Il mondo segreto del Medioevo

by John M. Thompson, Maurizia De Martin

Cavalieri in armature lucenti. Castelli, draghi, regine e menestrelli. Papi, imperatori, Vichinghi, califfi e re. Le Crociate. Re Artù e la Tavola Rotonda. La peste. L'Inquisizione. In questo atlante illustrato la National Geographic Society riporta in vita oltre mille anni di intrighi, eventi, battaglie, personaggi e storie appassionanti che costituiscono il periodo storico noto con il nome di Medioevo. Questo volume coinvolgente permette di viaggiare nel tempo attraverso l'Europa, il Nordafrica e il Medio Oriente, dalla caduta dell'Impero romano nel 476 d.C. al 1500, l'epoca delle grandi scoperte geografiche. L'avvincente narrazione è accompagnata da oltre 60 cartine che aiutano a inquadrare eventi storici, guerre, migrazioni e occupazioni. Immergetevi nel passato attraverso più di 300 illustrazioni di ritratti, icone, paesaggi, miniature, arazzi, gioielli, sculture e capolavori architettonici. Le voci di quel tempo vi parleranno attraverso rari manoscritti, documenti fondamentali e classici della letteratura. Rivivrete le vicende delle persone che hanno scritto la storia dell'Europa: Carlo Magno, Alfredo il Grande, Leif Eriksson, Riccardo Cuor di Leone, Ildegarda di Bingen, Giovanna d'Arco. E altre di personaggi di cui forse non avete mai sentito parlare: Cosroe II, Ivar Senz'Ossa, Othman ibn Affan e Tamara, regina di Georgia. Partirete per un viaggio nel tempo attraverso fiorenti città medievali quali Roma, Parigi, Barcellona, Costantinopoli, Damasco...

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, European History, Reference, Travel, Medieval History

383 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Karyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The many photos illustrate the medieval period better than the text illuminates the events of history.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my critique of this book I have to look at is as representative of two separate genres. As a historical work it is just okay - it summarizes the works of generations of historians sometimes too tidily, completely coloring over nuances and contradictions, but what can you expect when compressing over 1000 years of history into less than 400 pages? Still, I've read much better historical syntheses.

Where National Geographic's publication excels is as a succession of captivating tableaus. Perhaps they didn't really intend people to read the whole thing cover to cover (like anal-retentive little me); perhaps they just expected the beautifully constructed work to be browsed at leisure and imbibed a bit at a time. Its composition is certainly more suited to that approach. Nearly every page contains an interesting sidebar. There are many many fantastic maps - both historical and modern. Well-chosen photographs of medieval art and architecture enhance the learning experience. Visually this book is an absolute treasure.

So... as a historical work I give it a 3. As a coffee-table browsing book it gets a 5. Thus... 4 stars.

[Mila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't actually "read" this book cover to cover but I did "immerse myself in the past through more than 300 illustrations - portraits, icons, landscapes, illuminations, tapestries, jewelry, sculpture, and architectural masterpieces."

The layout of book is gorgeous itself and I love the "illumination" of the initial paragraphs. The book covers the years 400-1500 and each chapter starts with a two-page spread of a piece of art to represent the century. Each century is introduced by a chapter heading that captures 100 years in a few words, followed by a quote of the age. I wonder how they ended up choosing the quotes.

400-500 The End of an Empire
"An able Goth wants to be like a Roman, only a poor Roman would want to be like a Goth."
Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths

500-600 The Post-Roman Landscape
"This is not the kingdom of God but only the first step on the path leading to it."
Gregory of Tours, regarding the baptism of King Clovis

600-700 A New World Religion
"All praise is due to Allah alone - Lord of all the worlds. The gracious. The merciful."
The Koran

700-800 Charlemagne's Century
"Man for his Lord should suffer with good heart."
The Song of Roland

800-900 A World Divided
"Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it, with the exception of one disease, namely old age."
Abu Da'ud, Kitab Al Tibb (The Book of Medicine), circa 875

