Product Description
The period that followed the collapse of the Kushite Empire in the 4th century AD has traditionally been perceived as `a barbarous dark age'. Welsby, who has directed excavations in Sudan for the last twenty years and is an authority on the most southerly medieval Nubian kingdom of Alwa, argues that this view is largely the result of neglect and uses a wealth of archaeological, epigraphic and documentary evidence to highlight the cultural achievements of communities of all religions. Well-illustrated sections examine the distinct cultures of the region, developments in architecture, art, language and literacy, the impact of Christianity, notably wealthy churches and monastic buildings, and the economy of the Nubian kingdoms until their collapse in the 15th century. This is an authoritative yet accessible study which will be of interest to academic and general readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great on Potsherds, Negligent on History, Biased on Certain African Issues
I read the initial 2002 print of 304 pages. (There are 8 color picture pages in addition to the many drawings and black and white pictures within the 296 text pages.)

This book gets severely detailed, utterly exhaustive (and to most tedious) in its descriptions of potsherds, graves, church architecture and other finds in the archaeological field. Unfortunately, the author doesn't get anywhere near that deep into the history, not to mention the life of the three some one millennium enduring Christian Nubian kingdoms of Makuria, Alwa and Nobadia, claiming that wouldn't be possible, as too little would be known yet. Hmm... The book is basically about the Christian times of Nubia and not really about the "pagan" and Muslim eras, as the title erroneously suggests.

The author seems to be caught in the general bias of not covering some issues. Unfortunately exactly the ones I am interested in and bought the book for. One is the beginning of Christian Imes (time) in Nubia, i.e. somewhat today's area of the country of Sudan. It is apparent that the established Western historians have an axe to grind not to state that these empires turned Christian too early - namely before Europe did. Christianity as an originally Black African religion seems to be not that comfortable. But somehow this book has to deal with certain facts. For example that Christian artefacts have been found in "too early" Nubian graves, "but there is no reason to think these had any religious significance". The flabbergasting reason according to the author: This would have been a pagan custom (to include valuables in graves) and the Christian artefacts are supposedly just Christian by coincidence, because the only interest would have been their material value. ??? I am amazed that the author generally refrains from interpreting anything to the point of writing rather nothing, unless something has to look differently than it appears, when it is to the detriment of his world view. My interpretation would be that the Christian grave artefacts represent the "missing link" from the previous branch of religion to Christianity, in a clearly Christian setting. Otherwise, there would have been artefacts of another religion. As if the Christmas tree and the Easter bunny would suggest to historians in the future that (some) European and American Christians would still be "pagan", because neither is found in the Bible, but in the previous branches of religion... The author is sure lacking any clue on how he came to his most unlikely of all possible conclusions.

The main reason I ordered this book for was to find out about the potential participation of the Nubian kingdom(s) in the crusades, which eventually let to their downfall. As it is EXTREMELY difficult to come by any information on this issue (if you know a source please leave a comment). To thwart any uncomfortable ideas, the author quickly claims, there wasn't any Nubian participation in the crusades. Even though archaeologically, close links to Byzantium and influences by Christian Egypt, Syria, Armenia (and Ethiopia) are listed. Again later in the book, there is talk of a Nubian ruler on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1203-04 who went on to Constantinople which was then under the control of the crusaders. Not even the name of that ruler is provided, nor of which of the three Nubian kingdoms he was the ruler. It is also not elaborated that those Constantinople-ruling crusaders had just arrived in a 4th crusade, which initially had been planned to go to Egypt, Nubia's Muslim-ruled neighbour to the north. Am I too way off to come to the idea that THIS may have been the reason for the Nubian king's "pilgrimage"? But: "Any cooperation between the Crusaders and the Nubians is inherently unlikely." Supposedly, because the crusaders were against any non-Catholic Christians as sick. Yet, again later, the author mentions the Venetian Marin Sanudo who in 1310 and 1320 drew up a plan for a Nubian attack on Egypt from the South. "Unfortunately", the Western help from the North wasn't given as planned. Or maybe the plan was not only to weaken the Egyptian Muslims, but to get rid of the rival and older Christian African Churches with the same stroke. I don't know. That's what I want to find out, by reading such books which I expect to answer these obvious questions. If not known currently, at least I expect not to get mislead by biased but unbased statements. By the way, the above mentioned 4th crusade against Egypt, which turned against Byzantium instead, was instigated by Venice, too. And the next crusade after 1310/20 was what may be called the 8th one against Egyptian Alexandria in 1365, this time instigated by Cyprus - with the fleet coming from, yes, you guessed it, Venice. All of this latter information isn't provided in this book as sick. When it comes to neutral issues, the author is all too happy to reference other sources with opposing opinions in the extensive footnotes. Not so for the two issues of this review. And yes, opposing sources do exist: Once, I have read one which very briefly mentions that like Ethiopia, the Nubian kingdoms were initially exempted from the jihad. But when the Nubians, unlike the Ethiopians, started to help the European crusaders, this decision was reversed.

The bottom line is: If you are interested merely in archaeology, this book offers state-of-the-2002-art information in the five-star category (translating into 4 stars for accumulated dust by now). If you look for anything else, this book is worth probably 2 stars only.

Rediscovering the Lost Kingdoms of Medieval Nubia
THE MEDIEVAL KINGDOMS OF NUBIA: PAGANS, CHRISTIANS, AND MUSLIMS ALONG THE MIDDLE NILE by Derek Welsby has 296 pages and 11 chapters. Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 2 - The emergence of the Nubian Kingdoms, Chapter 3 - The arrival and impact of Christianity, Chapter 4 -The Nubians and their neighbors, seventh to early thirteenth centuries, Chapter 5 - The heyday of the Nubian kingdoms, Chapter 6 - Settlements, Chapter 7 - Architecture, Chapter 8 - The Economy, Chapter 9 - Art, language, and literacy, Chapter 10 - The Collapse of the Nubian kingdoms, and Chapter 11 - Postscript. In addition there is an appendix entitled Kings of the Blemmyan and Nubian kingdoms of the Nile Valley, which comes in really handy. There are also Notes, Glossary, Bibliography and an Index to help the reader out.
Initially I read this book for two reasons: I have an interest in the transitional periods between the ancient Pagan world and the Christian world and I have an interest in learning about other cultures. This book deals more with the Christian and Muslim worlds, so I wasn't totally satisfied, but to be honest, I'm sure there are other books that deal with the Kushites and the Pagan Nubians. There is so much information in this book - perhaps too much. The myriad details are so great that the humanity of the peoples of these nearly lost kingdoms is hard to find. I liked the chapters on architecture and the economy because they brought me closer to the people in their everyday life. While the writing style of the author is clear, it does not draw one into the world of these people, and that is what I was looking to get. I am not quite sure who the author's audience is for this book, but I don't think it will appeal to the general audience. Nonetheless, those who have an interest in the people south of the Egyptians will want to read this book in their search of kingdoms, which are barely if ever mentioned in American schools. ... Read more

