What Life Was Like in the Age of Chivalry: Medieval Europe, 800-1500 A. D.

What Life Was Like

by Denise Dersin

"From dawn to dusk, the streets hummed with activity, while in the numerous taverns with their huge wine casks, long benches, and reed-strewn floors, drinkers with nothing better to do spent their time gambling on dice games. There was open-air entertainment, too, for those who had time to watch it. Clowns bumped and tumbled, jugglers showed off their skills, and minstrels crooned the latest ballads to the accompaniment of a fiddlelike instrument called the vielle. Roving troupes of actors performed morality tales for the crowds, often enlivening popular Bible stories with slapstick comedy and satirical asides to the audience. And behind this incessant hustle and bustle, church bells tolled away the hours, dictating the rhythm of people's lives across the city; for in the perpetual half-light of the narrow streets, the passage of time was heard rather than seen."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Reference, Medieval, Medieval History, Historical

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Carol Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Librarians selected for me, impressed how well they curated for me. This is a brief overview intended for middle schoolers, I enjoyed the refresher. Well and colorfully illustrated.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 3 1/2

I have only recently picked this book up again, just so I could finish it. And I’m glad I did! Though the information is just a basic overview it was all truly fascinating and such a joy to read about. I loved how the story followed a few specific people and used them as examples for the topic the chapter was focusing on. It was fun to have most of the stories connect in some way. The images were such a fabulous addition as well.

I will say the way this book is formatted is not good at all. The authors sometimes break into specific stories that relate to the chapter’s topic, yet do so in the middle of a story. Sometimes even in the middle of a sentence. So I am reading and into the story and then get pulled out to read a short different story, then to resume the previous. I thought the little stories accompanied the larger story well, however I wish it was divided up a little better.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am noting a similar format of all books in this series, of text with insets of photos taken of archival documents(in some cases, in others, museum displays). Some first person accounts are quoted. I did not enjoy this one as much as the other one in the series I have read, but that has to do with the fact that this time period involved harsher living conditions, so my 4 star rating is based on the quality of the composition of the book and historical accuracy (things used to be terrible for people).

[Doug · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected a quick review of a long period in history. There are one or two interesting stories. This book was not quick. It was shallow. Several sections were irrelevant and detailed. Why was there a multipage review of a monk and his mistress? Why the details of Henry II and Thomas Beckett? I have no idea. I was hoping the book would help identify interesting eras to read about in more focused books. I didn't find a single breadcrumb toward any interesting topics.

[Liv Hamre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview. Beautiful pictures. Excited to research people from this book even further. It provides enough information to help you read about a lot of different people from back then and sparked my interest to continue learning about them.

[Nancy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent look at what life was like in the Middle Ages in many areas. The book explains many things that people have often incorrectly assumed about that time period, and is a fascinating look at what people's lives were really like.

[JoAnne Styger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the personal stories woven into the history of medieval Europe.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. A $2 purchase intended for collage works proved to be an entertaining and colorful review of Europe in the Middle Ages, before undergoing the scissors!

[Alan Tsuei · Rating 3 out of 5]

中世紀的世界為人所熟知絕非大家對歷史的熱愛，而是無處不在的電影、影集、小說、遊戲所致，西方創造出的奇幻世界或多或少佔據了我們自童年開始的人生，似乎騎士城堡、寶劍魔法也都不知不覺的被我們如數家珍了起來，這再次證明了文化與歷史是所有創作的泉源…我們的歷史比西方來的短嗎？我們的文化比西方來的淺嗎？當然不是，但為什麼我們的文創娛樂卻只學到了洋人的皮毛，除了賺熱錢炒短線外就沒東西拿的出手了？是業界對歷史文化的不尊重？是大眾對這個行業的鄙視？還是我們集體的失去了自己的文化與過去？不要說千百年前，就算今天回頭再讀民初文人的作品，裡面的一切也早已成為過往，中國文化就像冰川一樣一點點消融在我們的日常裡，最後成為圖書館、博物館裡才找得到的老掉牙，也許是我多慮，也許是我無知，不過我真的很害怕我們會成為一個連一部自己的戲、一本自己的小說、一個自己的遊戲都做不好的民族…

[Bat713 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous resource book chock full of paintings, photos. Drawings, essays, real bios of famous names heard but never read about. The time frame is AD 800-1500. Monasteries, Black Plague, Joan of Ark, knights, castles,saints. You name it and it is in this beautiful TimeLife book. It took me a long time to get through as I did it in chunks, but I feel like I have attended a college course. You can get lost in the wonderful photos of Medieval European cathedrals, castles, monasteries and manor estates.

[Austen to Zafón · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly all-encompassing, but I enjoyed this dip into the middle ages. The art is nice and I liked the stories of certain people in that age for whom we have actual documentation. In the course of my BA in English, I focused on this period, but it's been a while and it was nice to have a little refresher. Good bedtime read.

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides · Rating 4 out of 5]

This could be a good source for readers of all ages. The images chosen include both obscure ones, and common ones that are reproduced at a better quality than is typically found elsewhere. Primary sources, such as surviving letters (both commonly known ones such as those of the Pastons, and more obscure ones), are used to create accessible depictions of the period.

[Sabine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for research on a story I am writing. It gave me a lot of good ideas and I liked the way it was formated. Easy to understand, and it told stories about each even rather than just facts so I found myself really getting into it.

[Walt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good primer.

[Poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was nicely done. The pictures were beautiful and the inserts were informative. I loved the photos of the cathedral architecture.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books and learn so much more than I did in the classroom!

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - this book has its faults but it has some excellent art and a few nice anecdotes.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This whole series is just so great...

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2017 popsugar reading challenge prompt: a picture book

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that it covered a lot of topics and it was easy to read.