Medieval History For Dummies

Rattle through 1000 years of horrible history, from the fifth century to the sixteenth century

Famine, plague and public execution the medieval period wasn′t the best time for some, but heroic rulers like Charlemagne, William the Conqueror and Henry V made sure that it was full of action. Brimming with facts, this book helps you get under the skin of the people who lived at the time, from impoverished peasants to opulent monarchs. From the Dark Ages to the Renaissance and all the upheavals in between, this book takes the pain out of medieval history.

The Black Death assess the deadly pandemic that swept through Britain and Europe killing millions of people

The Holy Roman Empire strikes back understand how the empire fought to maintain its position

Falling apart witness the arrival of powerful armies from the east and invaders from the north, and the dramatic effects of religious schisms

Heading for the Holy Land uncover the reasons why crusading became so popular, and ultimately so unsuccessful, between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries

Living in the medieval world understand the lives of monks and monarchs, peasants and popes, and travellers and traders of the period

Waging conflicts, battles and wars a look through the troubles that shaped the medieval age; from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Wars of the Roses

Open the book and find:

Why the peasants revolted

Where Chaucer gained inspiration to write The Canterbury Tales

Which religious groups fought for power

How the Magna Carta shaped our present–day legal system

Why the Vikings may have got to America before Columbus

Profiles of the best and worst medieval monarchs

How Joan of Arc made her name

The great and grisly histories of surviving medieval castles

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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.

Stephen Batchelor is Head of School for Creative and Visual Arts at MidKent College and has taught ancient history and classical studies for many years. Stephen has written book reviews for Current Archaeology and History Today, and is the author of The Ancient Greeks For Dummies.