Product Description
From the big battles to kings and warriors, this book is filled with essential information about the medieval world. Follow the Crusades to the Holy Land, explore China with Marco Polo and visit the Mayan ball game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Plenty Information in a Compact Package
Although meant for children, I find myself dazzled by this small Usborne book. It is packed with lush illustrations, simple text, and facts. It is a great starting point for learning medieval world history, although it also covers the Dark Ages and the rise of Christianity. A fine book, highly organized and highly recommended.

Great historical text
This is a wonderful book.Full of colorful pictures and text that is easy to read.Holds the interest of all ages, or a great read aloud for youngerkids.Highly recommend for anyone studying this time period. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Window on the Past, Door to Understanding the Present
Even though the writing style can be somewhat dry in places, this book is a gift to anyone doing research on the period. At times a textbook on the evolution of Jewish thought, at others a deeply moving testimony to the plight of the area's poor, the author "uncovers the faces" of long forgotten unfortunates as they plead for bread and other necessities. Mr. Cohen's translation skills are extraordinary. I particularly liked the inclusion of Arabic and Hebrew transliterations of important vocabulary used in the texts. He has obviously spent many years on this project. His passion illuminates the remotest detail of these priceless documents (which are available in a companion book: The Voice of the Poor in the Middle Ages: An Anthology of Documents from the Cairo Geniza (Jews, Christians, and Muslims from the Ancient to the Modern))

I am thankful I stumbled across this book. It has enriched my understanding of the past, the Jewish faith and the way Middle Eastern cultures interacted and took care of each other at the time. ... Read more

Product Description

Strange Histories presents a serious account of some of the most extraordinary occurrences of European and North American history and explains how they made sense to people living at the time. 

From grisly anecdotes about ghosts, to stories of witches and werevolves, the book uses case studies from the Middle Ages and the early modern period and provides fascinating insights into the world-view of a vanished age. It shows how such occurences fitted in quite naturally with the "common sense" of the time and offers explanations of these riveting and ultimately rational phenomena.

What made reasonable, educated men and women behave in ways that seem utterly nonsensical to us today? This question and many more are answered in the fascinating book.

Customer Reviews (7)

An intriguing worldview of the past is analyzed
In 1438 a pig was hanged for murder in Burgundy, an apple was judged possessed by demons in 1602, and werewolves and flying witches were part of the belief system of everyday man. Strange Histories: The Trial Of The Pig, The Walking Dead, And Motehr Matters Of Fact From The Medieval And Renaissance Worlds is packed with intriguing beliefs and accounts of Middle Ages ideas, explaining how and why these beliefs were widely accepted and showing how assumptions about witches and demons affected social and political systems and ideas of rational enforcement. An intriguing worldview of the past is analyzed.

Worth the money?
I have not read this book, so am not submitting a "review" per se.I read a review in Dark Realms magazine and was intrigued, so I looked it up here on Amazon.What astounds me is that this is apparently a very short book - only 198 pages - yet is selling for $23.Even for a hardcover, that's asking a bit much.Although the reviews are favorable and I'd like to read it, $23 for a book that slim is just outrageous.

Are we smarter than people who lived 500 years ago?
Only one good piece of advice; don't buy this book if you expect a collection of horror stories. It's a history of human intellectual behaviour and a study of the different ways we look at our surroundings, from the late 15th century until the 1700's.
In 1438 a pig was hanged for murder in Burgundy. The French judge Henri Boguet described an apple possessed by demons in 1602. A few years later, Italian Jesuits tried to calculate the physical dimensions of hell.

These and many other ideas from the late Middle Ages and the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries seem absurd today, but they made good sense to people at the time. This book explains how beliefs that are strange to us were once widely accepted. It sets out the intellectual world of men and women in the distant past, and shows how their assumptions and expectations allowed them to believe things that we cannot: that heresy and witchcraft posed a threat to society, that demons carried people through the air and that the dead occasionally walked away from their graves.

None of these ideas were mad. They simply reflected the belief system of the medieval and Renaissance world. In fact an understanding of the rational basis of beliefs that now seem absurd suggests that modern ideas may one day seem equally ridiculous.

The reason why I like this book so much is because it compels you to study your own way of thinking but you won't be able to do that without a sense of humor

A smart, fun book with an excellent (if surprising) point
Here we have a fun, fascinating, and insightful book which starts out strong -- but which REALLY hits its stride and makes its point in the final two chapters.From witches and werewolves to demons and walking corpses, this is an illuminating romp into the medieval worldview.

So what exactly is Oldridge's point in writing this book?Simply this:The people of the medieval and Renaissance worlds were not ignorant, superstitious, irrational, bestial, or stupid.They had the same brains and intelligence that we have.Their actions and beliefs, far from being irrational, were perfectly sensible given their worldview.Furthermore, we are no better:The modern West has plenty of irrational beliefs and habits of our own!

Thought-provoking, honest, and exceedingly readable, Oldridge has produced a work which educates, entertains, and gently rattles about our assumptions of our own superiority.I highly recommend this book.

