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The Penguin History of Medieval Europe
A comprehensive, general survey of Europe from the ruins of the Roman Empire to the rise of the Ottoman Turks.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
About the author
Maurice Keen
19 books13 followersMaurice Hugh Keen OBE (30 October 1933 – 11 September 2012) was a British historian specializing in the Middle Ages. His father had been the Oxford University head of finance ('Keeper of the University Chest') and a Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford, and after schooling at Winchester College, Maurice became an undergraduate there in 1954. He was a contemporary and lifelong friend of Tom Bingham, later the Senior Law Lord, as well as of the military historian, Sir John Keegan, whose sister Mary he married.
Keen's first success came with the writing of The Outlaws of Medieval Legend while still a Junior Research Fellow at The Queen's College, Oxford, 1957–1961. He was elected a tutorial Fellow of Balliol in 1961, retaining his fellowship until his retirement in 2000, when he was elected a Fellow Emeritus. He also served as Junior Dean (1963–68), Tutor for Admissions (1974–1978), and Vice-Master (1980–83).
In 1984, Keen won the Wolfson History Prize for his book Chivalry. The book redefined in several ways the concept of chivalry, underlining the military aspect of it.
Keen was elected a Fellow of the British Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
Also known as M.H. Keen
Keen's first success came with the writing of The Outlaws of Medieval Legend while still a Junior Research Fellow at The Queen's College, Oxford, 1957–1961. He was elected a tutorial Fellow of Balliol in 1961, retaining his fellowship until his retirement in 2000, when he was elected a Fellow Emeritus. He also served as Junior Dean (1963–68), Tutor for Admissions (1974–1978), and Vice-Master (1980–83).
In 1984, Keen won the Wolfson History Prize for his book Chivalry. The book redefined in several ways the concept of chivalry, underlining the military aspect of it.
Keen was elected a Fellow of the British Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
Also known as M.H. Keen
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 28, 2026
Maurice Keen's Penguin History of Medieval Europe, first published in 1968, is a standard synthetic history that addresses the political, social, religious, and economic developments during the millennium from the collapse of the Western Roman Empire to the rise of the Ottoman Turks. While Keen was an important historian of medieval chivalry, this is a general survey that uses the unity of Christendom as an organizing theme.
There is a lot to recommend in the book - mostly its ability to present a balanced history of politics, religion, social change, and economic development over 1,000 years without it being hard to follow. It's clearly meant to be used as a textbook or textbook supplement for undergraduate students. Unfortunately, it hasn't aged well. It was clearly written when historians paid you little attention if you weren't a Pope or a prince. Since it was written on the cusp of when Carlo Ginzburg and other historians were inventing microhistory, there are almost no attempts to integrate interdisciplinarity, history of ideas, or a social history of anything beyond what Robin Leach popularly called “the lifestyles of the rich and famous.”
As valuable as its lessons are, you can find the same themes discussed in books that do well what this one doesn’t even attempt, like discussing the rise of Islam, the Byzantine empire, or other non-Western perspectives. Not only is the emphasis strictly European; it’s strictly western European. The overarching focus rests with how the political and religious orders expanded, adapted, gradually became institutional, then fractured under the successive pressures of war, competing secular loyalties, and the Papacy’s attempt to establish a hierocracy, especially in the wake of the Gregorian reforms.
Keen’s writing is bland and dry, but it communicates its main ideas well enough. Because of its short length and survey-like approach, you don’t get fully fleshed out arguments so much as conclusions on the topics covered. Countervailing perspectives are often elided, and many complicated topics (they’re all complicated once you get to understand them well enough) are introduced, but not deeply explored. Empire, the papacy, the investiture controversy, and crusading are neatly cordoned off into their own separate chapters without any explicit understanding of how they are deeply interrelated.
All the traditional topics are explored – the interplay between social unity and fragmentation, the tension between Church and state, the growth of urban life, and the slow emergence of modern political institutions. However, I can’t exactly recommend this since the ground it covers has already been so well-trod and presented more effectively in a surfeit of other books.
There is a lot to recommend in the book - mostly its ability to present a balanced history of politics, religion, social change, and economic development over 1,000 years without it being hard to follow. It's clearly meant to be used as a textbook or textbook supplement for undergraduate students. Unfortunately, it hasn't aged well. It was clearly written when historians paid you little attention if you weren't a Pope or a prince. Since it was written on the cusp of when Carlo Ginzburg and other historians were inventing microhistory, there are almost no attempts to integrate interdisciplinarity, history of ideas, or a social history of anything beyond what Robin Leach popularly called “the lifestyles of the rich and famous.”
As valuable as its lessons are, you can find the same themes discussed in books that do well what this one doesn’t even attempt, like discussing the rise of Islam, the Byzantine empire, or other non-Western perspectives. Not only is the emphasis strictly European; it’s strictly western European. The overarching focus rests with how the political and religious orders expanded, adapted, gradually became institutional, then fractured under the successive pressures of war, competing secular loyalties, and the Papacy’s attempt to establish a hierocracy, especially in the wake of the Gregorian reforms.
