The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Middle Ages

by Timothy C. Hall

Shed some light on one of history?s darkest periods.

The Complete Idiot?s Guide® to the Middle Ages gives readers the beginning, middle, and end of the era, starting with the fall of the Roman Empire in the year 550 and ending with the Renaissance in 1500? and covers some uncomfortable similarities between the so-called ?Dark Ages? and today?s ?modern world.?

·A fascinating, fact-filled book that delivers more than a thousand years of history in easy-to-understand chapters
·Many AP European History students are urged to read an overview of medieval Europe to aid in their understanding of modern Europe, and a number of high schools have adopted elective courses in medieval history
·Complete with a timeline, a who?s who, and guides to further reading and the Middle Ages in film

Genres: History

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 17, 2009

Reviews

[Scotty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would more accurately be called a guide to middle ages of Europe and very rarely Western Asia. The rest of the world, not so much. Now, that being said, it does what it purports to do with those parameters. There's a heavy focus on Christianity, which makes sense given how formative it was in Middle Ages Europe, but because of that, it is a bit boring, even for a self-proclaimed history buff. I like the format, though, with emphasized definitions and end of chapter summaries, it feels nostalgic like a textbook.

[Ogre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Educational, but dry as a bone, and the author clearly has a major love of the policies of the Catholic Church during this time period, glossing over the horrors of the Church's atrocities and focusing solely upon the good the Church accomplished (sometimes bending over backwards to do so.) NOT what I would expect from a "Complete Idiot's Guide".

[Bonnie Lymer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying the book so far. What have I learned? Quite a bit, although I can't remember it all off the top of my head. I did find it interesting that Charlemagne's son was Charles the Bald. It's sad that poor Charles accomplished so little that history remembers him only for his lack of hair!

Jun 10 Update: I have just finished reading about the Crusades. The book has confirmed what I have believed for years -- i.e. that organized religion results in intolerance, hate, and dissent, rather than peace and love, as one would expect.

[Marco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the "The Complete Idiot's Guide" series for subjects that I am slightly curious about, or subjects I need to reference to in in order to apply on a different area, but that I don't have the time to spend on a thorough research. They are practical. They cover a lot of ground but not in deepness. Yet, they are good enough to get you started on a quest.