Fascinating look at beliefs of the past
This book explains clearly and convincingly why the people of the medieval and early modern periods believed in things that seem to us biazarre and irrational.If you want to understand why people believed in witchcraft,werewolves, the persecution of heretics, the trying of animals for crimes against humans etc, this book explains it all.It clearly shows that the beliefs of past times were no more irrational than our own, given the way people knew the world to be. If you read this book you can understand why, for instance,in 1545 it seemed reasonable to the townsfolk of Saint-Julien-de-Maurienne in France to sue a plague of flies for destroying a vinyard.

More disconcertingly, the book also shows that our own modern beliefs are often no more rational than the beliefs of the past, and that for instance the same reasons that led people to accept the truth of confessions of witchcraft, led people in modern times to accept the reality of Satanic abuse.If you pride yourself on being more rational than folk in past times, your opinion may be shaken by this book.The book is written in a lucid, witty style that makes it pleasantly easy to read for the unscholarly (like me), and should be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in history and why people believe what they do.

... Read more

Product Description
The first single-volume reference work on the history and culture of medieval France, this information-filled Encyclopedia of over 2,400 entries covers the political, intellectual, literary, and musical history of the country from the early fifth century to the late 15th.The shorter entries offer succinct summaries of the lives of individuals, events, works, cities, monuments, and other important subjects, followed by essential bibliographies.Longer essay-length articles provide interpretive comments about significant institutions and important periods or events.The Encyclopedia is thoroughly cross-referenced and includes a generous selection of illustrations, maps, charts, and genealogies
Major Features:Over 2,400 entries on musical, intellectual, literary, and political history; Coverage from the first through 15th centuries; Concise entries on people, events, works, sites, and monuments; Longer essays on important institutions, themes, and events; Over 200 photographs and 45 drawings illustrate the information presented; Some 14 charts and 16 detailed maps add depth to the coverage; Extensive coverage of music-some 75,000 words
The Encyclopedia is especially strong in its coverage of: Economic Issues: taxation, agriculture, women in trade, banking and money lending, merchants; Women: Marie de France, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Jeanne d'Arc, Christine de Pizan, Heloise; Art: Gothic art and architecture, ivories, Romanesque art, stained glass, tapestry; Music: Isorhythmic motet, musical instruments, cyclic mass,vidas and razos, refrain, Latin and vernacular hymns; Religion: Benedictine Order, eucharistic veneration and vessels, heresy, monasticism; Literature: brief pieces on lesser-known works and long essays on genres like fabliau, chanson de geste, romance, drama; History: political figures, military leaders, daily life-food, health care, crime and punishment, families. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A true encyclopedic record of its place and time
On the very day I write this review about "Medieval France: An Encyclopedia," the New York Times is running an Op-Ed piece called "How to Publish Without Perishing," in which author James Gleick speculates on the fate of printed books in the Internet age: "For some kinds of books, the writing is on the wall. Encyclopedias are finished," he writes. Not so fast! We might agree that it would be a waste of effort to publish a printed encyclopedia about, say, information technology. It would be out of date before the presses were up to speed. However, medieval France is another matter.

Routledge published "Medieval France: An Encyclopedia" in 1995, before the Internet became a threat to traditional book publishers. As a physical tome, this book is well illustrated, designed and manufactured to last, its future in libraries and private collections assured. In short, it's impressive. Medieval France is frozen in time, too. Its fabric will never change although our knowledge and interpretations will evolve. "Medieval France: An Encyclopedia" seems safe from redundancy for years to come. A roster of authors of the caliber of Grover A. Zinn, Jr. (who gives us the entry on Peter Abelard), and Stephen Weinberger (Arbitration of disputes), ensures that these pages present contributors of high achievement drawn from leading lights among religious and secular historians. True, this book will miss fashions that blossom and die on the Internet, but beyond that it gives readers high-level, mainstream explanations on just about everything under the medieval sun. Well written, indexed and cross-referenced, too. A wealth of entries covers the usual people, events, arts and institutions. But this encyclopedia adds many arcane subjects (i.e. mining zinc) omitted elsewhere. Turn these pages to discover trade, veneration (as well as religion), religious orders, liturgy and literature, healing, climate, evolving tastes in music, and a great deal more besides. Medieval France, while not a military powerhouse, exported influences, often to the point of cultural dominance, far beyond its borders."Medieval France: An Encyclopedia" constitutes an encyclopedic record of a cultural age as well as a place and a time.

Robert Fripp, author of
Power of a Woman. Memoirs of a turbulent life: Eleanor of Aquitaine ... Read more

Product Description
From the departure of the Roman legions, to the battle of Bosworth and the rise of the Tudors, the world of medieval England was one of profound diversity and change. Now, in The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England, readers have an authoritative and stimulating overview of this pivotal period in British history. Lavishly illustrated with over a hundred pictures--including twenty-four pages of color plates--this attractive volume brings together leading scholars who illuminate the history and culture of medieval England.
The book brims with information on the social, cultural, and religious life of the period, covering topics as varied as the nature of national identity, the character of urban life, the great works of art and architecture, the details of religious practice, and the development of a vernacular literature. The heart of the book explores the main political changes in the time-span ranging from the Anglo-Saxon period, to the rule of the Normans and Angevins, to the late middle ages. Here we see the rise of a united polity and rapid institutional growth, in a time when war was of primary importance in both stimulating change and shaping national identity. In economic terms, the age was characterized by long, and rapid, population growth followed by severe contraction, sparked by the famines of 1315-17 and the Black Death. A consequence of the steep fall in population, however, was a higher per capita consumption:the splendid churches and fine vernacular architecture of the period bear witness to the wealth and variety of lay patronage.
The middle ages have always held a special fascination for readers of history and this superb volume offers a gold mine of information on the period. With numerous illustrations, family trees, a chronology, guides to further reading, and a full index, this is an indispensable guide to England in the middle ages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Far more than one would expect from an illustrated history.
I am an undergraduate at Sydney University studying Medieval History and this book has been far more useful than I would have imagined from the title.Rather than being a light-weight general introduction, as one might expect of an 'Illustrated History', the various chapters of this book are written by experts in their field.As this is written for the non-specialist and specialist alike, the style is erudite yet engaging.The the arguments and insight are representative of the most original recent scholarship.

