Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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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.

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.

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.

Although the term "Middle Ages" often referred to the European age of transistion, other important events went on the other side of the Mediterranean Sea where Islamic science and culture advanced beyond western's comprehension. Apart from the short descriptions on Reconquista, Crusades, and Ottoman Empire (Devlet?), not much were looked into the making of Islamic history.

The appreciated work reflects the serious research done by the authors but discrepancy on Islamic historical accounts slightly missed the "edge".