Oxford Illustrated Histories

by Barbara A. Hanawalt

Book Overview

A brisk narrative of battles and plagues, monastic orders, heroic women, and knights-errant, barbaric tortures and tender romance, intrigue, scandals, and conquest, The Middle Ages: An Illustrated History mixes a spirited and entertaining writing style with exquisite, thorough scholarship. Barbara A. Hanawalt, a renowned medievalist, launches her story with the often violent amalgamation of Roman, Christian, and Germanic cultures following the destruction...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195103599
• ISBN13: 9780195103595
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.8" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

terrific HOMESCHOOL reference & read

We all enjoy history (almost any period, almost anywhere in the world) in our family, but I found my memory of the Middle Ages more lacking that I care to admit when I was preparing to teach that period in history to our homeschooled 8-year old. We love "The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child" series by Susan Wise Bauer (both the hardcover readers and the enormous softcover supplements), but wanted more since our daughter is a very intelligent 8-year old. This book fit the bill perfectly, both for me to pre-read, and later to read parts of with our daughter. The book takes a brisk tour of the Middle Ages. While it is very readable, it is not for the reader in a hurry (unless, unlike me, you find you learned far more than you thought in secondary school and university). I found myself reviewing a few pages backward each time I picked it up to read more, in order to keep the information more firmly at hand. Chapters are good lengths, interesting illustrations are many, and the photos and illustrations are of good color and clarity. The events, people and issues covered are representative, and the books is as complete a work, at this level and length, as anything else is likely to be. There are gaps, certain things are glossed over or not explained as fully as a more learned text, certainly, but none of these is inappropriate for the target audience and book's length. Our family borrowed this for several weeks from our local library and will probably purchase a copy for home - it is that good. I highly recommend this illustrated history. ENJOY!

Excellent choice for middle school

I use this as the text for my eighth grade medieval history/literature class. Hanawalt presents a clear and engaging account of the medieval period, organized chronologically. She manages to insert many interesting details into this well-researched, intelligent and thoroughly unstuffy book. There's no other book I'd care to use with this age group.

The Middle Ages: An Illustrated History

I'm very happy with the state of this book - considering it was used. Looks brand new.