Key Figures in Medieval Europe: An Encyclopedia (Routledge Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages) [Hardcover]

Richard K. Emmerson (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 9, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0415973856 | ISBN-13: 978-0415973854

From emperors and queens to artists and world travelers, from popes and scholars to saints and heretics, Key Figures in Medieval Europe brings together in one volume the most important people who lived in medieval Europe between 500 and 1500. Gathered from the biographical entries from the on-going series, the Routledge Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages, these A-Z biographical entries discuss the lives of over 575 individuals who have had a historical impact in such areas as politics, religion, or the arts. Individuals from places such as medieval England, France, Germany, Iberia, Italy, and Scandinavia are included as well as those from the Jewish and Islamic worlds. A thematic outline is included that lists people not only by categories, but also by regions.

For a full list of entries, contributors, and more, visit the Routledge Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages website.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This twelfth title in the Routledge Encyclopedias of the Middle Ages series is a bit of a departure. Instead of offering new material, it reprints entries from eight of the previous titles, among them Medieval France: An Encyclopedia (1995); Medieval Jewish Civilization: An Encyclopedia (2002); and Medieval Italy: An Encyclopedia (2003). As explained in the introduction, "the present volume is intended not only for students, librarians, teachers, and the general public, who may be interested in the Middle Ages but do not wish to purchase or sift through numerous individual encyclopedias, but also for medievalists and other scholars who want to have a reliable reference work easily at hand." In order "to preserve the integrity of the scholarship," none of the entries have been revised.

The 587 individuals represented here were selected based on "editorial sense of long-term importance and influence" as well as potential reader interest. Although inevitably most of the subjects are men--and men of some power, at that--an effort was made to provide balance by including figures for whom documentation is relatively sparse. Along with entries for Peter Abelard and Alfred the Great, there are entries for Dhuoda, "the only known female author of the Carolingian Renaissance," and Wiligelmus, "the first great Italian sculptor." Approximately 50 women are covered; fuller treatment of women during the period can be found in Women in the Middle Ages: An Encyclopedia. (Greenwood, 2004). In addition to the index, the volume comes with two useful finding aids: a "Thematic List of Entries" and a list of entries by region.

Although it is redundant, this encyclopedia still has many uses. It may not be essential for larger collections already owning the other titles in the series, but it's a good stand-alone tool for public and smaller academic libraries in need of a scholarly biographical resource on the Middle Ages. Mary Ellen Quinn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

'This reference book provides thorough coverage of over 500 figures in medieval European history.' – Choice

'All libraries, whether general or specialized, will wish to have this eminently useful scholarly resource.' – International Review of Biblical Studies

Product Details

• Hardcover: 784 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (December 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415973856
• ISBN-13: 978-0415973854
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,635,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)