Medieval Europe: A Short History, 10th Edition

by Judith M. Bennett, C. Warren Hollister

Marked by C. Warren Hollister's clear historical vision and engaging teaching style, this classic text has been judiciously revised by Judith Bennett; the tenth edition includes greater coverage of Byzantium and Islam, a revised map program, a new essay program on medieval myths, and more. In his preface to the eighth edition, Professor Hollister wrote of his realization, while in college, that our world today "is a product of the medieval past." Medieval Europe introduces today's students to the medieval roots of our own society.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Medieval History, European History, Historical, School

468 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Judith MacKenzie Bennett is an American historian, Emerita Professor of History and John R. Hubbard Chair in British History at the University of Southern California. Bennett writes and teaches about medieval Europe, specifically focusing on gender, women's history, and rural peasants.

Reviews

[StrangeBedfellows · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is easy to read, includes relevant and interesting information, and covers medieval Europe on a broad scale rather than focus on one or two countries/empires. In addition, the style of writing is well-paced and engaging. Best of all, the book reiterates the sentiment that the "Dark Ages" were not as dark or backwards as general perception states. Instead, this time frame is presented as a period of continuous change and development -- even, dare I say, innovation. One problem I do have is how clearly some of the authors' biases and opinions come through in the writing. One or both authors have the tendency to state interpretations or deductions as established fact. Also, the extreme overuse of the word "buttress" became very old, very quickly. So, high marks for readability but points lost for lack of objectivity.

[JD Waggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to teach from this for my intro survey class, and I do appreciate the difficulty that Bennett is facing in trying to compress a thousand years of history and culture into bite-sized pieces for bored undergrads. So, for what it is, this is a great intro to the period, and it's very easily accessible. The layout works well, with insert boxes of further interest and a lot of black and white illustrations of what's going on in the text proper. If bored undergrads are what you're working with, this is a good bet; if you're going any higher, look for something with a bit more depth and less generalization.

[achen · Rating 4 out of 5]

因為是涵蓋範圍廣、內容紮實豐厚的教科書經典，所以整個閱讀過程交替著趣味與枯燥（當然是個人喜好問題，那些喜歡的有趣的是讀得津津有味；不喜歡的枯燥的我真的...怎麼都讀不進去，考試也不會及格喲）

個人最喜歡中世紀中期（也是全書著述主軸）尤其宗教歷史的部份。從正統與異端的衝突、教權與教會、十字軍東征到教皇與皇帝的權力鬥爭等等內容都覺得好看極了。

中世紀晚期的敘述比較簡略，有種篇幅侷限匆匆刷過兩百年的感覺。這時期發生的許多重要事件如黑死病、百年戰爭、玫瑰戰爭什麼的，都只是飛速掠過呢。另外，雖然理解獵巫行動的高峰期不在這時期，但我還是小有失望沒有這一部分呢。大概是被流行文化餵壞了，看到《歐洲中世紀史》這樣的標題就覺得應該記述一下獵巫行動XD

無論如何，這本還是非常棒的中世紀歷史入門書，讀完覺得很滿足很愉快~

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is dense, but accessible. The authors do an exceptional job of communicating simple, but well-researched arguments that make convincing modifications to the popular and often erroneous characterization of the Middle Ages. I covered it with highlighter, and particularly enjoyed the close-ups they included on some well-known and other under-celebrated characters.

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid look at medieval Europe. The chronology can be confusing as the author goes back and forth with changes in place. The emphasis is definitely more on England and France though he covers other areas briefly.

[Mark Heeyeaah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad short history, but a little out of date on historiography.

[Casey S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I counted eleven uses of the word "buttress"

[Matthew Zhu]

读此书是为了了解欧洲历史，以便阅读相关著作——经济、政治、社会。

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and compact. So much new and interesting knowledge, I really enjoyed reading this. Read for a university course on the Middle Ages.

[Stan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I expected when beginning this book. I did not get what I expected. While it is impossible to present a full treatment of ca. 1,000 years of history in a short book, I don't feel this book provided a comprehensive framework for a chronological understanding of the period in view.

The Medieval period is divided into three sections, which is a fairly common approach. Within each period, geographical areas are considered in terms of prominence. And, while I did not expect to find a complete list of kings for every kingdom in Europe for 1,000 years, I expected more than a list of "some important kings" or "some important popes" that left gaps.

The book does feature a chapter on Byzantium and one on Islam, to provide a larger context.

The book shifts to more of a topical approach for the period the author(s) refers to as the Central Middle Ages. In taking this approach, the authors present the same time period across multiple chapters. If the reader is not familiar with the chronology of the period, it is easy to confuse what development occurred concurrently.

Overall, the book is informative. It is not conducive to understanding the chronology of the Middle Ages, so those with little prior knowledge of this period may find more confusion than coherence herein.