For example George Garnett of Oxford University, an expert on Anglo-Norman history, authored Chapter 3: Conquered England, 1066-1215. The first section of this chapter is a concise essay which sums up the reasons for the Norman conquest of England in 1066 in the most compelling fashion.In fact this chapter really could be a starting point for anyone wishing to understand the Norman conquest and the period immediately following.It is still a recommended text for honours year students studying the Norman conquest at Oxford University.

Amongst other contributors of note are Professor Chris Given-Wilson of St Andrews University (Chapter 4: Late Medieval England, 1215-1485), Professor Dame Janet Nelson of Kings College London (Chapter 2: Anglo-Saxon England, c.500-1066) and Professor Christopher Dyer of Leicester University (Chapter 5: The Economy and Society).

As well as great scholarship and readable yet challenging opinion, this particular volume obviously also has the benefit of multiple illustrations depicting everything from manuscripts to castles.All in all it represent spectacular value for money.

Does not serve as a useful introduction
I begin reading this because I wanted a clear, concise and short introduction to the history of medieval England. While it is short, it is not very clear or concise. The author's stilted writing is replete with insider information. Basic concepts and terms are not explained, an absolute must for an introduction to medieval history. To be fair to the author, synthesizing fragmented, biased and oftentimes fictional textual information with archaeology and other social science research is quite difficult. I am disapponted nevertheless, and will get my introduction to medieval England from elsewhere.

The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England.
This is a well constructed book which contains much valuable and interesting information together with an excellent selection of illustrations.

Unfortunately the author's use of rather poor English grammar combined with convoluted and involved sentences tends to detract from reading enjoyment Nobody wishes to have to re-read sentences in order to obtain the sense in them. ... Read more

Product Description

Larson examines the changing relations between lords and peasants in post-Black Death Durham. This was a time period of upheaval and change, part of the transition from ‘medieval’ to ‘modern.’ Many historians have argued about the nature of this change and its causes, often putting forth a single all-encompassing model; Larson presses for the importance of individual choice and action, resulting in a flexible, human framework that provides a more appropriate explanation for the many paths followed in this period.

The theoretical side is balanced by an ‘on the ground’ examination of rural life in Durham-- an attempt to capture the raw emotions and decisions of the period. No one has really examined this; most studies are speculative, relying on theory or statistics, rather than tracing the history of real people, both in the immediate aftermath of the plague, and in the longer term. Durham is fortunate in that records survive in abundance for this period; most other studies of rural society end at 1300 or 1348.

As such, this book fills a major gap in medieval English history while at the same time grappling with major theories of change for this transformative period.

Product Description
The medieval period was a singular epoch in military history--an age profoundly influenced by martial ideals, whose very structure of society was organized for war, and whose leaders were by necessity warriors. Now, the richly illustrated Medieval Warfare illuminates this era, examining over seven hundred years of European conflict, from the time of Charlemagne to the end of the middle ages (1500).

Twelve scholars, all experts in their field, examine medieval warfare in two sections. The first section explores the experience of war chronologically, with essays on the Viking age, on the wars and expansion of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, on the Crusades, and on the great Hundred Years War between England and France. The second section traces developments in the art of warfare: fortification and siege craft, the role of armored cavalrymen, the use of mercenary forces, the birth of gunpowder artillery, and the new skills in navigation and shipbuilding.

Here then is a wide-ranging volume that goes beyond the where and when of great confrontations, to give us a fuller sense of warfare in the middle ages, highlighting its impact on human resources and its demands on human endurance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An exceptional compendium of information
I found this book to be fraught with excellent information, and for the most part, highly readable. The contributors were obviously researchers and historians of the highest caliber, but sometimes their writing skills made it difficult to render all that was there to be gleaned. Still, the depth and breadth of the information makes this book worth the effort. Like any non-fiction book of any depth, it cannot be read swiftly like a novel, but it is rich in excellent information.

Huzzah!
In 'Medieval Warfare: A History', Maurice Keen, a fellow in Medieval History at Balliol Oxford (a college I attended briefly for lectures while I lived in Britain) has edited a superb compilation of essays, from a worthy collection of scholars from British and Irish Colleges, with one contributor from West Point.

The book is divided into two broad categories: The Phases of Medieval Warfare, and The Arts of Warfare. This collection spans nearly a millenium of warfare in the European theatre and environs including Vikings, Crusades, French & English wars, and Charlemagne. There are investigations of tactics, strategies, politics, technology and weaponry innovations, and the growing importance of navigation and naval warfare. Each essay has accompanying illustrations and photographs, and this slim volume is a worthy addition to any medieval or military historian's library as a survey of medieval warfare.

Keen's analysis is insightful, showing how developments in the medieval arts of war led to the the drive toward colonisation that has made the world's political geography what it is today. The essays work well at illuminating the subject, yet each essay has its own integrity.

As Keen writes in the preface:'Warfare was a formative influence on the civilisation and the social structures of the European middle ages. Its history in that period is in consequence of high significance alike for those who are interested in the middle ages for themselves and for their legacy, and for those whose interest is in war and its place in the story of human development. '

There are many theories of the development of history -- one of the strongest theories of history through much of history is that warfare is one of the primary driving forces, for social change, for political change, and for technological change.

Keen pulls together in the last few paragraphs the themes of many of the essays, pointing the direction toward modern warfare.

This is a book worthy of Oxford Press.

Great Book
This is a Great Book, provided me with a lot of information about medieval warfare, like the tactics and stuff.gotta give phat props to the author. ... Read more

Product Description
All the mystery, earthiness and romance of the Middle Ages are captured in this panorama of everyday life. The evolving concepts of intimacy are explored--from the semi-obscure eleventh century through the first stirrings of the Renaissance world in the fifteenth century. Color and black-and-white illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Intriguing
This is a deep well of information concerning the intriguing subject of privacy.Until modern times, privacy, as we think of it, really didn't exist.Privacy, or lack thereof, was directly influenced by innovation ( architecture, science), economics, health, longevity, marital customs, social structure and mindset.This is essential to understand if you are interested in Medieval and Renaissance history

Moving on to the Middle Ages
This is vol. 2 of the epic, five volume set.Normally, I can see howa reader might shy away from the prospect of reading five volumes on a single subject (any subject).However, given the time span covered and the all encompassing nature of the topic, private life, this is one five volume "history of" set that is worth the time invested.

