The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: The Middle Ages, 768-1487 (Cambridge Illustrated Atlases) [Hardcover]

Nicholas Hooper (Author), Matthew Bennett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 26, 1996 | Series: Cambridge Illustrated Atlases

Warfare in the Middle Ages is often characterized as being dominated by lone, heroic knights or enormous mobs of plodding infantry. In this colorful and informative book, authors Hooper and Bennett debunk many of the myths surrounding medieval warfare to present a picture of a military culture as sophisticated as our modern one, with well organized armies and a high degree of tactical intelligence. The authors make their case by masterful use of high-quality maps, battle plans, and pictorial essays that explore such topics as siege warfare, the use of cavalry, the development of naval warfare, medieval science and warfare, and the legacy of the Middle Ages in modern military warfare. The Atlas spans the period from the coronation of Charlemagne to the last of the English Wars of the Roses and covers campaigns in and around Europe and the Mediterranean. The illustrations depict all levels of warfare from the strategic campaigns down to individual battles, fortifications, and weaponry. The lucid narrative that accompanies the pictures explains the course of campaigns and lessons to be learned from them. This book is written for the general reader with an interest in the history of warfare.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The ingredients of medieval warfare--armor, warhorses, small arms, the siege, archers, knights--are discussed and pictured in this highly illustrated popular history. A companion atlas, Renaissance to Revolution, 1492^-1792, is to be published this month.

The main purpose of the atlas is to trace the development of warfare from Charlemagne through the War of the Roses. Discussion is divided into four major sections: "The Crucible of Europe," (742^-1016), "Western Europe in the Eleventh to the Thirteenth Centuries," "Expanding Europe: The Crusades," and "Europe Divided: The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries." A brief section is devoted to the theory and practice of medieval warfare, offering brief information on fortresses, gunpowder, laws of war, chivalry, mercenaries, etc. There is a glossary, a bibliography of recommended secondary sources, a chronology (limited to events covered in the atlas), and an index.

The strength of the work is its illustrations. Maps are used to good effect to show political boundaries, cities, placement of armies, invasion routes, and marches. Three-and four-color drawings are used to show battle positions and troop movement during battle. These are quite helpful and relate to the text. Every map has a key explaining colors and symbols. Some of the many attractive photographs of paintings, engravings, and tapestries are too pale.

This historical atlas will appeal to young adults and lay adults and should be placed in the general circulating collection of high-school and public libraries. Not an essential purchase for larger academic and public libraries.

Review

"In this volume, the authors have combined academic respectability with accessibility to appeal to general readers....It is beautifully illustrated...this is a fine addition that will assist in the study of many controversial issues on the movement and strategies of armies of the period." School Library Journal

"...a handsome survey of medieval warfare from the accession of Charlemagne (768) to the end of the third War of the Roses (1487)....Highly recommended." Library Journal

"Excellent....very accessible and authoritative." Reader's Review

"This is a good atlas, suitable for undergraduates and as a starting point for further research....This volume will please the fans of the Normans and the Plantagenets." The Journal of Military History

"A reasonably priced reference work....Each entry begins with a clear overview....Presentation is colorful, concise, and scholarly, particularly detailed information...." American Reference Books Annual

"Rarely has a popular history book been written that succeeds so well in being entertaining and yet still substantive." Jeffrey Heinen, Speculum

"...this volume provids an engaging summary of the history of warfare in Medieval Europe and the Mediterranean region. The Atlas is both a beautifully produced introduction to the subjevt on the period." Naval War College Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1ST edition (January 26, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521440491
• ISBN-13: 978-0521440493
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Arts & Photography > Schools, Periods & Styles > Medieval

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference, January 5, 2004

By 

steve estvanik (seattle, wa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: The Middle Ages, 768-1487 (Cambridge Illustrated Atlases) (Hardcover)

This book, and its companion, covering The Middle Ages, 768-1487 and Renaissance to Revolution, 1492-1792, though with different authors, form an elegant pair of references. They cover a period that is infrequently covered in much detail, and rarely illustrated with any maps, much less the excellent examples here. My primary use for these books is as aids when reading both history and, even more, historical fiction such as Sharon Kay Penman, Dorothy Dunnett and Neal Stephenson. These authors write intricately plotted tapestries that rely heavily on movements in historical time, but their publishers include only incidental maps. These volumes supply a much needed reference for readers who are not quite au courant with the 3rd Anglo Dutch War, or the rise of Maratha India. The accompanying text gives an adequate survey of the time, but the primary emphasis is `rightly on the illustrated portion. The maps are beautifully designed, and easily deciphered, covering both individual battles and broader strategic concepts.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome general overview of medieval warfare., November 29, 2002

By 

Kris Havlak (Olympia, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: The Middle Ages, 768-1487 (Cambridge Illustrated Atlases) (Hardcover)

This is really one of the best general books on medieval warfare I have seen. It has two great advantages:

First, it covers the overall strategies of campaigns throughout the ages, with insight into motivations, logistics, tactics, and the like. Few major wars are ignored, and the level of depth pursued is great enough for all but the foremost researchers on the topic.

Second, the book has awesome illustrations representing both overall campaign strategies and the tactics utilized in individual battles. Combined with the detailed descriptions, this has offered me the most insight into how medieval battles were carried out and won.

I highly recommend this book to anyone at all interested in medieval warfare.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a excellant book for beginers, November 8, 2004

By 

Red - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: The Middle Ages, 768-1487 (Cambridge Illustrated Atlases) (Hardcover)

I like this book although it might lack certain information on several important battles in medieval europe it does however make up with it's beautiful illustrations. I would say this is a good book for people who want to make it simple, and for the serious reader I suggest reading Medieval Warfare: A History. In all even to some it might be a tad bit steep but you wouldnt be disappointed.