Middle Ages Books (500 - 1500)

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   Continuing on the theme of reviewing books one has read, we arrive at the Middle Ages; stretched to include late antiquity and the beginning of the early modern era.
The Life of Belisarius; by Lord Mahon, ~ 212 pages.  The famous victorian account of Belisarius.  Mahon covers Belisarius' various campaigns for the emperor Justinian; Africa, Italy, Persia, etc as well as his personality.  One reads this book as much for a biography of Belisarius as for Mahon's style.  Obviously, being written some 150 years ago, one might call it a bit out of date, but that is a minimal concern.  An excellent book.

Louis XI: The Universal Spider; by Paul Murray Kendall, ~ 375 pages.  This book is a fascinating account of the French King Louis XI, (1461-1483) known for his diplomatic brilliance and ability to forge the foundations of modern france against the will of the nobles.  The author illuminates the times of the french king and the events of his life, (growing up during the tail end of the hundred years war among other things) truely a remarkable personality.  

The Court of the Caliphs: When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World; by Hugh Kennedy, ~ 296 pages.  An enjoyable read about the Abbasid Caliphate, focusing on its rise, apex and beginnings of its decline.  The book does a good job of giving information in a clear order allowing the reader unaquainted with arabic to be able to remember various names, events, buildings etc. easily.  A good introduction to the Abbassids and their world.

Khubilai Khan: His Life and Times; by Morris Rossabi, ~ 231 pages.  A biography on the Mongol ruler.  The author covers Khubilai's life and times, mongol politics, the great khans rule, and finally Khubilai's decline and death.  An excellent introductory account of the mongol ruler.

The Last Knight: The Twilight of the Middle Ages and the Birth of the Modern Era; by Norman Cantor, ~ 241 pages.  A short, introductory biography on John of Gaunt, a son of Edward III.  The author explores the exploits of John of Gaunt, the major events of his life, as well as the significance of his life.  (war of the roses etc.)

Women in Purple: Rulers in Medieval Byzantium; by Judith Herrin, ~ 257 Pages.  An interesting book on some of the major female rulers of byzantium during the 8th and 9th centuries:  Irene, Euphrosyne, and Theodora are the main focus of the book.  Their lives and events they helped shaped make for an interesting read, even if the author holds the subjects in rather higher regard than myself.

Holy War: The Crusades and their Impact on Today's World; by Karen Armstrong, ~ 539 pages.  This book is all about the crusades, it also discusses, briefly, the current situation in the holy land.  It lists all 7 crusades in detail, the major figures and dates, as well as personalities and the why behind the crusades.  An excellent book on the crusades.

Genghis Khan: Conqueror of the World; by Leo De Hartog, ~ 193 pages.  A short biography on the mongol conqueror.  The author is well versed and knowledgable and is to the point, getting all the essential information in a limited amount of space.  A quality introduction to Temujin.

Chronicles of the Barbarians: Firsthand Accounts of Pillage and Conquest, From the Ancient World to the Fall of Constantinople; edited by David Willis McCullough, ~ 377 pages.  (I put this in the middle ages thread because it fits better here than anywhere else)  This book is a collection of chronicles of the barbarians from the Herodotus to Doukas' account of the fall of Constaninople.  For that reason (personal accounts) the book is enjoyable to read, the chronicles are of note for the perceptions and opinions of the authors about other peoples.  I have not found another book with this format, highly recommend it for first hand accounts of major historical events.  

Marco Polo and the Discovery of the World; by John Larner, ~ 183 pages.  This book is about Polo's life and world, specifically covering his trip to china and speculating just exactly where he went and the places he mentions actually were.  Also included are the voyages of others who chronicled their travels to the orient and the impact upon the european imagination etc.

Edited by Justinian - 06-Jan-2008 at 07:35