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The Best Books About Medieval and Early Modern History
The Best Books About Medieval and Early Modern History Primary and Secondary Sources Published February 15, 2006 by Rose Rankin
green308 © www.bigstockphoto.comDid you know?During medieval times, most modern-day countries didn't exist; names we recognize like Italy and England represented physical geography but weren't unified nations.
TakeawaysMedieval history encompasses many centuries and places.A mix of primary and secondary sources is the key to quality scholarship.The storytelling aspect of historical writing is exciting and creative.
You’ve been assigned a research paper about a topic in medieval history, but the library’s computerized catalog returned hundreds of titles and the shelves are brimming with books; which ones should you choose? Almost every time, place, and group of people throughout history has been very well-documented, so it can be difficult to discern good sources from bad ones when trying to write a research paper for a history class. Here is a list of informative books, both primary and secondary sources, written by accomplished authors or recognized as authentic primary documents, for the medieval/early modern period. This era encompasses a vast swath of time, roughly from the year 500A.D. to 1750A.D, which makes it nearly impossible to compile a list of sources for the entire period. Therefore, this group of books is focused approximately on the years 1050A.D. to 1600A.D, which includes the eras known as the High Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Age of Exploration. While this time period extends beyond just the Middle Ages proper, you will find that the Middle Ages didn’t end abruptly one day, with the early modern era beginning suddenly the next morning. The intimate connections between the two make many of these titles appropriate for studying the entire period.
I have included two types of sources, primary and secondary, because both are necessary to the writing of a quality research paper at the college level. The secondary sources are listed first because it is vital to understand the context and timeline of events of an historical period before delving into complex primary sources written in words and tones very different from ones we recognize now. One more important note: No websites are included on this list because, the majority of the time, it is unacceptable to cite a website unless it has been specifically sanctioned by a professor. While the web is a wonderful trove of information, (like this article), historical documentation requires the ability to find printed, paper versions of your sources to ensure the best possible accuracy. If a particular professor allows the use of websites as quotable sources, that’s great, but to be safe I’m not getting involved in any recommendations! Lastly, you might be wondering, what does this writer know about good history books for a college paper?
Just so you feel you can trust me, I graduated magna cum laude with my degree in history only a few years ago, my concentration was in early modern European history, and I worked as a teaching assistant for two history classes while in college. What I am sharing with you are sources and books that helped me compose the multitude of papers I wrote during my four years as a history major, and I’m sure that at least some of them can help you too! (In fact, the citations for each book are the correct form of bibliographical citations according to the Chicago Manual of Style, which is the official citation method used in professional history. Learn this format so well that you can repeat it in your sleep!)
SECONDARY SOURCES
Grafton, Anthony. New Worlds, Ancient Texts: The Power of Tradition and the Shock of Discovery. Cambridge, MA:Harvard University Press, 2002.
Let me say from the outset that this book deals with the time period that professional historians consider “early modern,” or maybe “late medieval,” but even with this generous definition of medieval, most of this book’s material would be very late in that period. Why have I included it? Because this is an intriguing text that is bursting with information about European history. As a history student you will learn that no time period is divorced from that which came before, so it is quite useful to read this book that focuses on the fifteenth through the seventeenth centuries because there is plenty of information about the Middle Ages in it, since the Middle Ages directly affected the succeeding centuries. This book, written by a current Princeton professor and leading scholar in the field of early modern Europe, confronts the issues of exploration and discovery of the “New World
” and the way in which these discoveries affected accepted texts and written authorities. Therefore, medieval sources of knowledge and beliefs are covered in depth because the early modern discoveries challenged and changed these accepted notions (I won’t spoil it and tell you how, you’ll have to read the book). Although it sometimes is rather dense, this book tackles an exciting aspect of medieval/early modern history, is a product of excellent scholarship, and it includes illustrations and pieces of primary sources that bring the author’s ideas to life.
Eugene F. Rice, Jr. The Foundations of Early Modern Europe. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1994.
Like the previous book, this one deals with the late medieval/early modern time period, but it’s useful for the same reasons as the former Grafton text. As a basic textbook, a plethora of subjects are covered, from science, economics, and the ubiquitous wars across Europe at the time, to culture, art, and religion. The medieval roots and connections of all these topics to their early modern developments are covered in detail, yet this book does not get bogged down in minute bits of information, which makes it not only instructive but also very readable. This is a great general text that explains major events, figures, and developments throughout the period in Europe, and it should be your first stop when researching a topic to familiarize yourself with the basic facts about a particular subject.
Lindsay, James E. Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2005.
This book is a straightforward, easy-to-read account of everything you ever wanted to know about medieval Islamic history. Informative but written in a relaxed tone, this text illustrates all aspects of this subject, including the life of Muhammad, the Islamic conquests, the rise and fall of different dynasties throughout the Middle East, warfare, religious practices, interactions with Jews and Christians, and cultural aspects such as clothing and names. A full discussion about sources, both their strengths and weaknesses, opens this book, which is important to understand as a history student. Dealing with primary sources is the most important, and often most difficult, task for an historian, so this section is a great introduction to historiography that can be applied to any area of history. Helpful appendices supply information on dynastic family trees, a conversion table for the Christian and Islamic calendars, and even some recipes are included! Complete with pictures and maps, this book is thoroughly educational and entertaining as well, therefore it’s an indispensable source for medieval Islamic history.
Riley-Smith, Jonathan. The Crusades: A Short History. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1987.
