The Medieval Millennium: An Introduction

Significantly revised, The Medieval Millennium, Second Edition presents a concise, yet comprehensive survey of Europe and the Mediterranean world from the fifth through the fifteenth centuries. Taking a chronological approach, it constructs a political narrative that sets the context for discussing developments in social, intellectual, and art history. Strong, sustained coverage of Byzantium and Islam highlights the complex relationships between these cultures with those of Western Europe.

Features

• Biographical essays at the start of each chapter show the impact of history on the lives of real people
• "Society and Culture" essays spotlight the contributions of such topics as music, diet, and religion
• An expanded map and illustration program enriches the narrative

A fresh, lively narrative, this innovative history of medieval Europe provides a coherent description of the chaotic, but compelling, era. It focuses, but not narrowly, on the history of Europe from the fifth through the fifteenth centuries — setting the subject in the broader context of world events. It explains complex issues (e.g., philosophy, scholasticism, etc.) clearly and illuminates large issues by showing how they manifested themselves intimately and directly in the lives of memorable individuals.

This fascinating volume covers the medieval world's Roman and Christian foundations, the Western Roman Empire and the Germans, the Eastern Empire and the Arabs, the emerging outline of modern Europe, the flowering of the high middle ages, politics and the high middle ages and finally the transition to a new age.

For those interested in Medieval history.