[Dummies 01] • Medieval History For Dummies

Is your knowledge of The Crusades less than tip-top? Maybe you're curious about Columbus, or you're desperate to read about the Black Death in all its gory detail? Whatever your starting point, this expert guide has it all - from kings, knights and anti-Popes, to invasion, famine, the Magna Carta and Joan of Arc (and a few rebellious peasants thrown in for good measure!). Get ready for a rip-roaring ride through the political, religious and cultural life of the Middle Ages, one of the most talked-about periods in history.

Medieval History for Dummies includes:

Part I: The Early Middle Ages

Chapter 1: The Middle Ages: When, Where, What, Who?

Chapter 2: The end of Rome and the not so 'Dark Ages'.

Chapter 3: Angles, Saxons and Feudalism.

Chapter 4: The Carolingians grab their chance.

Chapter 5: Charlemagne - A new empire is born.

Part II: The Making of Europe

Chapter 6: The (Holy Roman) Empire Strikes Back.

Chapter 7: East Meets West: Islam in the Western Mediterranean.

Chapter 8: The Vikings: A threat from the north.

Chapter 9: Schism: The Church splits itself in two.

Chapter 10: The Normans: The 'real' Middle Ages begin.

Part III: 'Holy War': Crusading at home and abroad.

Chapter 11: Crusade: A call to arms.

Chapter 12: The First Crusade

Chapter 13: England vs France Pope vs Emperor

Chapter 14: The Second Crusade The 'Crusades at Home'

Chapter 15: Richard vs Saladin: The Third Crusade

Chapter 16: The later Crusades and other failures.

Part IV: Parliament, Priories, Provisions Plague

Chapter 17: John, Henry, Rudolf Edward.

Chapter 18: Monks Merchants: The new power brokers

Chapter 19: The Papacy on Tour: Avignon and the Anti-Popes

Chapter 20: 'God's Judgement?': The Black Death

Part V: The End of the Middle and the start of discovery.

Chapter 21: One Hundred Years of War

Chapter 22: The Peasants are Revolting

Chapter 23: Agincourt, Joan of Arc the French recovery

Chapter 24: Columbus The New World

Part VI: The Part of Tens

Chapter 25: Ten Rubbish Kings

Chapter 26: Ten Curious Medieval Pastimes

Chapter 27: Ten Great Castles

Chapter 28: Ten People Who Changed The World

Chapter 29: Ten Great Books (To read next)