Medieval Civilization

The Other Half of History explores an aspect of history that is often overlooked - the history of women.

Step inside a medieval castle and discover for yourself what it was like to live and work inside its massive walls. Superb illustrations and thoroughly researched information provide a vivid and intimate look at every aspect of castle life. You will see the craftsmen and builders at work, witness a great dinner in the main hall, learn about the life of the lord and lady, learn how a page became a knight, and more.

A brisk narrative of battles and plagues, monastic orders, heroic women, and knights-errant, barbaric tortures and tender romance, intrigue, scandals, and conquest, The Middle Ages: An Illustrated History mixes a spirited and entertaining writing style with exquisite, thorough scholarship. Barbara A. Hanawalt, a renowned medievalist, launches her story with the often violent amalgamation of Roman, Christian, and Germanic cultures following the destruction and pillaging of the crown jewel of the Roman Empire, the great city of Rome.

In this innovative approach to teaching history, students step into the medieval world of a knight, a carpenter, a scribe, and a duchess with the help of four art masterpieces, including a tapestry, a stained glass window, and an illuminated manuscript. Each art poster is accompanied by a reproducible story that introduces one of the figures from the artwork and a reproducible journal that details the life and times of that character.