All Things Medieval

2 Volume Set

This comprehensive survey of the "things" of medieval Europe allows modern readers to understand what they looked like, what they were made of, how they were created, and how they were used.

The term "Middle Ages" generally refers to the nearly 1,000-year long period between 500 and 1450. The culture and lifestyle in the medieval world vary wildly depending on the specific area and the exact point within this ancient period in human history—an era that predates what is typically represented at Renaissance fairs by at least a century.

All Things Medieval: An Encyclopedia of the Medieval World covers the widest definition of "medieval Europe" possible, not by covering history in the traditional, textbook manner of listing wars, leaders, and significant historic events, but by presenting detailed alphabetical entries that describe the artifacts of medieval Europe. By examining the hidden material culture and by presenting information about topics that few books cover--pottery, locks and keys, shoes, weaving looms, barrels, toys, pets, ink, kitchen utensils, and much more--readers get invaluable insights into the nature of life during that time period and area.

The heartland European regions such as England, France, Italy, and Germany are covered extensively, and information regarding the objects of regions such as Byzantium, Muslim Spain, and Scandinavia are also included. For each topic of material culture, the entry considers the full scope of the medieval period--roughly 500-1450--to give the reader a historical perspective of related traditions or inventions and describes the craftsmen and tools that produced it.