1. Edition - May 2010
20.90 Euro
2010. 408 Pages, Softcover
ISBN-10: 0-470-74783-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-470-74783-4 - John Wiley & Sons






Sample Chapter

Detailed description
Is your knowledge of The Crusades less than tip-top? Maybe you're curious about Columbus, or you're desperate to read about the Black Death in all its gory detail? Whatever your starting point, this expert guide has it all - from kings, knights and anti-Popes, to invasion, famine, the Magna Carta and Joan of Arc (and a few rebellious peasants thrown in for good measure!). Get ready for a rip-roaring ride through the political, religious and cultural life of the Middle Ages, one of the most talked-about periods in history.


Medieval History for Dummies includes:

Part I: The Early Middle Ages
Chapter 1: The Middle Ages: When, Where, What, Who?
Chapter 2: The end of Rome and the not so 'Dark Ages'.
Chapter 3: Angles, Saxons and Feudalism.
Chapter 4: The Carolingians grab their chance.
Chapter 5: Charlemagne - A new empire is born.

Part II: The Making of Europe
Chapter 6: The (Holy Roman) Empire Strikes Back.
Chapter 7: East Meets West: Islam in the Western Mediterranean.
Chapter 8: The Vikings: A threat from the north.
Chapter 9: Schism: The Church splits itself in two.
Chapter 10: The Normans: The 'real' Middle Ages begin.

Part III: 'Holy War': Crusading at home and abroad.
Chapter 11: Crusade: A call to arms.
Chapter 12: The First Crusade
Chapter 13: England vs France & Pope vs Emperor
Chapter 14: The Second Crusade & The 'Crusades at Home'
Chapter 15: Richard vs Saladin: The Third Crusade
Chapter 16: The later Crusades and other failures.

Part IV: Parliament, Priories, Provisions & Plague
Chapter 17: John, Henry, Rudolf & Edward.
Chapter 18: Monks & Merchants: The new power brokers
Chapter 19: The Papacy on Tour: Avignon and the Anti-Popes
Chapter 20: 'God's Judgement?': The Black Death

Part V: The End of the Middle and the start of discovery.
Chapter 21: One Hundred Years of War
Chapter 22: The Peasants are Revolting
Chapter 23: Agincourt, Joan of Arc & the French recovery
Chapter 24: Columbus & The New World

Part VI: The Part of Tens
Chapter 25: Ten Rubbish Kings
Chapter 26: Ten Curious Medieval Pastimes
Chapter 27: Ten Great Castles
Chapter 28: Ten People Who Changed The World
Chapter 29: Ten Great Books (To read next)

From the contents
Introduction.

Part I: Starting Up the Middle Ages (450-800).

Chapter 1: Journeying Back to the Middle Ages: When, Where, What, Who?

Chapter 2: Finishing Off the Roman Empire and Entering the (Not So) Dark Ages.

Chapter 3: Settling in England with the Anglo-Saxons.

Chapter 4: Organising Early France & Germany: The Merovingians and Carolingians .

Chapter 5: Becoming Great: Charlemagne and the New Roman Empire.

Part II: Forming the Basis of Europe (850-1100).

Chapter 6: Laying the Foundations of Europe.

Chapter 7: Linking East and West: Islam in Europe.

Chapter 8: Invading from the North: The Vikings.

Chapter 9: Splitting the Church: Schisms between East and West.

Chapter 10: Revving Up the 'Real' Middle Ages with the Normans.

Part III: Waging Holy War: Crusading at Home and Abroad (1050-1300).

Chapter 11: Uncovering the Origins of the Crusades.

Chapter 12: Waging the First Crusade: 1096-1099.

Chapter 13: Struggling for Power: Popes Versus Monarchs.

Chapter 14: Waging the Second Crusade and Crusading at Home.

Chapter 15: Pitting Richard I Against Saladin: The Third Crusade.

Chapter 16: Following the Fourth Crusade and Other Failures.

Part IV: Dealing with Domestic Dramas: Parliament, Priories and Plagues (1200-1300).

Chapter 17: Having Trouble in England: John, Henry III and Edward I.

Chapter 18: Meeting Medieval Monks and Merchants.

Chapter 19: Piling On the Popes: Avignon and the Antipopes.

Chapter 20: Facing God's Judgement: Dealing with the Black Death.

Part V: Ending the Middle and Beginning the Age of Discovery (1300-1492).

Chapter 21: Beginning One Hundred Years of War.

Chapter 22: Pausing the War: Dealing with Unrest at Home.

Chapter 23: Turning the Tide of War (Twice!): Henry V and Joan of Arc.

Chapter 24: Moving On from the Medieval Era.

Part VI: The Part of Tens.

Chapter 25: Ten Rubbish Rulers.

Chapter 26: Ten Medieval Pastimes.

Chapter 27: Ten Great Castles.

Chapter 28: Ten Medieval People Who Changed the World.

Chapter 29: Ten Great Medieval Innovations.

Index.