. cantor's book was innovative in 1963 because it was the first comprehensive general history of the middle ages to center on medieval culture and religion rather than political history (which was, however, dealt with, but from the perspective of applied intellect and social ordering). it remains a unique book in that regard. the book also featured the highlighting of prominent medieval personalities through dozens of biographical sketches, which has been retained. although it draws upon a century of detailed research on the medieval world and is authoritative in its learning, from first page to last, cantor's book tells an exciting and compelling story.

Through a focused and systematic examination of medieval theologians, philosophers, and jurists, andrew latham explores how ideas about supreme political authority–sovereignty–first emerged during the high medieval period. the author provides a new model for understanding the concept of sovereignty, and traces its roots, not to the early modern or late medieval eras as do all other accounts, but to the high middle ages. this book aims first to provide an account of a pivotal episode in the historical evolution of the idea of sovereignty–the supreme authority to command, legislate, and judge–in the thirteenth century. it also aims to reconnect early modern theorists of sovereignty to the medieval intellectual tradition out of which they emerged. latham traces the rise of a "dualist-regnalist" model whereby supreme authority was vested neither in the pope nor the emperor; nor was it divided between coordinate temporal and spiritual powers (kings and popes). instead, it was vested exclusively in the king, who held it directly from god or (in the case of john of paris, for example) "the people," without any papal or imperial mediation.

From the national bestselling author of how the irish saved civilization—a fascinating look at how medieval thinkers created the origins of modern intellectual movements.“ cahill's command of rich historical detail makes medieval cities and their colorful characters come to alive.” —the los angeles times after the long period of decline known as the dark ages, medieval europe experienced a rebirth of scholarship, art, literature, philosophy, and science and began to develop a vision of western society that remains at the heart of western civilization today, from the entry of women into professions that had long been closed to them to the early investigations into alchemy that would form the basis of experimental science. on visits to the great cities of europe-monumental rome; the intellectually explosive paris of peter abelard and thomas aquinas; the hotbed of scientific study that was oxford; and the incomparable florence of dante and giotto-acclaimed historian thomas cahill brilliantly captures the spirit of experimentation, the colorful pageantry, and the passionate pursuit of knowledge that built the foundations for the modern world.

If you want to discover the captivating history of the middle ages, then keep reading… one of the least understood periods of european history occurred between the 6th century and the 14th or 15th century (depending on which historian you ask). commonly called the middle ages, this was a time period of extreme change for europe, beginning with the fall of the western roman empire. to a continent that had seen a drastic shift in the power structure, the world seemed to be particularly harsh. rome had been a major player across europe for well over a millennium. then it was gone.this is also a time period that still inspires art, literature, and philosophy today. there were men who lived during the middle ages who are still quoted and revered today, such as saint thomas aquinas. they were almost always men of the cloth (religious men), but not always. people still enjoy the works of geoffrey chaucer, a famous writer who was also a merchant. the architecture of this time has also been used and reused for many centuries as well. the cathedrals and castles built during the middle ages still remain while younger structures have long since crumbled. perhaps the most famous architecture from the time though is known as the gothic style. the look and feel of the gothic style have inspired many generations, including the romantics of the 1800s and the horror/mystery genre that is still so popular today. however, it was the birth of universities that reflects the thinking of the time. prior to the middle ages, there was no higher education.many of the institutions and ideas that the men of the renaissance would explore began during the middle ages. it was a time when europe healed from the fall of one superpower and transitioned into something that more closely resembled the map of europe today. it would undergo many more changes in the years following the middle ages, but nations began to find their identities without their roman overlords.in the middle ages: a captivating guide to the history of europe, starting from the fall of the western roman empire through the black death to the beginning of the renaissance, you will discover topics such as: fall of the western roman empire stewards of the future the rise of the byzantine empire reclaiming spain and expanding one of the strongest and earliest kingdoms of the middle ages charlemagne a brief return to the empire otto i and his new empire the great schism the famous (or infamous) crusades forging a new england the hundred years' war the horrors of nature higher education and the gothic period how the middle ages advanced education and architecture the renaissance and much, much more!

