Customer Reviews

Medieval Europe: A Short History

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Out of my modest library of a dozen or so books on the period, "Medieval Europe, A Short History" is the one that I would recommend to use as a general introduction. I give it four stars because I believe that the highest ranking should be reserved for works of unparalleled insight and expression. That aside, this is a solid, professional, comprehensive, and accessible piece of work.

First published by Dr. Hollister in 1964, the book is now in its Ninth Edition (2002). For this reason, some of the criticisms in the reviews pre-dating the most recent edition are unfounded. (I have a Second Edition, and it is but a shadow of the current volume.)

The work of updating the text has been taken over by Dr. Bennett of the University of North Carolina. I believe that the long legacy of the book and its many revisions reflect what does and does not work in an introductory course to the Medieval period. Dr. Bennett's touch is apparent in the steady but fair commentary given to the role of women throughout the long period.

Above all, the book is compact and well-organized. While, at times, it may proceed like an outline, that aspect is driven by its scope: Western Europe from late antiquity to the Renaissance, with additional commentary (for context) on Byzantium & the rise of Islam. In fact, the amount of information contained within its 397 pages (paperback version) is impressive.

Given its purpose, one cannot expect much digression into painting portraits of the times. What one can expect is a clear and direct exposition of the salient events and major trends of the Medieval period from all angles (political, religious, intellectual, social, economic, artistic, cultural). On that score, it squarely delivers.

The signature element of the discussion are the brief asides and analogies to 20th Century American society and culture. They only show up every once in awhile -- not enough to be distracting and certainly witty enough to bring a smile.

From "A Short History," I'd suggest proceeding with Cantor's "Civilization of the Middle Ages" and to the essays in the "Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe." After that, the door should be wide open to an investigation of whatever detailed aspect of the period a reader might want to pursue.

It's rare to find a textbook animated by its author's love of the subject matter. And Hollister is a devoted paramour. I had the pleasure of using the seventh edition of this textbook in a medieval history class, and I still have it. Simply put, it's a far-ranging, thorough and fascinating look at the art, events, and culture of the Middle Ages. And as for the previous review's objections to the book: the reason Hollister dismisses the "Golden Age" of Rome as anything but a "Golden Age" are carfeully listed. Infanticide, widespread slavery and poverty (running up to 90 percent), and a closely-bonded upper class that enjoyed the fruits of classical culture without bothering to transmit its fruits to the remainder of the realm. Nor does Hollister object to the Renaissance: he points out that the knowledge and thought processes the Humanists claimed to have rediscovered after the "long sleep" of the Middle Ages were set in motion and used quite well during the High Middle Ages. Humanists were simply more self-consciously "awakened." HIs critique of Renaissance art (if you can even call it that) is a simple observation of how the priorities of artists were changing by the end of the late Middle Ages. This is masterful stuff. The book makes a very convincing argument that western culture was shaped more by the Middle Ages than anything following. And Hollister's playful sense of humor makes everything go down easy. You've got to love a book that can discuss the problems of urban life in London while adding this observation: "The violence of medieval London may be attributable in part to the existence (in 1309) of 354 taverns and more than 1300 ale shops -- a fact that provides added meaning to the term 'High Middle Ages.'" It's pithy asides like these that reveal the humor and humanity of Hollister's effort, and make you realize that this gentleman is in love with his work, knowledgable about it, determined to learn even more, and brave enough to crack jokes in the super-serious world of academia. A terrific introduction to the Middle Ages.

I, too, had the pleasure of using this book for an undergraduate class and believe the material to be superbly organized. There seems to be just the right amount of subject headings, and the prose is clear and enjoyable to read. Moreover, illustrations and charts are equally well-placed. Rather than "cramming" a thousand years of history between its covers, the author works his way through a vast amount of material, omitting the non-essential. It is an outstanding example of what it means to survey a subject.

Yes, the author has no great love for ancient Rome and perhaps believes there is too much fuss made of the Renaissance. I do not agree with either sentiment. But the author's opinions, rather than detracting from the book, are nothing but a small though refreshing infusion of personality in an area that is notoriously dry: namely, the college textbook.

With this review, I hope to offset some of the unfortunate negative reviews listed here. This book is not only informative, but enjoyable to read--I literally couldn't put it down! How often does one say that about a book of Medieval History? I am currently teaching my first few semesters of Music History, and chose this book to help me get a broad generalization of the currents that shaped Western civilization, and ultimately Western culture. Some may say it is too brief in the retelling of history, but I for one found this book to be exactly what I was looking for. A wonderful overview of European history.