Keen’s writing is bland and dry, but it communicates its main ideas well enough. Because of its short length and survey-like approach, you don’t get fully fleshed out arguments so much as conclusions on the topics covered. Countervailing perspectives are often elided, and many complicated topics (they’re all complicated once you get to understand them well enough) are introduced, but not deeply explored. Empire, the papacy, the investiture controversy, and crusading are neatly cordoned off into their own separate chapters without any explicit understanding of how they are deeply interrelated.
All the traditional topics are explored – the interplay between social unity and fragmentation, the tension between Church and state, the growth of urban life, and the slow emergence of modern political institutions. However, I can’t exactly recommend this since the ground it covers has already been so well-trod and presented more effectively in a surfeit of other books.
Want to Read
August 26, 2024I rate Penguin-themed books based on the number of penguins in them.
Three-hundred and fifty-two pages.
ZERO PENGUINS.
Three-hundred and fifty-two pages.
ZERO PENGUINS.
May 24, 2014
Reread of one of my college texts. This work is a good and brief overview of the general movement of the Middle Ages without feeling it necessary to create an exhaustive account of every detail of history. It works as a good foundational view of the period with which you can add additional meat at your preference (as it was used in my class).
I can't necessarily qualify Keen's scholarship without a great deal more research, but he has a comprehensive bibliography of his sources. Keen's structural theme also gives the temporal framework he places on the Middle Ages, that being the crowning of Charlemagne as Emperor in 800 and the dissolution of the Council of Basel (or as he writes, Basle) in 1449. He cites his primary theme as the focus and unity of Western Europe under Papal rule through this time, and cites the various growths of Monarchic, Nationalist, and Laity powers along with variously caused erosions of Papal power as being the ultimate end of the era as it blurred into the Renaissance.
I can't necessarily qualify Keen's scholarship without a great deal more research, but he has a comprehensive bibliography of his sources. Keen's structural theme also gives the temporal framework he places on the Middle Ages, that being the crowning of Charlemagne as Emperor in 800 and the dissolution of the Council of Basel (or as he writes, Basle) in 1449. He cites his primary theme as the focus and unity of Western Europe under Papal rule through this time, and cites the various growths of Monarchic, Nationalist, and Laity powers along with variously caused erosions of Papal power as being the ultimate end of the era as it blurred into the Renaissance.
February 24, 2019
As someone who has never studied the Medieval period before, this was a really fantastic introduction to an area of history that I am now compelled to learn more about.
Of course, introduction being its purpose, there is no doubt that this book was simplistic in some areas - but alas! is that not the plight of all history books? (!!)
I particularly loved the chapter on the Crusades, and the exploration of religion at the time.
Of course, introduction being its purpose, there is no doubt that this book was simplistic in some areas - but alas! is that not the plight of all history books? (!!)
I particularly loved the chapter on the Crusades, and the exploration of religion at the time.
August 13, 2019
I now know more about how the interaction between Church and nascent royalty, their relationship with the nobility and how trade and the need for security to support it drove the development of medieval European society than I did before.
I also discovered my wife underlined a lot of seemingly random paragraphs for her A-Levels.
Only one of these things will be useful in a pub quiz. Assuming a there's a round about the development of medieval European society and the facts that went into its formation.
I also discovered my wife underlined a lot of seemingly random paragraphs for her A-Levels.
Only one of these things will be useful in a pub quiz. Assuming a there's a round about the development of medieval European society and the facts that went into its formation.
August 8, 2013
Quite an interesting basic history of Medieval Europe. Many texts out there are much more exciting, though this gives a thorough background knowledge. Good to use for assessments and essays.
January 2, 2019
A good overview of medieval history of the western Europe for a lay reader, however it is not very strong on Germany and leave out pretty much all of eastern Europe and it also ignore several of the newer perspectives which were developed by historians such as Duby, Fichtenau, Wolfram, Le Goff etc. and therefore should reader with the strong interest look further after reading this book.
June 9, 2017
Good when it addresses broad concepts, weak when it gets into specifics.
Chapters 2,3,4,5,7,10,11,18 were all worth reading, the rest of the book is a bit difficult as it moves at too brisk of a pace for the uninitiated.
Chapters 2,3,4,5,7,10,11,18 were all worth reading, the rest of the book is a bit difficult as it moves at too brisk of a pace for the uninitiated.
December 2, 2021
good, but really boring
August 3, 2022
More of a political-religious history of western Europe.
September 22, 2025
Before I go ahead, I would just like to say that I very much enjoyed this book. Occasionally a bit bewildered at points, I still feel I came away from each chapter knowing, at the very least, the main characters, themes, and purposes that the chapter aimed to achieve.