In volume two we move to the late middle ages.Gone is the semi-alien world of Rome, now we are emerging into the more familiar middle ages of western europe.

Duby;s introduction discusses the different meaning of "public" and "private" power in the Middle Ages.I'm afraid the discussion was a tad techinical for me on the first read, but the theme seems to be the gradual emergence of the state (as supposed to the family) as the center of power.

The second chapter discusses the world of feudal (northern) france and pre-renasissance tuscan italy.Both segments are, to my mind, what this series is all about.I found the section on tuscan italy to overlap nicely with my reading about the Medici family.The differentness between our world and theirs is well apparent.For example, the Tuscan Italians(not that they would call themselves that), kept their unmarried women locked up in their homes.the author repeatedly compares this world to the modern muslim world to give the reader a sense of what he is talking about.

The section on "Exploring Literature" is a yawner, up there with the chapter on "Roman Architecure in Africa" from the first book.

This book ends with a hint of the modern period which lies ahead, but all in all it is content to dwell in the midevial times and is careful not to jump the gun on the topic of modernity. I appreciated that.

Next up, volume three!

very very good read
This is again an extremely full meal as a reading experience, though because of the uniformity of the culture - it does not involve such a fundamental transition as that from paganism to Christianity - it is somewhat less rich than the first volume though equally massive.

Nonetheless, there are huge changes going on:at the start of the Gothic era, there was an explosion of availability of materials on private life.Suddenly there were memoires, fiction, more realistic painted portraits (capturing real character and not just stylized), and sturdier surviving architecture, all of which offer a far more accurate picture of the times than was available during the dark ages.Piecing all of this together is utterly fascinating, as the reader is treated to detailed analyses of the costumes, customs, eating habits, and concerns that are reflected in them.You can get a wonderful idea about the texture of everyday life, though more from the standpoint of aristocrats than more common people.

Unfortunately, due to the overall goal of the writing on private life, the reasons behind these bigger changes are scarcely mentioned and hence little analyzed. While my disappointment of this reflects my own ignorance of the history of the period, it might also serve as a warning to non-specialists who want to know more.THe only chapter I found dull was a very very long one on the common themes of literary sources.

That being said, the book covers written sources, archaeology, and art extremely well:they seem to have been converging on the emergence of the "individual" that occurred just prior to the Renaissance.It is an amazingly interesting story.Indeed,there are so many strands in all of this that I found myself in awe of a period of history that I heretofore saw as far more uniform, as a precursor to the modern era or a disappointing sequel to the astonishing unity and sophistication of the classical era.

Recommended.

A Good Idea ...but drowned in florid speach.
This book is a good idea. But there is room for litterature that can tell the same in a more lively way with far fewer words. ...or can tell four time as much with the same number of pages. - The language of most of the authors is such that you wonder WHY they have chosen to say what they attempt to tell in such flowery ways. After a paragraph it's hard to remember "What did he try to tell me now." It's easier to think: "Yes. I can see that you have learnt a hole lot of words, and adjectives in particular." - I have found litterature about the same topic, put in a different language that manage to do this far better. In fact I've found public reports that with regards to the ability to convey a thought is far more readable.

A Superior History
This book is a superior history of life in the middle ages.Duby's research is exhaustive and all sorts of interesting tidbits about medieval life are scattered through the book.Also there is a profusion ofillustrations from the period which help clarify the social history.Fromcastle architecture to peasant clothing, this book covers it all.I highlyrecommend it for readers interested in the middle ages. ... Read more

Product Description
The period of the tenth and early eleventh centuries was crucial in the formation of Europe, much of whose political geography and larger-scale divisions began to take shape at that time. It was also an era of great fragmentation, and hence of differences that have been magnified by modern national historiographical traditions. This volume of The New Cambridge Medieval History reflects these varying traditions, and provides an authoritative survey in its own terms. The volume is divided into three sections: general themes, the former Carolingian lands, and areas farther afield. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume comprises 20 studies in English relating to the political, social and economic history and culture of the Yemen and Oman, particularly in the early and medieval periods. Specific articles concern the 7th/13th century traveller, Ibn al-Mujawir, and the culture of southeastern Arabia. The Ayyubid, Rasulid and Tahirid dynasties are also covered in some detail. Each article has been annotated to put in the context of current research by the author. ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the development of ethnic nationalism among Bulgars, Croatians, Serbians, and Macedonians
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Origins of the South Slavs
I purchased this book for use as a quick reference on the time period and region, fully expecting it to be too dry for sustained reading. I was very pleasantly surprised. This is a lively, interesting account with just the right amount of detail.

The author begins with a geographic description of the Balkan region and an overview of its history until about 600 AD. The subsequent history might properly be called "The Origins and Development of the South Slavs". The next decisive event in Balkan history - the Slavic Invasions - is treated in some detail. The Slavs of the time, although numerous, were fragmented and lacked any centralized control. They also fielded an army predominately composed of lightly armed foot soldiers. So foreign tribes of horsemen - The Turkic Bulgars, and the probably Iranian Serbs and Croats - were able to subjugate and dominate groups of Slavs. Since the Slavs were much more numerous, they were ultimately able to assimilate the invaders - but kept their tribal names.

The development and history of Bulgaria takes up most of the book, the rest deals with the Serbs, Bosnians, Pannonian Croatians, and Dalmatian Croatians. Other Balkan peoples such as Vlachs and Albanians, who were re-emerging in history at this time, are hardly mentioned at all, nor are the Greeks (I mean the Greeks of Greece, not the Byzantines, who were obviously major participants in the events of this book). The Macedonians Slavs at the time were considered Bulgarians. And the other powers in the area - Hungarians, the afore-mentioned Byzantines, Pechenegs, Cumans, Normans, Venetians, Franks - are mentioned only insofar as they impacted the history of the South Slavs.