In the medieval times, the world looked different. there were no gadgets and homes didn't have electricity. isn't it interesting to step into a time machine just to see how life was like in those dark days? luckily, you don't have to wait for a time machine to actually be invented to do that. you can open and read this book instead!

"not only an engrossing read about the distant past, both informative and entertaining, but also a profoundly thought-provoking view of our not-really-so-‘new’ present . . . all medieval history is here, beautifully narrated . . . the vision takes in whole imperial landscapes but also makes room for intimate portraits of key individuals, and even some poems."—wall street journal"a lively history . . . [jones] has managed to touch every major topic. as each piece of the puzzle is placed into position, the modern world gradually comes into view . . . powers and thrones provides the reader with a framework for understanding a complicated subject, and it tells the story of an essential era of world history with skill and style."—the new york times – when the once-mighty city of rome was sacked by barbarians in 410 and lay in ruins, it signaled the end of an era–and the beginning of a thousand years of profound transformation. in a gripping narrative bursting with big names—from st augustine and attila the hun to the prophet muhammad and eleanor of aquitaine—dan jones charges through the history of the middle ages. powers and thrones takes readers on a journey through an emerging europe, the great capitals of late antiquity, as well as the influential cities of the islamic west, and culminates in the first european voyages to the americas. – the medieval world was forged by the big forces that still occupy us today: climate change, pandemic disease, mass migration, and technological revolutions. this was the time when the great european nationalities were formed; when the basic western systems of law and governance were codified; when the christian churches matured as both powerful institutions and the regulators of western public morality; and when art, architecture, philosophical inquiry and scientific invention went through periods of massive, revolutionary change. – the west was rebuilt on the ruins of an empire and emerged from a state of crisis and collapse to dominate the world. every sphere of human life and activity was transformed in the thousand years covered by powers and thrones.

'probably the best "buy" among recent works for one who comes to medieval history for the first time.' history (about the second edition) consisting of two parts, this book successfully conveys the importance of the distant past in understanding our modern world. the first part; the dark ages, examines the impact of the barbarian invasions on constantine's christianized empire, and the gradual emergence, by the end of the ninth century, of a new social, economic and political order. there are important chapters on the on the church and the papacy, the coming of islam, and the rise and fall of the frankish empire. the second part; the high middle ages, takes the reader from the saxon empire through to an examination of the european economy in the mid-thirteenth century. important topics covered in this period include the spread of monasticism, the reform of the papacy, the crusades, and feudal monarchy. this has been the best introductory book in medieval history for fifty years, and still is.

In the later medieval centuries, a whole range of important social, political, and artistic activities took place against the backdrop of the great english households. in this lively book, c. woolgar explores the fascinating details of life in a great house. based on extensive investigation of household accounts and related primary documents, woolgar vividly illuminates the operations of great households. he also delineates the major changes that transformed the economy and geography of both lay and clerical households between 1200 and 1500. in this portrait of aristocratic and gentry life in medieval england, woolgar describes the roles of family members, the situations of servants, the uses of space within the household, food and drink for daily consumption and for special occasions, furnishing, clothing, arrangements for travel, household animals, cleanliness and hygiene, entertainment, the practices of religion, and intellectual life. the author also analyzes the qualitative and social evolution of great households as definitions of magnificence and conventions of etiquette became increasingly elaborate.