I read this text for a survey course on medieval history. I found the book to be better than most general history texts I've encountered in the past. The organization is superb and the writing is crisp and to the point. Oftentimes it was difficult to highlight anything because every sentence contains useful facts. Hollister writes with good humor in a subject that often lacks amusing anecdotes. The book starts with a brief view of Roman history and ends with the development of the Renaissance. There are chapters on Byzantium and Islam, as well as sections on medieval art, thought and architecture. Sidebars illuminate important medieval figures such as Hildegard of Bingen. Anybody reading this book will come away with a good foundation on medieval Europe.

Hollister, C. Warren & Judith M. Bennett 2002 Medieval Europe: A Short History. 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.


As an introduction to the Middle Ages, few books could surpass Warren Hollister's Medieval Europe: A Short History. It is a daunting task to write a "short" history of the thousand or so year period that covers the Middle Ages, but this book does a good job of introducing the reader to the main events, personalities and concepts of the period. Rather than delving too deep into any one concept or event, Hollister surveys the medieval landscape and produces quick summaries of its highlights. The book is organized into chapters chronologically and according to themes. Each chapter presents a timeline of important events and people and sidebars that give a more in depth look at one important personality of that period. The ninth edition was edited and revised by Judith Bennett, who did a wonderful job of filling out some missing areas of Hollister's original. These additions include a glossary of "medieval jargon" as she terms it, more dates, the timelines and biographical sketches mentioned above and a strong list of suggested readings at the end of each chapter for the reader who wishes to delve deeper into a particular subject.
The text of the book is a refreshing contrast to many of the history books in the bookstores today. Rather than being a very dry read, as history can be, Medieval Europe, is ripe with insights and witty comments that many other medieval history books lack. While some may find that such comments have no place in a serious history book, we find that it breaks up the monotony of dates and facts, which can deter many readers from finishing even the first chapter of a book.
The reviewers would highly recommend this book to both the student of medieval history, and to those with no background knowledge of medieval history whatsoever. Both categories of readers will find the book entertaining and an easy read, and will gain a basic understanding of the events, personalities, and concepts important to a deeper study of the Middle Ages. That being said, we would not recommend this book to those who already possess a firm knowledge of medieval history, unless they are looking for a quick refresher course of a particular event.

Jennifer Regan and Dr. Carl Edwin Lindgren
American Military University

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an overview of medieval Europe. The author writes in a clear, organized style, though such text-book seriousness is occassionally betrayed by a dry sense of humor. And while openly declaring himself anti-PC, the author does not allow any ideology to directly impede his misssion of telling an engaging story. I originally bought this book to refresh my memory before a Chaucer seminar, and under such circumstances I was well served. I have re-read it since then just for the fun of it. It also makes a good gift for well-read relatives and friends. I do not hesitate in recommending Medieval Europe: A Short History to anyone interested in the topic.

The ninth edition of _Medieval Europe_ is a very informative, and very readable, introductory text. Professor Hollister compiled the first edition of this book in the 1960s, and its popularity is evident in how many editions have been produced. Professor Bennett updated the text and published this ninth edition in 2002.

Bennett's updates and additions are very welcome: she adds a great deal of women's history, as well as expanded sections on socio-economics, and religious history. The general layout of the book is also very attractive; it is not a huge tome that will scare people away, rather a small unassuming paperback. Yet, it is filled with organized and well-researched chapters. The suggested readings at the end of these chapters were particularly helpful for me.

The first edition came out in 1964, and has become a franchise in the American texts on the subject, now carried forward by a younger historian, J. Bennett. Hollister wrote the first few editions alone, writing clearly and making narrative sense out of the confusion of centuries, peoples, without an overload of academic quarrels, so it is a good book for interested readers who are NOT taking a college course in which the book may be assigned reading. Not a trove of original insight, but a balanced view that incorporates the major ideas of more important historians. Readable, although ultimately academic.

I am a graduate student who has recently begun teaching first-year undergrads. The Hollister and Bennett book is the main text book for a Medieval Period General course, and the students use it to supplement their core readings. The textbook, a general synthesis of the history of Western Europe, is decent and fairly comprehensive, written and updated by experts in the field. However, it has been a long time since I've read a general textbook, and found the lack of footnote references a bit unnerving. The book does, however, provide lists for further reading at the end of each chapter, but these are very selective.