Which is not to imply this is a bad thing - the resulting history is very tight and focused. The origins of the South Slavs, and the history of Bulgaria, are interesting topics.

I found myself wondering why Bulgaria gets so much attention. Part of the reason might be that due to Byzantium's close proximity, this area was better and more decisively documented in the sources. Perhaps this area is of special interest to the author. Upon finishing the book, however, I concluded that the reason for the prominent role of Bulgaria in this narrative is that Bulgaria seems to have established the most powerful and abiding state in this time period.

This is an excellent and fascinating narrative, and I find myself looking forward to purchasing the next volume, the continuation of the story into the late Middle Ages.

Enjoyable and Easy
I think that this book is really simple in vocabulary and in its subject. I really didnt become tired of reading this book so I think that the authors style is very good for the beginners.Another plus for this book is that the author rarely expands its subject from the Balkan History. And the impartial position of the author is another plus.And if you want to learn Balkan history ,Slavic and Turkish(Bulgarian)participationand the stance of the Romans(Europeans insist on Byzantine) this book is the one o the good ones.

One of a kind....
A few years ago I became interested in the difficulties in the former Yugoslavia--now Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and a few other entities.After reading a number of contemporary works about the causes of past and current conflicts in the Balkans, I decided none of the authors agreed on every point or many points for that matter, and most seemed a bit biased in their reporting and interpretation of events, probably owing to their inability to attend to the terrible events of the last century and not choose sides.

THE EARLY MEDIEVAL BALKANS is the most objective work availableabout what really happened all those years ago when the Byzantine Empire ruled what is now known as the Balkans, and Serbs, Croatians, Ottoman Turks, and others migrated and/or invaded and settled the area the Italian Romans called Illyria.

The book is part of a two-part work covering the Middle Ages in the Balkans.Part I THE EARLY MEDIEVAL BALKANS includes a critical survey of the area from the Sixth to the late Twelfth Century. Part II THE LATE MEDIEVAL BALKANS covers the period from the late Twelfth Century until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in the 14th Century.Fine was a Professor of History at the University of Michigan for a number of years, and his work is incredibly scholarly. He has been considered the leading expert in the world on this topic by his colleagues.

I came away from the work with two impressions.The first is that the various ethnic groups who inhabited or invaded the Balkans (and there were so many one loses count after awhile as they migrate or remigrate over and over) were so thoroughly mixed during the Middle Ages that the indigenous tribe, whatever that was, must have disappeared thousands of years ago.The second fact I deduced from Dr. Fine's work is that most if not all the animosity between groups today probably has a basis in religious conflict. Given that the three major religions involved -- Roman Catholic, Orthodox Serb, and Muslim advocate love as an organizing principle, one has to wonder what went wrong.

I gave this book 4 stars because it is difficult to read.For a more "fun" read try the series on Byzantium by J.J.Norwich.

A classic!
I am from Bosnia, of mixed ethnic origins, and after 7 years of exile, I had only faint memories of the history classes dedicated to the Middle Ages (in the 6th grade). This book refreshed my memory, broughta part of mypast back to me, and helped clear up some misconceptions. It makes me veryhappy to own it!

A classic!
I am from Bosnia, of mixed ethnic origins, and after 7 years of exile, I had only faint memories of the history classes dedicated to the Middle Ages (in the 6th grade). This book refreshed my memory, broughta part my pastback to me, and helped clear up some misconceptions. It makes me very happyto own it! ... Read more

Product Description
The author of Uppity Women of Ancient Times makes history sizzle once again with insightful and witty portraits and accounts of women, notorious, courageous, and unusual who both defined and defied their times. Exceptionally researched and irresistibly entertaining, Uppity Women of Medieval Times gives readers a feminist--and humorous--perspective on little-known great women of history. NPR underwriting in San Francisco & New York.Amazon.com Review
Our age doesn't have a lock on outspoken women, as Vicki Leonproves in this impudent, flippant history of the Middle Ages. In the1600s, Lady Castlehaven charged her husband with rape and had hisconnubial rights--and head--removed. Prioress Eglentyne, who appearsin Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, fell afoul of clericalcolleagues by ignoring rules about "dress, dogs, dances" andworse yet, "wandering in the world." And let's not forgetIsabel, Queen of Castile, patron of Columbus, and wife toFerdinand. Her marriage motto was "They rule with equal rightsand both excel, Isabel as much as Ferdinand, Ferdinand as much asIsabel." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

A light-hearted take on Medieval Women
Vicki is a talented, well-spoken author with a twist.The subject she writes about in this book can be daunting at best and her easy to read playful slant makes an interesting read.Warning: If you have little sense of mirth...this book is not for you.

OK for intermediate readers
Had this been classified as a book for intermediate readers (typically older elementary and younger middle schoolers), I could have given it another star. As a book for adults, though, it's almost impossible to take seriously enough to trust as a source of information. In fact, if I were to review it as history or biography, rather than the entertainment it is, I would have had to take away a star or two.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the lack of a bibliography is a serious shortcoming. It's not even about scholarly source citations. Any reader -- school-age or adult -- whose appetite is whetted by these sketches would appreciate suggestions for further (i.e. more informative) reading. Yes, I can go to the library and look up books about the historical figures who interest me, but the author already did that. Why not share that research?

As for the author's style, I think that's a matter of personal preference. And really, in a book meant to entertain, the Dave Barry-esque silliness may be the most appropriate voice.

Fun and inspiring, but not incredibly scholarly
This is a fun quick read, and can easily serve as a springboard for those who find the subject matter of the Middle Ages, and Medieval women in particular, interesting.Though it's not really meant as a thorough in-depth scholarly historical study, there are a lot of fascinating historical tidbits contained within its pages.The book is divided into ten sections, with categories such as "Got a Brain, Not Afraid to Use It," "The Joy of Sects--31 Flavors of Religious Life," "Plagues and Other Predicaments," and "Persecution Mania, Witch-Burning Madness."Prior to reading this book, I had only heard about two dozen of these women, such as Eleanor of Aquitaine, Khadijah (Prophet Mohammad's first wife), Empress Constance (who became a first-time mother, to Frederick II, at the age of 40), Pope Joan, Christine de Pizan, and Sei Shonagon.Although many people seem to think of the Middle Ages only in relation to Europe, the women in this book come from all over the world--Korea, Angola, China, Japan, Spain, Mexico, Georgia, Russia, Hungary, England, India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and many other diverse locales.The women covered in this volume did a lot of things that most people don't associate with Medieval women, such as having careers, being best-selling authors, exploring the "New World," being medical pioneers, making important astronomical discoveries, and fighting on the battlefield.Many of them were feminists before feminism even had a name.

