It's a relatively short book packed with information and Timothy Hall divides his book into three sections: Early Middle Ages (550 to 1000 A.D.), High Middle Ages (1000 to 1300 A.D.) and Late Middle Ages (1300 to 1500 A.D).
The Middle Ages begins after the fall of the western Roman Empire in 476 A.D. and ends in 1500 A.D. with the start of the Renaissance Era. And between 550 to 1500 A.D alot of history happens which the Idiot's Guide goes into detail about.
I learned about The Viking invasions of the 8th through 10th centuries and the development of the feudal system in Europe as a defense against those invasions.
I was interested to read about the eleventh century falling out between King Henry II and Thomas Beckett which ended with Beckett's assassination. Timothy Hall writes about the crusades a dark period in history. On a more positive note the Middle Ages saw the introduction of new farming techniques, the invention of the spinning wheel which revolutionized clothing production and the compass which made sea travel safer.
One thing is for sure. If you lived during the Middle Ages you did not want to be living during the 14th century. The Great Famine (1315-1317), the Hundred Year War (1337-1453) and of course the The Black Death (1346-1353) in which some historians estimate that 20 million may have died in Europe alone. The respect and reverence people had for the Catholic Church and its leaders also began to fracture during the late Middle Ages. It was partly due to the plague but also the corruption within the clergy. The book ends with the beginning of the Renaissance and explorers travelling to the New World.
I have only recorded a fraction of the information contained in The Idiot's Guide To The Middle Ages most of which I am never going to remember. But I did come away with key events and interesting historical figures that I might want to read more about. And so if like me you know very little about the Midfle Ages and would like to know more, The Idiot's Guide is not a bad place to begin.
I love those "Complete Idiot" books, and I've learned a lot from them. They give the perfect overview on whatever their topic and they've often led me into a deep dive to learn more of the specifics. Whoever came up with that concept, and the title, was absolutely brilliant.
ReplyDeleteHi Sam, The Complete Idiot's books are a wonderful idea and I checked my bookshelf and gathering dust are The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Old West and Sherlock Holmes fir Dummies and why have I not read these books yet? I bought them years ago and I must read them before year's end.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about the Middle Ages so I'm sure I'd end up learning a lot from this book.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much either about The Middle Ages and I'm never going to know alot but at least thanks to tne Idiot's Guide I know a little bit more.
ReplyDeleteI think this would be a great read. I think I would like parts 2 and 3 better, but I guess it helps to know about the earlier centuries too. I have read several Complete Idiot's Guides and enjoyed them and learned a lot.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the delay in writing back Tracy. I just saw your post and you make a very good point. There is more of interest as you get into the later Middle Ages. And my regret for this Histirical Fiction Challenge is that the middle ages ends in 1500 because I am fascinated by the Tudors and the Six Wives of Henry VIII but they come after 1500.
DeleteI love reading about the Middle Ages, and there is so much to learn and understand, I'm sure I would enjoy this book immensely.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a good book for beginners and it gives the resder an overview but for those who know a bit more about the Middle Ages there are better books out there. But what this book does is give you the basics so that you can go on and dig deeper into the parts of the middle ages that interest you.
DeleteIt seems useful to get an overview. Everyone could learn more about the Middle Ages ... it seems a time most of us are a bit foggy about. It's great you've picked up some things about this long period. It's longer than I probably realized.
ReplyDeleteI did pick up some things a small fraction of which I will remember lol. It lasted 1000 years and the book is Eurocentic. I woukd be curious what the 1400's for example were like in other parts of the world.
Delete