Introduction to Medieval Europe 300–1500

by Wim Blockmans, Peter Hoppenbrouwers

Introduction to Medieval Europe 300–1500 provides a comprehensive survey of this complex and varied formative period of European history within a global context, covering themes as diverse as barbarian migrations, the impact of Christianisation, the formation of nations and states, the emergence of an expansionist commercial economy, the growth of cities, the Crusades, the effects of plague and the intellectual and cultural dynamism of the Middle Ages. The book explores the driving forces behind the formation of medieval society and the directions in which it developed and changed. In doing this, the authors cover a wide geographic expanse, including Western interactions with the Byzantine Empire, the Islamic World, North Africa and Asia. This fourth edition has been fully updated to reflect moves toward teaching the Middle Ages in a global context and contains a wealth of new features and topics that help to bring this fascinating era to life, Clear and stimulating, the fourth edition of Introduction to Medieval Europe is the ideal companion to studying the entirety of medieval history at undergraduate level.

Genres: History, Medieval

582 pages, Paperback

Published August 7, 2023

About the author

Willem Pieter Blockmans was Professor of Medieval History at Leiden University between 1987 and 2010. He earned a PhD from the University of Ghent. He has been Rector of the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study since September 2002. He has published extensively on late medieval and early modern state power.

Reviews

[Judyta Szacillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s been a very long time since I last read a textbook on medieval Europe.

The textbook that was mandatory for us history students in Warsaw University in the early 2000s was Zientara’s Historia powszechna średniowiecza (‘General History of the Middle Ages’). After Zientara, my focus became much narrower – I was reading about the Carolingians, about early medieval Ireland, about hagiography, about the Uí Néill dynasties… but not about medieval history in general. So when Routledge released the fourth edition of this textbook, I got it out of curiosity, wondering what’s available these days to English-speaking history students.

Compared to Zientara, Blockmans and Hoppenbrouwers make a much lighter reading – less packed with details, more essayist in style. I’m not sure though if that can make the learning process better. When you’re reading about the invasions of Avars, Bulgars, Longobards and Islamised Maghrebi tribes in one breath, it can make sense if you already know something about those events, but I imagine that for someone without prior knowledge it could result in mighty confusion.

I may be wrong about this. Maybe there’s no need for a general introduction to bore the reader with too many details. But if someone really wants to acquire sound knowledge, they’re not going to get it from this book.

[Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive and helpful. very long though..... so, so long....

[Oline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Endelig ferdig!!! Den var bra og alt, men såååå lang og my