However, the book does have its shortcomings, as other reviewers have mentioned.Ms. Léon's Medieval timeline encompasses 470 to about 1650, whereas most other sources say the era began about the year 300 and ended either in the 1490s or the 1500s.Quite a few of the women profiled clearly lived in the Renaissance, and one of them, Queen Elizabeth I, had an entire historical era named after her.I don't exactly think of women like Queen Elizabeth I, Sophia Brahe (sister of the more famous astronomer Tycho Brahe), Countess Erszebet Báthory, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Mary, Queen of Scots as having lived in the Middle Ages.The slangy writing style can also get to be a bit much.The constant attempts at sounding funny, hip, and witty actually dumb down the historical research that went into the writing of this book, to say nothing of the amazing women profiled within.While it's possible to strike a balance between a scholarly presentation of the facts and hip modern language designed to make the material seem interesting and relevant to the modern audience, that wasn't always the case here.For example, what self-respecting Medieval woman would have used a silly childish word like "preggers"?The nicknames Ms. Léon frequently gives her subjects can also get to be a bit much, particularly when they're not nicknames that anyone would have used in the respective subjects' languages or homelands, like calling French-born Queen Melissande "Mel" or calling Bianca Capello's husband Francesco "Frankie."Seemingly little details like this can compromise the entire premise, even if it is meant to be a series of brief semi-humorous biographical sketches instead of a long-winded historical treatise.(A pronunciation guide also would've been helpful for some of these names.)Still, the basic material is so interesting and tells such a long-neglected story that these less-than-scholarly aspects of it can be overlooked to a point.

It could have been so much better
_Uppity Women of Medieval Times_ has so much potential.It is frustrating that potential is wasted.It is wonderful that women are beginning to receive the historical attention they deserve - however, flippant and downright silly historical abstracts like _Uppity Women_ do a disservice to women's history.

I can forgive the broad take on when the middle ages took place, but struggled with the author's voice, which attempts at being humourous and "fresh" (often referring to women by nicknames created by the author.)The book itself is entirely composed of one - two page summaries of the lives and "accomplishments" of women during the middle ages. That so little information is written about the women discussed is another disappointment.More depth and less breadth would have made a much better read.

The choice of women presented further detracts from the book. While many women who deserve recognition for real contributions are included such as washerwomen of the Crusades, Walladah - al Mustakfi and Sei Shonagon, there are many, many more women included who had no historical contribution whatsoever.This inclusion seriously detracts from those women who did.(Juana la Loca readily comes to mind.)A final irritation were outright historical innacuracies - for example, claiming that Nicolo Machiavelli wrote _the Prince_ for Catherine d' Medici (in 1533) - simply inexcusable in a "history" book.

A bright spot of _Uppity Women_ was its international flavor. While the vast majority of its subjects were European, women from the Near East, the Americas and Asia were also included.I would recommend this book for middle schoolers, or perhaps (as an earlier reviewer noted) as bathroom reading.

Good as a subject intro or middle school resource...
I picked up this discount book at a Barnes & Noble.It was promoted as a bargain book and looked a bit like a novelty item, but it seemed like it would have some generally interesting information about women in medieval times.Upon perusal, I noticed that the text included anecdotes about medieval women of Spain, the Middle East, and Africa--an interesting subject that I know little about--and I made my decision to purchase the book.

Because it's written in short biographical sections, the book makes a lovely bathroom book, or something to leave on the nightstand.I found the lax and conversational writing style to be acceptable, as that was part of my initial impression of the book.I wasn't looking for or expecting a hardcore historical resource, just something cute and slightly informative that might provide a boost to my self-esteem.The book itself is quite enjoyable.

That said, I started paying closer attention to some of the details of the book--okay, maybe not details, but important things, such as the cover and inside flap.The cover reads:

"200 daring damsels who dazzled the dark ages and rocked the renaissance."

The inside front cover flap reads:

"From Queen Elizabeth to Joan of Arc..."

Perhaps someone forgot to clue the publisher in on the fact that the renaissance comes after medieval times and that Queen Elizabeth had an entire historical period named after her--or perhaps she was gallavanting with Shakespeare when he wrote a clock in Julius Caesar and they knew some secret means of time travel?

The other piece of information that simply made my jaw drop was the classification of the book, noted on the bottom of the back cover: Humor/Games.Apparently, someone at Barnes & Noble publishers thinks that important female historical figures are the subject of humor and games.

Despite what other reviewers may have indicated about Ms. Leon's writing, I like it.I think the book is a good idea in a very accesible format--I could see this book as being useful for a middle-school level resource or educational tool or as a coffee table book.I think that this book was written and intended to fill a specific niche of readers, and that's okay!However, the careless descriptions of what is most likely more accurate information is entirely unacceptable and completely misleading.