900-1000 The Millennium Approaches
"Just as England is prolific in all kinds of animals, so it is productive of holy men."
From the Life of Saint Lebuin, circa 925

1000-1100 Postmillennial Changes
"I trust in the Lord and strive not for present but for future things."
Ekkehard of Aurach, On the Opening of the First Crusade

1100-1200 Cultures Clash
"Full many a wonder is told us in stories old."
Niebelungenlied, Germany, 12th century

1200-1300 The Rise of Commerce
"I, a wandering scholar lad / born for toil and sadness, oftentimes am driven by / poverty to madness."
A medieval student's song

1300-1400 Out of the Ashes
"Pilgrims and palmers pledged them together to seek Saint James and saints in Rome."
William Langland, Vision of Piers Plowman, circa 1360

1400-1600 The Dawn of a New Age
"All earthly things is but vanity: beauty, strength, and discretion, do man forsake."
Everyman, 15th-century English Miracle Play

Fascinating!

[Moonglum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book attempts to provide high level overview of medieval history from 400 - 1500. It tries to be a kind of 101 text book, and as such it's OK. It has a lot to cover. One irritating thing is that the illustrations often do not have text describing the historical context from which the illustration came. The pictures are otherwise nice. Nice things about the book are the brief bios, the city spotlights (which could have been better at times, but still were neat), and the 2 pages per century used to show something about the whole world (there is unfortunately a lot of blank space on those pages that could have been used. I would have preferred a more cluttered pair of pages).

You will not get any kind of in-depth look at medieval culture. You'll get a description of a king, and what they conquered, maybe a salacious tale about them, maybe a failure. You'll get a side bar about printing, not a description of the impact printing had on the late medieval world. You'll get a quick mention of the Mongol invasion (remember the 13th century is only one chapter), you will not get to read even a blurb about the cultural effects of that invasion. That kind of thing.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers a thousand years of history. Unfortunately a lot of people die, but this is the Middle Ages so that isn't unheard of.
The ending of the Roman empire ushered in the middle ages in the fifth century, Imperial Rome succumbed in 476 and their territory gave way to outsiders. Once the fall of Rome was complete, Europe settled into the Dark Ages. I was surprised that it wasn't all that bad. Lively markets flourished, and a few leaders such as, Gregory the Great, Charlemagne, and Alfred the Great forged paths to a higher civilization during this period. Life was still difficult and sometimes brutal, many tribes warred against each other and attempted to defend themselves from Vikings and other invaders. Wars were won and lost, leaders ruled and passed on their legacy. Reading the real story of this time period changed how I saw the stories and myths I grew up fascinated with. It was a little sad honestly, in the legends I read, everything wasn't just dragons and magic. It was war, loss, and legacy, but I had no idea how important those things were to the people. The things a new king had to carry out on short notice, how many people sacrificed everything for something they believed in. It was heartbreaking to finally read what really happened, but I'm glad I did. I would do it again.

[Joseph Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very beautiful and informative book. Each chapter after the introduction is a century running from the year400 to 1500. Each chapter gives a summary of the historical events and persons of that century. An abundance of pictures and illustrations gives the reader a visual history.

[Ashley Sell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and an interesting read.

[Rae Ele · Rating 1 out of 5]

For the love of things...get the facts right. If you continually get things wrong, I will stop reading. It was a wonderful idea made unreadable by the constant use of statements that are not only wrong, but in their correct form, are well-known.

I really would've thought that National Geographic looked more carefully at what goes out under their name.

[Joe Gawlik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good companion to the other text books I'm reading for my Birth of Europe class at University of South Carolina Aiken

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really informative and interesting. Great maps and essays on a range of topics.

[Anna Smithberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information broken down clearly with a number of interesting timelines and pop out boxes. Really the big selling point is the wealth of richly colored, large images.

[QingYi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference book for fantasy concept