[Victor Antonov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indeed, this is a comprehensive overview of the Middle Ages, from the decline and fall of the Roman Empire to the blossoming of the Renaissance. Brief and to the point, it presents the main events, people and ideas throughout the period. While it cannot serve people with deep interest in medieval Europe, the book provides comprehensive lists with sources for in-depth study. I read an old edition (2nd ed, 1968) and some of the ideas might be slightly outdated but, on the other hand, this is not a book of ideas about history but rather of the history of ideas.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have finished this ages ago but LIFE got in the way a bit; PEOPLE *grumble grumble* So this didn't do it for me; It wasn't the vibrant, illuminating, concise piece of work I was looking for. I'm sure it's just me, read it at the wrong time. As I said: I had a lot going on, so I probably only gave it half of my attention.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a clear and concise book, one of the few books I reused after college and implemented into my classroom as a world history teacher. I like the organization and the flow of the writing as something that I have used to help me create my own notes and discussions in class. This is an excellent choice for teachers or professors!

[Eric Pecile · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very much a book trying to recast the Middle Ages as a vibrant period of European civilization. Unfortunately it fails miserably in this effort by casting the economic circumstances of the period as pre modern when in fact many of the commercial tools of today emerged in the 13th century. A good read but not for the trained medievalist.

[misty jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a text book that i had for a class on medieval europe, and so far, is perhaps one of the best text books that i've had the opportunity to read. it's a comprehensive look at medieval europe that is fairly simply written with surprising wit and humor.

[Ray Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a text book for a class in my undergraduate work at IUPUI. It is perhaps THE ONLY textbook I ever read cover to cover - finishing it long AFTER the class was completed. I would highly recommend this book to anyone for good historical reading.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

good textbook. interesting sources and artwork for the topics.

[Jane]

a re-read from college while i wait for library books to come in.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great book for reference with some very useful information.

[Anna Tatelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As textbooks go, this one is pretty good. Readable and engaging.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional, thought written as a textbook it grabs you with great and comic prose and you feel excited about history again. Wonderful read!

[Noelle Prignano · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent synopsis of one of my favorite time periods.

[Araik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leuk geschreven voor zo'n overzichtswerk, veel illustraties en afbeeldingen, opiniërend, dus houdt het boeiend. Wel wat teveel op Engeland en Frankrijk gefocust voor mij.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite books from undergrad. Dated, yes, but extremely valuable!

[Shane Goodyear · Rating 4 out of 5]

* A great precise book on medical history
* Early medieval 500-1050 high medieval period 1050-1300 and late medieval 1300-1500
* Good overview of what formed western culture
* German custom of kings and lords, Christianity and Roman Greek culture
* Interesting facts: the Holy Roman Empire. Was powerful in the early medieval period and then disintegrated during the high medieval period due, in part to a powerful papacy
* Papacy lost a lot of its power in the late medieval period
* Areas of learning, commerce being solidified and political structures forming in the high medieval period
* The formations of parliaments to keep the king accountably in the high medieval period what the author says comes from German custom
* Theological and philosophical learning in the high medieval period especially with faith and reason
* New technology in farming and the growth of towns and universities that where like student guilds and quite familiar culture to what you may see on campus now
* A good book and overview of medieval history

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bennett, Judith M. Medieval Europe: A Short History. 11th ed. McGraw Hill, 2011.
Medieval Europe: A Short History claims to be the most popular textbook on its subject. I have no reason to doubt that. It is clear, well-organized, and up to date in its historical methods. Judith Bennett is an expert in the women’s history of the period, and I understand there is now a twelfth edition that adds new archeological evidence and material on race and diversity. It has more cultural history and less war and politics than the histories I grew up with. It is very readable, and I read it so quickly, I am sure I could not pass a test; but it does have links to web materials that would help me get ready for one. It does a good job of pointing out the interplay between the Eastern and Western churches and the influence of Islamic culture. The Middle Ages weren’t all plagues, knights and crusades.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like how in depth this book was. I also liked that, unlike a lot of books on medieval Europe, the early middle ages were not completely ignored or bypassed. However, I did not like how parts 2 and 3 were set up differently than part 1. Part 1 was a chronological layout, and parts 2 and 3 switched to a topical layout. I enjoy reading history chronologically as I find it is more enjoyable (and easier to remember) when I can see all of the different things going on in a certain period of time. The last two parts were constantly back and forth, things being mentioned in multiple places because they fit into more than one topic or category, and gave sort of a rushed feeling to the ending especially.

[Jeremy Canipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I'd taken courses in Western Civilization and a number of subparts (such as Roman history, the Renaissance, and the Scientific Resolution), I had never managed a formal course in the Middle Ages. This finely organized, well-written, and well-received textbook makes a fine start in addressing this deficit. I am also pleased to have a better sense of the few hundred years leading up the the era of exploration and colonization, so as to better appreciate where Europe stood at that point, on a country-by-country basis. Well done and with a nice list of suggested follow up titles for future reading.

[Ryan Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what it claims to be: A Short History. That is both a good and bad thing. Unfortunately, it means a lot gets left out (of course, this is inevitable—no textbook can include everything!), but at least it is relatively manageable for the students who read it. Personally, I think the space used to discuss Byzantium and Islam could be better used to delve a bit deeper into Western European developments. Why does everything these days have to aim at such inclusivity?

But I won't complain too much. This is a solid textbook of the period, and it served its purpose. I will be on the lookout for something better, though...

[Reyer Wijnen]

Makes you realize that 500 pages of dense information is actually short.
Chapters arent chronological which can be confusing at times but I understand the layout based on the chapters their subjects. The layout inside the chapters itself is quite clear.
Different topics like myths people still believe in today, the occasional pictures and quotes make the substance less dry. The introduction and conclusion of each chapter are very well written.