While learning about women's history should be fun, the book isn't about humor, it's about the contribution of women to medieval society.I recommend the writing if you're looking for something light or introductory--please don't be misled by the publisher's mistreatment of the material. ... Read more

Product Description
Reprint of the 1892 edition. Hardbound. Cloth. Oversized octavo. Book xxv, 358 p., 1 l., 152 p., 1 large folding genealogical table, folding Map. London: E. Arnold, 1892. Yemen was one of the oldest centers of civilization in the Near East. Between the 9th century BC and the 6th century AD, it was part of the Minaean, Sabaean, Himyarite, Qatabanian, Hadhramawtian, and Awsanian kingdoms, which controlled the lucrative spice trade. It was known to the Romans as "Arabia Felix" ("Happy Arabia") because of the riches its trade generated; Augustus Caesar attempted to annex it, but the expedition failed. In the 7th century, Islamic caliphs began to exert control over the area. After this caliphate broke up, the former north Yemen came under control of Imams of various dynasties usually of the Zaidi sect, who established a theocratic political structure that survived until modern times. (Imam is a religious term. The Shiites apply it to the prophet Muhammad's son-in-law! Ali, his sons Hassan and Hussein, and subsequent lineal descendants, whom they consider to have been divinely ordained unclassified successors of the prophet.) Egyptian Sunni caliphs occupied much of north Yemen throughout the 11th century. By the 16th century and again in the 19th century, north Yemen was part of the Ottoman Empire, and in some periods its Imams exerted control over south Yemen. This is a history of the Arabs of Yemen during the Medieval Period. It is a translation of `Umarah ibn early work on the subject. "Umarah ibn's reputation is primarily as a poet, but he is also a leading historian of his native country, Yemen. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Basic Approach

Developed as a comprehensive introductory work for scholars and students of ancient and early medieval Indian history, this books provides the most exhaustive overview of the subject. Dividing the vast historical expanse from the stone age to the 12th century into broad chronological units, it constructs profiles of various geographical regions of the subcontinent, weaving together and analysing an unparalleled range of literary and archaeological evidence.
Dealing with prehistory and protohistory of the subcontinent in considerable detail, the narrative of the historical period breaks away from conventional text-based history writing. Providing a window into the world primary sources, it incorporates a large volume of archaeological data, along with literary, epigraphic, and numismatic evidence. Revealing the ways in which our past is constructed, it explains fundamental concepts, and illuminates contemporary debates, discoveries, and research. Situating prevailing historical debates in their contexts, Ancient and Early Medieval India presents balanced assessments, encouraging readers to independently evaluate theories, evidence, and arguments.
Beautifully illustrated with over four hundred photographs, maps, and figures, Ancient and Early Medieval India helps visualize and understand the extraordinarily rich and varied remains of the ancient past of Indian subcontinent. It offers a scholarly and nuanced¿yet lucid¿account of India¿s early past, and will surely transform the discovery of this past into an exciting experience.

Tabel of Contents

List of photographs
List of maps
List of figures
About the author
Preface
Acknowledgements
A readers guide
1. Understanding Literary and Archaeological Sources
2. Hunter-Gatherers of the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Ages
3. The Transition to Food Production: Neolithic,Neolithic¿Chalcolithic, and Chalcolithic Villages, c. 7000¿2000 bce
4. The Harappan Civilization, c. 2600¿1900 bce
5. Cultural Transitions: Images from Texts and Archaeology, c. 2000¿600 bce
6. Cities, Kings, and Renunciants: North India, c. 600¿300 bce
7. Power and Piety: The Maurya Empire, c. 324¿187 bce
8. Interaction and Innovation, c. 200 BCE¿300 ce
9. Aesthetics and Empire, c. 300¿600 ce
10. Emerging Regional Configurations, c. 600¿ 1200 ce
Note on diacritics
Glossary
Further readings
References
Index

Author Bio

Upinder Singh is Professor in the Department of History at the University of Delhi. She taught history at St. Stephen¿s College, Delhi, from 1981 until 2004, after which she joined the faculty of the Department of History at the University of Delhi. Professor Singh¿s wide range of research interests and expertise include the analysis of ancient and early medieval inscriptions; social and economic history; religious institutions and patronage; history of archaeology; and modern history of ancient monuments. Her research papers have been published in various national and international journals. Her published books include: Kings, Brahmanas, and Temples in Orissa: An Epigraphic Study (AD 300¿1147) (1994); Ancient Delhi (1999; 2nd edn., 2006); a book for children, Mysteries of the Past: Archaeological Sites in India (2002); The Discovery of Ancient India: Early Archaeologists and the Beginnings of Archaeology (2004); and Delhi: Ancient History (edited, 2006).

Customer Reviews (2)

exemplary writing
This is basically a textbook, and needs to be compared to other textbooks.On that scale it comes out very well indeed.One common problem with textbooks is that the writers get nervous about potential criticism from other experts. In that state of mind, writers start qualifying their statements to the point that the presentation gets very muddy.

Upinder Singh's writing, on the other hand, is clear as a bell. Any halfway interested reader will not be put off by her prose but drawn in. Given the difficulties of writing about ancient India, this is a remarkable achievement.

An excellent reference book on Indian History
This is the most comprehensive and well written book on Ancient and Medieval Indian History that I have seen. Starting from the Stone Age and going up to the 12th century this is an excellent reference book, both for the student as well as for the general public. Well illustrated with color maps, photographs and figures, the book is printed and bound beautifully. Regarding the organization of the chapters let me quote from the book:

"Each chapter constitutes a chronological unit within a larger framework, providing a comprehensive overview of historical issues and details, and constructing profiles of the various geographical regions in the sub continent. The chapter outline provides a view of the broad organization of the chapter. An opening story from a variety of sources serves as an engaging start for the chapter and also presents a strand from the rich thematic core of the chapter's discussion."

I can't put it any better, but can only confirm it is not at all an exaggeration and each chapter looks like an art of work! The links to the early Indian literature, the tools, coins, inscriptions and other archeological evidence, external sources, later scientific interpretations of the evidence, and new directions of research are so well covered in each chapter than one cannot ask for anything more.

The book is expensive (Rs.3,500 in India and over $120 in U.S) but well worth it for the serious student of Indian History. I was also told that the author is the daughter of the India's prime minister, Mr.Manmohan Singh. I have not cross checked that, but anyway all Indians can be proud of Upinder Singh's contribution. ... Read more

Product Description
Written around 1112-1116, The Deeds of the Princes of the Poles is the oldest narrative source from Poland, formerly attributed to 'Gallus,' a French monk. The anonymous author tells the ancient history of Poland down to the reign of Boleslaw III. The chronicle contains valuable information on Poland's relations to her neighbors as well as the political ideas of his time. The text is a significant document on the cultural connections of medieval Europe and the gradual inclusion of the new monarchies into Christiandom.

The Latin original is accompanied by its translation into English and by explanatory notes ... Read more