Although this book was first published almost twenty years ago, it is still considered a precise, informative, and thorough account of a crucial aspect of medieval history, the Crusades. Dr. Riley-Smith is acknowledged as one of the leading scholars in this field, and this book is a great explanation of that reputation. This book covers the Crusading movement in its entirety, from the calling of the first Crusade in 1095 to the end of the last Frankish settlement in the Holy Land in 1291. While that may not seem like an enormous amount of time, an unbelievable amount of events took place within those years! What makes the Crusades such a pivotal part of medieval history is that they encompassed so many peoples, lands, and cultures. The Crusades aren’t European history, Islamic history, military history, or religious history; they’re all of those topics mixed together, and this book captures that diversity. It explains the ideological roots behind the movement, the political climates in both Europe and the Middle East throughout the period, military events, key figures (Pope Urban II, Saladin, Pope Innocent III, the Templars and Hospitallars, to name but a few), and the effects of the Crusader movement across Europe and the Middle East. At just over 250 pages of text, this is a concise account of an integral part of medieval history by an accomplished scholar, which makes it one of the best books available on this subject.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Alighieri, Dante. The Divine Comedy. Translated by John Ciardi. New York: New American Library, 2003.
As well as being one of the classics of world literature, The Divine Comedy can also be used as a primary source about medieval . Woven throughout the cantos, or verses, are figures from Dante’s era, (the early fourteenth century), including some that he knew personally. Depicted as suffering sinners in hell, repentant souls lingering in purgatory, or joyous spirits in heaven, the characters Dante encounters on his epic journey describe events of medieval Italian history, and Florentine history most vividly, through their conversations with the poet. Be aware, however, that while this poem is a beautiful masterpiece of metaphor and description, it can be laborious to read, which is why I’ve chosen the version translated by John Ciardi. It’s full of helpful footnotes and illuminating introductions that are indispensable for understanding the dense text. Since this work is much too long to be used for just one paper, choose only one part (The Inferno, Purgatory, or Paradise). I recommend The Inferno, which is definitely the most dramatic and moving section. Remember, Dante was a product of his time and by no means an objective observer, so while this work of literature contains factual information, it is also the opinions of one person and therefore only one point of view.
Brucker, Gene, ed. The Society of Renaissance Florence: A Documentary Study. Toronto: University of TorontoPress, 1971. Reprint, Toronto: Renaissance Society of America, 2001.
An acknowledged expert in the field of Renaissance history, Gene Brucker’s compilation of primary documents has been a stalwart source since its first publication over thirty years ago. Renaissance Florence is one of the areas of medieval history for which we have the greatest wealth of extant information, which, along with the critical political and economic developments that took place there in the medieval and early modern periods, makes it such a popular focus of historical inquiry. The Society of Renaissance Florence contains wills, diary entries, transcripts of court testimony, personal memoirs, tax assessments from the Catasto of 1427, an incredibly large and detailed government survey, and many other types of primary documents. The scope of topics covered is enormous: From economic and judicial matters to accounts of sorcery and gossipy tales about extra-marital affairs, the documents in this text address almost every facet of life in Florence in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Although some of the writing is complicated and opaque, most of the translation is clear and understandable for a 21st century audience. This classic book is a must-read if you’re looking for illuminating primary documents about one of the vibrant centers of Renaissance culture.
Gabrieli, Francesco, editor and translator. Arab Historians of the Crusades. Turin, : Giulio Einaudi Editore S.P.A, 1957. Reprint, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1969.
Another reprinted classic is Arab Historians of the Crusades. While carrying out any research on the Crusades, you will see this book cited in secondary sources, and with good reason; the accounts in this book were written by many eminent Arab chroniclers, including Ibn al-Athir and Ibn al-Qalanisi. This book includes documents covering events from the First Crusade to the fall of the city of Acre in 1291, which makes it a fantastic source about all aspects of the Crusader movement. The Arab perspective is an insider’s view on the events of the Crusades, and papers about the European side of the Crusades are strengthened by the accounts in this book because they provide a well-rounded, thorough study of the period. Descriptions of battles, sieges, and key figures abound in this book, which make for vivid, passionate, and at times, gory reading.
Lopez, Robert S. and Irving W. Raymond, translators. Medieval Trade in the Mediterranean World: Illustrative Documents. New York : Columbia University Press, 1955. Reprint, New York: Columbia University Press, 2001.
Trade and the travel it necessitated remains one of the most important topics in medieval history because it affected peoples and cultures across the globe. Consequently, this book covers not only western Europe but also the Byzantine Empire, the Muslim world, and even . Types of contracts, modes and routes of transportation, practical advice, and interactions between Christians, Jews, and Muslims are all addressed by documents in this text. One of this book’s greatest strengths is that the documents cited were written by people from all over the known world, so different accounts and outlooks are provided on all facets of trade. Remember, then as now, the Mediterranean comprised not only Italy and Greece, but also southern France, northern Africa, Turkey, and the western edge of the Middle East, which means many different cultures thrived around the Mediterranean basin. Admittedly, many of the materials in this book are dry reading, but the wealth of topics addressed and the diversity of authors presented makes this book an excellent resource.
In conclusion, I hope the texts described here help you during the research process when studying medieval history. Try to look at this phase of paper-writing as a treasure hunt where you search for ideas, facts, and pieces of evidence that you mold into a coherent and captivating narrative of an historical event or era. History is the telling of a story, but a true story complete with characters and a plot. Make it exciting for yourself and your readers by emphasizing this art of storytelling, and with any of the above-mentioned books, you can enhance your writing.
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