Chronicles of the Barbarians: Firsthand Accounts of Pillage & Conquest from the Ancient World to the Fall of Constantinople

by David Willis McCullough (Editor)

Chronicles of the Barbarians contains accounts of legendary warriors such as Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan, and other fierce invaders who attacked foreign lands throughout early history. Told by those who saw them in action, it is an unforgettable read.The primary sources collected here range from ancient scholars such as Herodotus, who wrote history as it happened, and commanders such as Julius Caesar, who tells of the first invasion of Britain, to ordinary soldiers, such as the Norman who gives a harrowing description of life as a crusader. To set the stage, this handsome volume includes short introductions, photographs, maps, illustrations, a timeline, and a biographical glossary.

This beautifully packaged, one-of-a-kind anthology is the perfect combination of Conan and Gibbon. For history and military buffs and lovers of well-told tales, this collection is both historically invaluable and luridly fascinating.

Genres: History, Ancient History, Nonfiction

392 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 1998

Reviews

[Skallagrimsen]

Eyewitness accounts of barbarian invasions from those who suffered them firsthand. The closest we'll ever to have to a "ripped from the headlines" perspective on this long, bloody phase of history.

[Lora Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compilation of excerpts of historical writings dealing with the barbarians of the ancient and medieval world. Most of the writings are by people who were contemporaries, or nearly contemporaries, of the barbarians they were writing about, although there are a few exceptions, such as Edward Gibbon, who remains the best source for some of the barbarian groups.

Some of these authors I have read before, particularly Herodotus (Histories) and the writers, including Julius Caesar, discussing the Celts (The World of the Druids). Matthew Paris (The Chronicles of Matthew Paris) is in here too, discussing the Mongols and Tartars. I also read Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire several years ago (before I started blogging book reviews).

But there are several authors I have never encountered before as well. Particularly interesting were the sections on the Vikings as barbarians, Tamerlane, and the Crusades (including a section from the point of view of one of the Moslems.

[Francis Bacon · Rating 4 out of 5]

some good original translations

[Brendan Steinhauser · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Chronicles of the Barbarians" covers the Celts, Huns, Vikings, Visigoths, Mongols, Tatars, and other so-called "barbarians" of the ancient and medieval world. These firsthand accounts are often fascinating, although one has to keep in mind that some of the material is often very close to fiction. But either way, the book is an insightful and entertaining survey of the barbarian tribes that swept across Eurasia and the Mediterranean world from ancient times through the medieval period.

[Walt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was written for a large audience. The chronicles are largely taken out of context and condensed. It is nearly impossible for college students to cite them for papers. It is also limited in giving a glimpse into their daily lives. On the plus side, it includes lovely illustrations and heightens curiosity into the Dark Ages

[Alana White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific for research on the fall of Constantinople while I was plotting The Sign of the Weeping Virgin.