Introduction : reading the tenth century / timothy reuter — rural economy and country life / robert fossier — merchants, markets and towns / peter johanek — rulers and government / janet l. nelson — the church / rosamond mckitterick — monasticism : the first wave of reform / joachim wollasch — intellectual life / claudio leonardi — artists and patrons / henry mayr-harting — the ottonians as kings and emperors / eckhard müller-mertens — saxony and the elbe slavs in the tenth century / gerd althoff — bavaria in the tenth and early eleventh centuries / herwig wolfram — lotharingia / michel parisse — burgundy and provence, 879-1014 / constance brittain bouchard — the kingdom of italy / giuseppe sergi — west francia : the kingdom / jean dunbabin — west francia : the northern principalities / david bates — western francia : the southern principalities / michel zimmerman — england, c. 900-1016 / simon keynes –european russia, c. 500-c.1050 / thomas s. noonan — bohemia and poland : two examples of successful slavonic state-formation / jerzy strzelczyk — hungary / kornél bakay — byzantium in equilibrium, 886-944 ; bulgaria : the other balkan 'empire' ; byzantium expanding, 944-1025 ; byzantium and the west / jonathan shepard — southern italy in the tenth century / g.a. loud — sicily and al-andalus under muslim rule / hugh kennedy — the spanish kingdoms / roger collins.

This is the most authoritative account of life in medieval europe between the fall of the roman empire and the coming of the renaissance. full coverage is given to all aspects of life in a thousand-year period which saw the creation of western civilization: from the empires and kingdoms of charlemagne, the byzantines, and the hundred years war, to the ideals of the crusades, the building of great cathedrals and the social catastrophe of the black death; the cultural worlds of chivalric knights, popular festivals, and new art forms. the chapters show the movement of the centre of gravity in european life from the mediterranean to the north; and the authors explore the contrast between byzantine and renaissance cultures in the south and the new, complex political and social structures of north-west europe, which by 1300 had the most advanced civilization the world had ever seen.

This is the most authoritative account of life in medieval europe between the fall of the roman empire and the coming of the renaissance. full coverage is given to all aspects of life in a thousand-year period which saw the creation of western civilization: from the empires and kingdoms of charlemagne, the byzantines, and the hundred years war, to the ideals of the crusades, the building of great cathedrals and the social catastrophe of the black death; the cultural worlds of chivalric knights, popular festivals, and new art forms. the chapters show the movement of the centre of gravity in european life from the mediterranean to the north; and the authors explore the contrast between byzantine and renaissance cultures in the south and the new, complex political and social structures of north-west europe, which by 1300 had the most advanced civilization the world had ever seen.

A curriculum guide to accompany the history of the medieval world: from the conversion of constantine to the first crusade, by susan wise bauer.susan wise bauer’s narrative world history series is widely used in advanced high school history classes, as well as by home educating parents. the study and teaching guide, designed for use by both parents and teachers, provides a full curriculum with study questions and answers, critical thinking assignments, essay topics, instructor rubrics, and test forms. explanations for answers and teaching tips are also included. the study and teaching guide, designed by historian and teacher julia kaziewicz in cooperation with susan wise bauer, makes the history of the medieval world even more accessible to educators and parents alike.

A curriculum guide to accompany the history of the medieval world: from the conversion of constantine to the first crusade, by susan wise bauer.susan wise bauer’s narrative world history series is widely used in advanced high school history classes, as well as by home educating parents. the study and teaching guide, designed for use by both parents and teachers, provides a full curriculum with study questions and answers, critical thinking assignments, essay topics, instructor rubrics, and test forms. explanations for answers and teaching tips are also included. the study and teaching guide, designed by historian and teacher julia kaziewicz in cooperation with susan wise bauer, makes the history of the medieval world even more accessible to educators and parents alike.

Story of the middle ages, revised and updated covers the period from the fall of the roman empire through to the age of exploration and the protestant reformation. students will learn how this important period prepared the way for the reformation and the spread of the gospel during the age of exploration. written in a conversational style directly to the student, this engaging textbook will be enjoyed by students as they learn about the roman empire, charlemagne, the vikings, castle life, the crusades, the renaissance, and more. illustrations and maps are included throughout; chapter questions and activities, along with key terms, end each chapter. 128 pages, indexed, softcover. 6th grade.