The Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages

Book Overview

As greater numbers of naysayers look forward to the collapse of civilization, perhaps it's best to see what happened last time. It turns out the Dark Ages weren't so bad--in fact, after reading... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670100110
• ISBN13: 9780670100118
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 3.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 8.3" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

1000 years of History

'The Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages', edited by Robert Cantor (Rhodes Scholar, Fulbright Fellow, & c.) is a good reference work, an encyclopedic dictionary, covering the roughly 1000 years from the fall of Rome to the Renaissance. In addition the usual definition-explanation entries, it has three types of sidebar essays: Illuminations, which focus on sources, Life in the Middle Ages, which talks about common life details, and Legend and Lore, which explores imaginative concepts which informed medieval life. There are maps, literally hundreds of photographs and illustrations, a layout that is inviting for study, reference, or general reading. It is 'easy on the eyes', much more so that a usual encyclopedia. The scope of this work is also broader than most medieval reference texts. 'Despite what students of medieval history are accustomed to reading, life did exist outside of Europe in the Middle Ages.' That having been said, this is still a very euro-centric book. This book gives a great deal of attention to science, medicine, and other topics often ignored or pushed to the periphery of a more politically-oriented textual treatment. There is an introductory essay that is well worth reading even if this is meant to be an on-the-shelf-for-reference-only sort of book. In talking about the influence on popular culture of the Middle Ages (everything from The Name of the Rose to the medieval garb, feudal structure and apprenticeship-education framework of Star Wars), Cantor says: 'In order to recognise [this Middle Ages influence] one has to have at some time known, and this has been the job of historians, who today painfully append to Santayana's famous saying (about those forgetting the past being condemned to repeat it) the observation that one cannot forget a history one did not know in the first place.' Cantor describes twentieth century medievalists as being on a quest for 'wellsprings of a romantic and idealistic consciousness that would inspire a vibrant counterculture.' There is some of that in this book, but largely being encyclopedic rather than analytical and critical in nature, the reader/researcher can use the information contained herein for his own evaluations. From the Abbadid and Abbasid Dynasties to Yaroslave the Wise and Yugoslavia, from Boethius to Wycliffe, this book has hidden treats and interesting articles for all.

Re: John XXIII (not a review)

In Eric Roth's review of this book, he wonders if listing John XXIII as a pope in the 15th century is a typo. It's not. There was a schismatic pope of that time named John XXIII. (At one point there were three popes!) Since he wasn't universally recognized, he didn't count when John XXIII in the 1960s took the same name.

Wonderful Reference Work. Very Helpful.

This book is exactly what the title claims: An Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages. The book is a great reference tool for students and interested readers of the Middle Ages. It is an A to Z complete guide of events, people, places, things, and is heavily illustrated to bring to life the times of the Middle Ages period. Everything from leaders to politics, to exploration and wars, religious movements, and philosophies are covered. The atmosphere of the times is revealed and the events people were most involved in are depicted with great care. Times, dates, and details are carefully laid out for the reader in every category covered. Therefore, this makes for a wonderful one volume handy tool for easy and quick reference. Moreover, Norman Cantor is highly respected in his area of specialty - medieval history. You cannot go wrong with this as a research tool in your library.

A Fine Reference for the General Reader

Pleasantly illustrated and well-written, this book will be attractive to the general reader rather than the serious student. A telling indication of the book's cheerful informality is the artful, approximate way in which the maps are rendered; they're clearly meant to convey whimsy rather than geographical exactitude. This is not to say that the book is superficial, however. My impression is that the editor and the contributors successfully achieved a proper balance between readability and depth. On top of that, each entry leaves the reader primed for more reading (quite a feat for any historian, really). I'll give you an example. I was happily surprised to find that the article on banking and commerce, a subject which ordinarily would not seem a likely candidate for compelling reading, was clearly and eloquently discussed. I came away from it feeling impressed by the sophistication of medieval bankers and tradesmen, and curious to find more specialized titles on the subject. One last thought: I have found this book to be an excellent supplement to Norman Cantor's "The Civilization of the Middle Ages".

History comes alive with great writing and beautiful images

This book is extremely reader friendly-guiding guiding you through the subject, not just alphabetically, but with an easy-to-follow "signpost" cross reference feature. The design is elegant and the images are spectacular. A gripping read throughout.