As for the book itself, I think my expectations for this book were very different from the reality—Maurice Keen’s overarching focus is the rise and fall of a United Christendom, with the dawn of nationalism leading to gross disagreements between states, provinces, countries, merchant colonies etc. Going into this book, I’ll confess that I didn’t really know what to expect, exactly, but I imagined it would be a more vibrant history than what is written in this book.
In reality, I would say Keen ticks his criteria very well, and provides a very good springboard from which one could leap into a number of broad, or minute, topics; Papacy, Ottomans, Crusader states, Hundred Years War, Charlemagne and his descendants are just a few topics one could look deeper into, after having the outline of Medieval Europe provided by this book.
Now, I will say that I imagine Professor Keen made for a better professor than writer, mainly because the setting of professor would allow a student to ask Keen questions when confused. Maurice does seem to assume quite often in this book (and in his other work Chivalry) that you always know what he’s talking about off the cuff, without him needing to explain what things mean. Saracens or Moors, to your average reader for example, would mean absolutely nothing.
Overall, I am impressed with this book (I did actually really enjoy it!) and look forward to delving into certain topics a bit deeper.
As for the book itself, I think my expectations for this book were very different from the reality—Maurice Keen’s overarching focus is the rise and fall of a United Christendom, with the dawn of nationalism leading to gross disagreements between states, provinces, countries, merchant colonies etc. Going into this book, I’ll confess that I didn’t really know what to expect, exactly, but I imagined it would be a more vibrant history than what is written in this book.
In reality, I would say Keen ticks his criteria very well, and provides a very good springboard from which one could leap into a number of broad, or minute, topics; Papacy, Ottomans, Crusader states, Hundred Years War, Charlemagne and his descendants are just a few topics one could look deeper into, after having the outline of Medieval Europe provided by this book.
Now, I will say that I imagine Professor Keen made for a better professor than writer, mainly because the setting of professor would allow a student to ask Keen questions when confused. Maurice does seem to assume quite often in this book (and in his other work Chivalry) that you always know what he’s talking about off the cuff, without him needing to explain what things mean. Saracens or Moors, to your average reader for example, would mean absolutely nothing.
Overall, I am impressed with this book (I did actually really enjoy it!) and look forward to delving into certain topics a bit deeper.
June 15, 2025
This book covers a large period of history. A good starting base for reading on the medieval period.
May 22, 2024
It’s a 3.5 star book for me, I’m not a history scholar but I don’t believe this book would create a comfortable distraction on a long train journey. The copy I read was used by a family member for her A levels, I was just eager to learn. For me it’s pretty full-on. But I did learn things - so a 4 stars for that, BUT some of the words used in the book are beyond my vocabulary and not the kind that are used anywhere else in my life certainly?? - it made the read hard work at times and for that a 2-* as I get frustrated having to stop and look up a word in a dictionary or online, only it find it was just an elaborate choice by the author. So overall…. 3-*’s and well deserved. Oh for a life where I could sit and ponder and debate the key themes of the book!!
June 4, 2025
A reasonable overview of approx 600 years of European history in 350 pages, akin to a mini-textbook. Obviously there is so much to cover that details are omitted & deficiencies become apparent, but overall it moves along coherently. The main issue I had was that often becomes just a litany of names of kings, princes, princesses, popes, antipopes & infidels, which I found impossible to remember & rather dull. The inner workings of the Catholic Church was also covered in detail over multiple chapters: certainly important but not overly readable. Conversely, details of battles & campaigns are skimmed over where more detail would have made it more engaging. Overall a mixed bag but a useful starting point to the period.
October 15, 2013
I read this because I wanted to know more about the Crusades, the Black Death & the Hundred Years War, but after reading this I am no better off - written in a tedious pedestrian style which sucks the life out of source material which should be way more interesting than this book makes it, I would have to recommend you look elsewhere if you want to read up on the period and be engaged & entertained by it.
January 8, 2013
I could not read this book. It was the driest thing I have ever read. All I wanted was a nice read about medieval times that would help me understand the era as research for a book. However, I could not get through it.
I think that indeed, there are people who would enjoy this book. I am not one of them.
I think that indeed, there are people who would enjoy this book. I am not one of them.
February 20, 2016
An interesting look at Europe in the Middle Ages. Keen offers a very broad look at the period from the rise of Charlemagne to the end of the 1400s. The book starts off a bit slow, but picks up pace as the fascinating history of the Crusades, papal exploits and the Hundred Years War unfold. A good intro to this period in history.
April 5, 2007
The Oxford Medieval Europe is better.
February 28, 2013
Got a little too detailed at times but still a great overview of the time period.
July 5, 2014
Superb introduction to medievalism
May 14, 2015
A decent overview of the period, though "a general survey of Europe" it most certainly is not.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews