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Historia Universal Asimov #8
The Dark Ages
La serie informalmente titulada HISTORIA UNIVERSAL ASIMOV reúne las obras dedicadas por el gran novelista y divulgador científico a la evolución política, cultural y material de la especie humana. LA ALTA EDAD MEDIA se ocupa del periodo " de las edades oscuras " que, iniciado con las invasiones germánicas que acabaron con el Imperio Romano de Occidente, continúa con las vicisitudes de estos pueblos para crear sus propias estructuras estatales y culmina con la figura de Carlomagno, para desembocar, finalmente, en una nueva etapa civilizatoria a comienzos del segundo milenio.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1968
30 people are currently reading
914 people want to read
About the author
Isaac Asimov
4,337 books27.7k followersWorks of prolific Russian-American writer Isaac Asimov include popular explanations of scientific principles,
The Foundation Trilogy
(1951-1953), and other volumes of fiction.
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
Isaac Asimov, a professor of biochemistry, wrote as a highly successful author, best known for his books.
Asimov, professor, generally considered of all time, edited more than five hundred books and ninety thousand letters and postcards. He published in nine of the ten major categories of the Dewey decimal classification but lacked only an entry in the category of philosophy (100).
People widely considered Asimov, a master of the genre alongside Robert Anson Heinlein and Arthur Charles Clarke as the "big three" during his lifetime. He later tied Galactic Empire and the Robot into the same universe as his most famous series to create a unified "future history" for his stories much like those that Heinlein pioneered and Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson previously produced. He penned "Nightfall," voted in 1964 as the best short story of all time; many persons still honor this title. He also produced well mysteries, fantasy, and a great quantity of nonfiction. Asimov used Paul French, the pen name, for the Lucky Starr, series of juvenile novels.
Most books of Asimov in a historical way go as far back to a time with possible question or concept at its simplest stage. He often provides and mentions well nationalities, birth, and death dates for persons and etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Guide to Science, the tripartite set Understanding Physics, and Chronology of Science and Discovery exemplify these books.
Asimov, a long-time member, reluctantly served as vice president of Mensa international and described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs." He took more pleasure as president of the humanist association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, the magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, an elementary school in Brooklyn in New York, and two different awards honor his name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_As...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
January 30, 2019
Como siempre los libros de historia de Asimov son muy agradables, mezclando sucesos relevantes, etimología y anécdotas, desde todo tipo de papas (guerreros, en la cárcel, dos papas que ¿sin saberlo? tuvieron hijos con la misma mujer etc.) hasta la historia de como se volvió popular el uso de pantalones. Tiene doble mérito porque los años 500 al 1000 de nuestra era en Europa, son de lo más enredados y tristes: las "edades oscuras".
July 23, 2008
This book definitely helped establish me on the course my life took. Reading about the "Dark Ages," I discovered that there was a fascinating world between the Romans and the Renaissance.
Of course, it oversimplified the era and it's hopelessly outdated considering the research that has been done in the last 35+ years but it gets the basic facts right, and it's a good introduction for a young reader who might otherwise be turned off by history because of the inane textbooks they're (sic) not reading in school. As usual, Asimov writes in a clear, crisp fashion that doesn't patronize the reader, and he makes things sound "exciting."
Of course, it oversimplified the era and it's hopelessly outdated considering the research that has been done in the last 35+ years but it gets the basic facts right, and it's a good introduction for a young reader who might otherwise be turned off by history because of the inane textbooks they're (sic) not reading in school. As usual, Asimov writes in a clear, crisp fashion that doesn't patronize the reader, and he makes things sound "exciting."
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January 29, 2016La Edad Media, las paginas de la historia universal, tal vez porque se ha hablado solo de ella a pesar de su oscuridad, que menos me gustan. Pero por supuesto, de la mano de Asimov los 1000 años más oscuros de Europa son divertidos.
Germanos, los Godos (y visigodos y ostrogodos), Francos, Nórdicos (Vikingos), Nibelungos... y demás pueblos que se pasearon matándose buscando su rincón preferido en Europa, esa gran península que sobresale del borde occidental de la enorme masa terrestre de Asia. Este era por entonces, y lo es aun hoy, la gran reserva de población de la raza humana , y existieron tan pobres y brutos tanto años como quisieron.
El tejido que poder que tejieron los hijos de la iglesia de cristo, sabiendo que ellos eran los pocos que podía ver alguna luz porque por lo menos sabían leer y escribir, ayudó muchísimo a que la ciencia, la tecnología y las voces de los ancestros nunca resonará en los bosques ni las casuchas de la Europa de la Edad Media.
Las leyendas estaban en el voz a voz de los pueblos, los intelectuales se murieron siendo vasallos de un rey que lo único que tenía era castillo para protegerlos de esa banda de Gangster que fueron las tribus del norte, pero la iglesia no le convenía fieles sin hambre y con la mente funcionando. Ni a los señores feudales tampoco.
Ahora leído La Alta Edad Media, se puede transitar por los fantásticos y oscuros relatos de la parte más dura del medioevo.
La expresión "edad media" no se uso en la edad media, por supuesto. Los hombres de la época pensaban que su época constituía los "tiempos modernos".
Germanos, los Godos (y visigodos y ostrogodos), Francos, Nórdicos (Vikingos), Nibelungos... y demás pueblos que se pasearon matándose buscando su rincón preferido en Europa, esa gran península que sobresale del borde occidental de la enorme masa terrestre de Asia. Este era por entonces, y lo es aun hoy, la gran reserva de población de la raza humana , y existieron tan pobres y brutos tanto años como quisieron.
En esas épocas de vidas breves y muertes prematuras en batallas, todo el que llegase a la vejez era, en verdad, un fenómeno.
El tejido que poder que tejieron los hijos de la iglesia de cristo, sabiendo que ellos eran los pocos que podía ver alguna luz porque por lo menos sabían leer y escribir, ayudó muchísimo a que la ciencia, la tecnología y las voces de los ancestros nunca resonará en los bosques ni las casuchas de la Europa de la Edad Media.
Si el ultimo aliento de la Italia antigua terminó con Belisario y Narsés, el primer aliento de la Italia medieval comenzó con Gregorio. Los propios escritos de este contribuyeron a difundir el tipo de teología que asociamos con la edad media: tratan de ángeles y demonios, de la penitencia y el purgatorio, de milagros, reliquias...
Las leyendas estaban en el voz a voz de los pueblos, los intelectuales se murieron siendo vasallos de un rey que lo único que tenía era castillo para protegerlos de esa banda de Gangster que fueron las tribus del norte, pero la iglesia no le convenía fieles sin hambre y con la mente funcionando. Ni a los señores feudales tampoco.
... el sistema feudal nunca funcionó como se suponía idealmente que debía hacerlo. Los vasallos luchaban unos contra otros y contra sus señores, en desafío de la teoría y enteramente de acuerdo con las leyes de "cada uno para sí mismo y todo para el fuerte". Muchos vasallos tenían feudos en diferentes lugares, cada uno de un señor diferente. La confusa y variada red de feudos era tal que A podría ser el señor de B con respecto a un feudo y su vasallo en lo concerniente a otro.
El sistema, que pareció teóricamente tan nítido en siglos posteriores, nunca fue viable. Solo sirvió como una excusa más para la guerra.
Ahora leído La Alta Edad Media, se puede transitar por los fantásticos y oscuros relatos de la parte más dura del medioevo.
Jamas ha habido ninguna costumbre, por inútil que pueda volverse con el cambio en las condiciones, a la que la gente no se haya aferrado con desesperación sencillamente porque es algo viejo y familiar.
September 6, 2009
As a hardcore history nerd, Issac Asimov writing a history book appealed to me. I really like his style here, very informative and nearly saturated with information, but avoiding the overly academic and nearly impenetratable language historians can be noutorious for. Occasionally he'll stray a little off course and let you knoe how X historical event or people led to a modern day word in the english language, which makes for some nice trivia to compliment learning about a rather well... dark period in human history.
February 26, 2023
dnf, page 177
i hope not all non-fiction is like this
i hope not all non-fiction is like this
July 29, 2012
This was not one of Asimov's best books. However, this was a huge period in terms of time, lots of players involved and relatively poor evidence remaining since as Asimov noted several times, it was a period where learning and recording information decreased dramatically. Many places went back to trade and barter systems. He made a fascinating point that when we learn about the feudal system, we are given a sanitized version. In reality, it was not nearly as explicitly laid out as it is taught, nor was it at all clear cut. A vassal in one part of the country to Lord A could be Lord B with Lord A as vassal in another part of the country. What it really meant was that it was extremely hard to centralize anything, whether political, economic, or social. The Church managed to have excellent leaders at the right times in this period and was able to keep their organization centralized which probably contributed greatly to its increased power over the centuries. As usual, this was an excellent read. I doubt many others could sum up such a huge area in terms of time and space as well as Asimov. I'm glad I now have the library's discarded copy! Don't worry, there are other copies and I was definitely following guidelines when grabbing this!
March 13, 2013
The Good Doctor presents the history of The Dark Ages, from the first appearance of Germanic tribes in the Baltic in 1,000 B.C. until the end of Europe's Dark Age with the selection of Gerbert as Pope Sylvester II in 999 A.D.- writing in his usual inimitably, lucid and witty style. This is another one of the Good Doctor's many enjoyable and informative narratives covering the history of civilization.
They each share his entertaining style and reveal his appreciation of the sweep of grand events, as well as his enthusiasm for the intimate and obscure details in the lives of key individuals, be they kings or eunuchs, philosophers or warriors, scientists or explorers.
This particular volume covers the era from the fall of Rome to the renaissance and the age of exploration. The Good Doctor discusses Attila and the incursion of the Huns, and the Mongols, as well as Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire.
They each share his entertaining style and reveal his appreciation of the sweep of grand events, as well as his enthusiasm for the intimate and obscure details in the lives of key individuals, be they kings or eunuchs, philosophers or warriors, scientists or explorers.
This particular volume covers the era from the fall of Rome to the renaissance and the age of exploration. The Good Doctor discusses Attila and the incursion of the Huns, and the Mongols, as well as Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire.
November 19, 2007
I was pleasantly surprised at Asimov's respectful handling of church history, given his personal worldview. This is a terrific, readable, and insightful books.
April 8, 2018
The ages were dark, but Dr. Asimov's writing is clear.
November 25, 2009
Asimov again succeeds in surveying a thousand years of history, from the final centuries of a recognizable western Roman empire to the lifting of the "dark" as the Middle Ages moves away from the disintegration of that empire and toward a new civilization.
Of course, some readers might complain at the glancing discussion of social and economic conditions during this period, but that would be unfair. Asimov manages to weave in some telling details beyond those of church and state, including the invention of the mold-board plow and the use of horses in tilling the soil.
I highly recommend this as an introduction to the period, either as a standalone for someone interested only in an overview, or a basis for further reading. Charlemagne especially sounds fascinating as well as Pope Silvester II, who helped nurture the ancient flame of learning rather than stifling or suffocating it.
Of course, some readers might complain at the glancing discussion of social and economic conditions during this period, but that would be unfair. Asimov manages to weave in some telling details beyond those of church and state, including the invention of the mold-board plow and the use of horses in tilling the soil.
I highly recommend this as an introduction to the period, either as a standalone for someone interested only in an overview, or a basis for further reading. Charlemagne especially sounds fascinating as well as Pope Silvester II, who helped nurture the ancient flame of learning rather than stifling or suffocating it.
January 3, 2023
One of my all-time favorite books. The history of Europe (well, mainly France) from the fall of the Roman Empire up to Otto I.
This is a book that I would like to translate. And then it should be required reading for every German (and European). I see, there is a Dutch translation. No wonder they are so much brighter than we are.
Next time I reread I will say something more about it.
This is a book that I would like to translate. And then it should be required reading for every German (and European). I see, there is a Dutch translation. No wonder they are so much brighter than we are.
Next time I reread I will say something more about it.
March 5, 2024
Resumir en exactamente 300 páginas más de 500 años de la historia de Occidente y hacerlo de la manera en que lo consigue Asimov, sin ningún esfuerzo aparente y una fluidez y unión de eventos totalmente orgánica, es sólo digno del trabajo de uno de los más grandes .
En este tomo de su Historia Universal, el primero que me leo y el comprendido en la serie entre el dedicado a Constantinopla y The Shapping of England, Asimov relata la adhesión de los pueblos bárbaros al eterno Imperio Romano, herederos de la cultura griega, y así, en esta mezcla, la gestación de la Europa que hoy conocemos.
Los diferentes reinos godos, la caída de roma, el reinado de Carlomagno, las invasiones musulmanas, la llegada al poder de la iglesia católica... La lección, tras lección y el constante engranaje natural de causas y consecuencias, hace realmente que la lectura sea adictiva. Un placer imborrable leer este libro en la playa.
En este tomo de su Historia Universal, el primero que me leo y el comprendido en la serie entre el dedicado a Constantinopla y The Shapping of England, Asimov relata la adhesión de los pueblos bárbaros al eterno Imperio Romano, herederos de la cultura griega, y así, en esta mezcla, la gestación de la Europa que hoy conocemos.
Los diferentes reinos godos, la caída de roma, el reinado de Carlomagno, las invasiones musulmanas, la llegada al poder de la iglesia católica... La lección, tras lección y el constante engranaje natural de causas y consecuencias, hace realmente que la lectura sea adictiva. Un placer imborrable leer este libro en la playa.
September 16, 2022
This is my second foray into Asimov's histories, and I found this book more accessible than the Roman Republic. The story of these 1000 years is how Europe went from the Roman Empire to the rough shapes of the regions known today. I hadn't realized before this gap in my own knowledge of European history - my history courses generally jumped from the Romans to the Plague with a brief word for Charlemagne (and were many years ago besides).
To give the tone of the book, I offer the closing line: “This slow dawn between 950 and 1000 was not a change…destined to fade - rather it was to be followed by many other changes, one after the other, in quicker and quicker succession, until the accumulation of them exploded into an almost unbearably brilliant civilization that (with its faults as well as its virtues) spread from western Europe through all the world. And the end of which - we can only hope - is not yet.”
To give the tone of the book, I offer the closing line: “This slow dawn between 950 and 1000 was not a change…destined to fade - rather it was to be followed by many other changes, one after the other, in quicker and quicker succession, until the accumulation of them exploded into an almost unbearably brilliant civilization that (with its faults as well as its virtues) spread from western Europe through all the world. And the end of which - we can only hope - is not yet.”
Currently reading
June 13, 2007This is the 5th in the series of 14 Asimov's historys I have read
I've already read The Greeks: A Great Adventure, The Roman Republic, The Roman Empire and the Birth of the United States.
I have the Shaping of France, The Shaping of England,
The Egyptians, The Near East: 10,000 Years of History,
The Land of Cannan, Constantnople: The Forgotten Empire
The Shaping of North Ameerica, Our Federal Union, and The Golden Door to look forward to.
I've already read The Greeks: A Great Adventure, The Roman Republic, The Roman Empire and the Birth of the United States.
I have the Shaping of France, The Shaping of England,
The Egyptians, The Near East: 10,000 Years of History,
The Land of Cannan, Constantnople: The Forgotten Empire
The Shaping of North Ameerica, Our Federal Union, and The Golden Door to look forward to.
April 7, 2008
I read this for history and found it to be very well written and interesting but at times the size rather daunting.
March 22, 2020
At best this is a 3/5. Usually Asimov captures my attention in all he writes, in both his fiction and his non fiction, but this, this was just a list of names of people and a list of battles and achievements and failures, with lists of civilizations and emperors who rose and fell etc.
I didn't find this a very entertaining book to read, and I'll certainly hesitate to pay good money for anymore of his history related books having read this one (they sell for a fortune because they're rare... ).
In spite of my negative comments, it was interesting at certain points, if only briefly, and served to illustrate a thousand year history of an age I wasn't very familiar with. Albeit most of the book blends into nothingness in my memory having finished it, sadly.
I should note that I'm a huge Asimov fan and own around 50+ of his books and consider him one of the greats, not just because people say he's one, but because I can say, having read dozens of his books myself, that he conveys information like no one else. Clearly. Concisely. Intriguingly. Yet this book just didn't do it for me like the others. I supposed when you write several hundred books, you can't expect to please everyone with each and every one of them. This was a good survey of history, but that's what it is. A survey.
I didn't find this a very entertaining book to read, and I'll certainly hesitate to pay good money for anymore of his history related books having read this one (they sell for a fortune because they're rare... ).
In spite of my negative comments, it was interesting at certain points, if only briefly, and served to illustrate a thousand year history of an age I wasn't very familiar with. Albeit most of the book blends into nothingness in my memory having finished it, sadly.
I should note that I'm a huge Asimov fan and own around 50+ of his books and consider him one of the greats, not just because people say he's one, but because I can say, having read dozens of his books myself, that he conveys information like no one else. Clearly. Concisely. Intriguingly. Yet this book just didn't do it for me like the others. I supposed when you write several hundred books, you can't expect to please everyone with each and every one of them. This was a good survey of history, but that's what it is. A survey.
August 2, 2020
Our western worldview is a guilty blemish on an already tainted area. Over the centuries, European Man has been led to believe he's a civilization archetype of superiority, and anything born out of him is spewed out with heroic effort. The term "Dark Ages" is a reflection of this.
These were harsh historical periods. It's undeniable. They were difficult specially during the second half of the first millennium when, in norther Europe, records of events stalled, and the brilliant technological advances brought about by Roman civilization vanished almost completely. Still, the Muslim world, China and India were flourishing, their future very bright.
Asimov recognizes this blatant egotism. Thus, he aims his focus at the riveting narration of western Europe while acknowledging the darkness brewing in the region. With a peculiar talent for storytelling, he transforms the narrative into a compelling, digestible prose which begets exciting and engaging reading experiences. It goes in detail about the geopolitical events leading to the fall of the roman empire of the west, as well as the rise of Frankish Kingdoms in the north., In essence, most of the story centers on that region, most affected by this curious darkness.
These were harsh historical periods. It's undeniable. They were difficult specially during the second half of the first millennium when, in norther Europe, records of events stalled, and the brilliant technological advances brought about by Roman civilization vanished almost completely. Still, the Muslim world, China and India were flourishing, their future very bright.
Asimov recognizes this blatant egotism. Thus, he aims his focus at the riveting narration of western Europe while acknowledging the darkness brewing in the region. With a peculiar talent for storytelling, he transforms the narrative into a compelling, digestible prose which begets exciting and engaging reading experiences. It goes in detail about the geopolitical events leading to the fall of the roman empire of the west, as well as the rise of Frankish Kingdoms in the north., In essence, most of the story centers on that region, most affected by this curious darkness.
July 24, 2018
Cuando me doy cuenta de que en las clases de Historia ves un poco por encima la prehistoria, los romanos, la España árabe... y de pronto salta ya a la reconquista. Y en todo ese tiempo, ¿qué diantres pasó tanto en España como en el resto de Europa?? Generalmente se suele resumir con "y el imperio romano se dividió en dos, y sus emperadores eran todos unos inútiles y finalmente, en el 476, cayó el imperio romano de Occidente y empezó así la Edad Media".
Pero un Imperio tan grande no cae así solo y de la nada por muy incompetentes que sean sus líderes.
¿¿Cómo es posible que en las escuelas ni se mencione el arrianismo con lo importante que fue?? Parece que simplemente en España hemos sido católicos de la nada, porque así son las cosas, desde siempre.
Ha sido curioso saber de dónde viene el uso de los pantalones o las letras minúsculas, entre otras cosas que se cuentan en este libro.
Pero un Imperio tan grande no cae así solo y de la nada por muy incompetentes que sean sus líderes.
¿¿Cómo es posible que en las escuelas ni se mencione el arrianismo con lo importante que fue?? Parece que simplemente en España hemos sido católicos de la nada, porque así son las cosas, desde siempre.
Ha sido curioso saber de dónde viene el uso de los pantalones o las letras minúsculas, entre otras cosas que se cuentan en este libro.
January 9, 2021
The Dark Ages (Hardcover) by Isaac Asimov
I was lucky enough to borrow this book from the Chicago Public Library.
The Dark Ages is a short history book (235 pages) that covers the period from the end of the Roman Empire - 476 a. d. to the beginning of the enlightenment - around 1000 a. d. - brought upon by changes in agriculture: the introduction of the moldboard plow, and a harness, so that horses could help plow the fields. This increased the productivity of farming and allowed for fewer reasons to make war.
In simple and almost entertaining form, Asimov writes chapters about Germans Versus Rome--The Gothic Kingdoms--The Darkness Comes--The Merovingians--The Mayors of the Palace--From Mayor to King--Charlemagne--The Successors of Charlemagne--The End of the Carolingians--The Darkness Begins to Lift.
I read the book in a day and a half and it increased my understanding of this dark period.
I was lucky enough to borrow this book from the Chicago Public Library.
The Dark Ages is a short history book (235 pages) that covers the period from the end of the Roman Empire - 476 a. d. to the beginning of the enlightenment - around 1000 a. d. - brought upon by changes in agriculture: the introduction of the moldboard plow, and a harness, so that horses could help plow the fields. This increased the productivity of farming and allowed for fewer reasons to make war.
In simple and almost entertaining form, Asimov writes chapters about Germans Versus Rome--The Gothic Kingdoms--The Darkness Comes--The Merovingians--The Mayors of the Palace--From Mayor to King--Charlemagne--The Successors of Charlemagne--The End of the Carolingians--The Darkness Begins to Lift.
I read the book in a day and a half and it increased my understanding of this dark period.
November 3, 2025
Como medievalista el libro no me ha aportado nada que no supiera es un manual, que sirve para recodar y para inspirarse y esos cometidos los ha cumplido a la perfección.
Recomiendo el libro a cualquier interesado en la historia europea, trata de manera muy amena, pero a la vez exhaustiva un periodo de medio milenio incluso me he reído con algunas de las formulaciones escritas con gran humor.
Para mi el autor si bien era un interesado en la historia era un novelista de ciencia a ficción, pero he descubierto una nueva y preciosa faceta de Issac Asimov. Mi única queja es adolecer de ciertas explicaciones contextuales sobre la religión o la economía siendo eminentemente un resumen de historia política.
Una buena obra para iniciarse en conocimientos necesarios de los orígenes de Europa, esto ya es pensamiento mío particular. Sin duda como introducción Jacques Le Goff es mil veces mejor pero el famoso Asimov prestando su nombre hizo una gran labor.
Recomiendo el libro a cualquier interesado en la historia europea, trata de manera muy amena, pero a la vez exhaustiva un periodo de medio milenio incluso me he reído con algunas de las formulaciones escritas con gran humor.
Para mi el autor si bien era un interesado en la historia era un novelista de ciencia a ficción, pero he descubierto una nueva y preciosa faceta de Issac Asimov. Mi única queja es adolecer de ciertas explicaciones contextuales sobre la religión o la economía siendo eminentemente un resumen de historia política.
Una buena obra para iniciarse en conocimientos necesarios de los orígenes de Europa, esto ya es pensamiento mío particular. Sin duda como introducción Jacques Le Goff es mil veces mejor pero el famoso Asimov prestando su nombre hizo una gran labor.
February 9, 2023
La Historia Universal Asimov nos cuenta en este volumen cómo fue el paso del Imperio Romano al segundo milenio. Recorre las invasiones bárbaras, los reinos godos, los francos y las invasiones musulmanas para llegar a Carlomagno y la aparición de un nuevo imperio en Europa. Hay muchas buenas historias que se suceden con gran rapidez, un montón de reinos que se siguen unos a otros casi sin tiempo de recordarlos. Como sucede en los libros que recorren la historia de forma tan amplia se agradece la visión de conjunto que proporcionan al explicar toda una época, pero por contra se echa de menos una mayor profundidad. Está claro que las dos cosas a la vez no se pueden tener, una historia amplia y conocer los detalles de cada momento. Pero este es un buen intento.
September 19, 2025
This is 5th book in Asimov's collection of non-fiction histories I've read. I had to skip one on the Near East because it's not in our library system and costs around $75 online. I'm concerned that some of these timeless books by Asimov will become less and less available. Now, more than ever, we need to keep learning and growing. Beach reads are great but we need to find a way to spark curiosity and learning in our population.
This book was another 5 star in the series. I covers the time period mostly from the fall of the Western Roman Empire up until the year 1000 AD. The Dark Ages were thus known because it was a period of decentralization in Europe and there was very little learning and growth. We better watch out because we're headed for a Dark Age period in the US.
This book was another 5 star in the series. I covers the time period mostly from the fall of the Western Roman Empire up until the year 1000 AD. The Dark Ages were thus known because it was a period of decentralization in Europe and there was very little learning and growth. We better watch out because we're headed for a Dark Age period in the US.
July 8, 2020
Nunca cómo ahora se hace fundamental desterrar toda la historia posible, porque así podemos entender la locura del mundo actual que tenemos. Leer a Isaac Asimov como te va contando el período que empieza con la "caida del Imperio Romano" y el comienzo de la "Edad Media" es fascinante. Muchísimos personajes: reyes, emperadores, papas, guerras, asesinatos, reinos, dominaron durante 5 siglos lo que ahora conocemos como Europa. Se hace indispensable este libro, de verdad, si queremos entender como hemos llegado hasta hoy y cómo de deficiente es la docencia de historia en los colegios. Es un libro muy recomendable.
October 13, 2020
La manera de Asimov para relatar Historia es "muy suya", su estilo y personalidad se notan en la redacción.
Siento que separa el libro en 2 partes principales: Introducción a la Alta Edad Media y Desarrollo. Lo cual no está mal y es muy entretenido (ojalá así enseñaran Historia en las escuelas); sin embargo, tal vez a algunos no les guste que en ciertas partes parezca más un libro de datos curiosos sobre la descendencia de Alejandro Magno, en lugar de contenido meramente de divulgación científica, es decir, 100% serio.
Empero, sigue siendo un libro bien documentado y con la manera correcta de contar la Historia para personas de 14 años en adelante.
Siento que separa el libro en 2 partes principales: Introducción a la Alta Edad Media y Desarrollo. Lo cual no está mal y es muy entretenido (ojalá así enseñaran Historia en las escuelas); sin embargo, tal vez a algunos no les guste que en ciertas partes parezca más un libro de datos curiosos sobre la descendencia de Alejandro Magno, en lugar de contenido meramente de divulgación científica, es decir, 100% serio.
Empero, sigue siendo un libro bien documentado y con la manera correcta de contar la Historia para personas de 14 años en adelante.
October 1, 2018
Un libro que relata el período entre que las tribus germanas comienzan sus invasiones al Imperio Romano, hasta el fin de los Carolingios, en el año 1.000 d.C. El libro es detallado (a veces mucho, pero es medio inevitable en un libro como éste), y relata muchas cosas. Permite hacerse una idea general de esa época. Me lo quise leer porque quiero saber cómo se ha movido el poder de Roma a lo largo del tiempo y cómo sobrevivió en su época más oscura. Tuve que tener mucha paciencia con las partes que me parecieron muy detalladas, pero me gustó.
October 17, 2018
Asimov nos cuenta en detalle las edades llamadas oscuras, la Edad Media, con sus revueltas que hacen caer al imperio Romano hasta la consolidación y caída de los Carolingios. Personajes tan potentes como Carlos Martel o el mismo Carlo Magno cobran vida en palabras simples de Asimov, en un relato en el que el mismo participa opinando sin remitirse a ser solo un cuenta cuentos como la mayoría de los historiadores.
June 8, 2019
#leído #laaltaedadmedia de #isaacasimov
Interesante lectura sobre una época difusa y oscura, donde la cultura era destruida y menospreciada. Desde las invasiones bárbaras que sufrió Roma en su desmembramiento final hasta la muerte de Luis V el Holgazán (Algún rey no lo fue/es/será?), último rey Franco y fin del linaje carolingio. Muy bien explicado el inicio del feudalismo y las connotaciones seculares y religiosas que continuarían en Europa un milenio después.
Interesante lectura sobre una época difusa y oscura, donde la cultura era destruida y menospreciada. Desde las invasiones bárbaras que sufrió Roma en su desmembramiento final hasta la muerte de Luis V el Holgazán (Algún rey no lo fue/es/será?), último rey Franco y fin del linaje carolingio. Muy bien explicado el inicio del feudalismo y las connotaciones seculares y religiosas que continuarían en Europa un milenio después.
April 1, 2022
Wat dacht ik hiermee te bereiken? Dat Marsmannetjes de overgang tussen de Middeleeuwen en de Renaissance mee hielpen bepalen? Uiteraard niets van dat alles. Tenzij je inzichten als dat de uitvinding van de stijgbeugel ervoor heeft gezorgd dat de Wisigoten zowel de Hunnen als het Romeinse Rijk ten val hebben gebracht als “baanbrekend” mag bestempelen… (P.S. Het is overigens belangrijk op te merken dat Asimov het uitsluitend over de vroege Middeleeuwen heeft.)
August 8, 2024
No sé a quién se lo vi recomendar pero me ha gustado mucho. Mi cerebro no retuvo nada del colegio de lo que pasó entre el Imperio Romano y el Descubrimiento de América en Europa. Una época muy interesante, especialmente por la creación del poder de la Iglesia y su relación con los Reyes.
Asimov lo cuenta con ritmo e incluso algo de gracia e ironía. Como introducción/repaso está muy bien. He tardado pocos días en terminarlo.
Asimov lo cuenta con ritmo e incluso algo de gracia e ironía. Como introducción/repaso está muy bien. He tardado pocos días en terminarlo.
January 3, 2021
Yo diría que es "la alta edad media" de los francos, pero el autor apenas toca a España, de Italia algo pero con relación a los francos, de Inglaterra nada, de Bizancio muy poco. Es muy parcial, olvida la Europa del este, es verdad que fue una epoca oscura, pero en España había más cultura, me pregunto si no merecía un poco más de atención.
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