Medieval Panorama (Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum) [Hardcover]

Robert Bartlett (Author)

Book Description

Series: Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum | Publication Date: November 29, 2001

With more than eight hundred illustrations, Medieval Panorama is an all-encompassing visual re-creation of the medieval world: its peoples, its defining characteristics, indeed, its whole culture in the widest sense.
Every facet of the medieval world-from the fall of the Roman Empire to the dawning of the Renaissance-is covered in more than one hundred themes. Eight main sections encompass a range of subjects from religion through the structure of secular power, art and architecture, the daily life of ordinary men and women, philosophy and science, to an unusual emphasis on the imperfectly known world outside Europe. Specific topics include the papacy, monasteries, popular religion; kingship, knighthood, and courtly life; Gothic cathedrals; manuscripts; life on the land and in the city; cosmology, magic, and the romance of chivalry; the Moors, the Jews, and the mysterious East.
A biographical dictionary, timelines, maps, and a glossary, as well as illuminating cross-references to connect related topics, make Medieval Panorama an indispensable reference work for students, educators, travelers, and museum-goers.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

More than just a range of years, the Middle Ages are distinguished by the society, lifestyle, perceptions, and beliefs of that time. The author of several books on medieval society and history, Bartlett (medieval history, Univ. of St. Andrews, Scotland) introduces the Middle Ages through eight major themes, which are then illustrated by selections of medieval art. The arrangement is intriguing and thematic, covering everything from religion, knighthood, and courtly love to alchemy, daily labor, and ceremony. Within each of the broader chapters are subtopics illustrated with medieval art depicting the topic as interpreted by the people of the time. These sections are cross-referenced to other related topics by color-coded notations on the bottom of the pages. Many features make this book particularly useful to students a 35-page biographical dictionary, time lines, maps, a glossary, a bibliography, and a list of 22 web sites devoted to medieval studies. For better encyclopedic coverage of the period, public and school libraries should have The Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages (Viking, 1999), but Medieval Panorama makes a fine companion and is recommended for all library collections. Karen Ellis, Nicholson Memorial Lib. Syst., Garland, TX

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Robert Bartlett is one of the world's most distinguished medieval historians. A former research fellow at G�ttingen University and professor of medieval history at the University of Chicago, he is currently professor at the University of Saint Andrews. His publications include The Making of Europe and Trial by Fire and Water: The Medieval Judicial Ordeal.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: J. Paul Getty Museum; 1 edition (November 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892366427
• ISBN-13: 978-0892366422
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 8.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #631,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect introduction to a fascinating period..., December 14, 2001

By 

Franz Noel Isler "britelites77" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Medieval Panorama (Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum) (Hardcover)

Illustrations galore from different archives, museums, libraries around the world make this book a visual encyclopedia. I love this book for its exacting and rigorous research, direct descriptions, and brimming with nice features that readers like me greatly enjoyed, like cross references, maps and more maps, biographical sketches of leading historical personalities and time lines.

This volume delves deeply into the medieval mind, explaining developments in astronomy, medicine, the natural sciences, alchemy, magic, witchcraft, literature and theatre. For example, in medieval art, it surveys the unfolding of the Gothic style as well as in architecture. There are profiles of the important builders, architects and sculptors and examines the role of the medieval artist and craftsman.

It also examines the more controversial role and power of the papacy, what happened to Moorish Spain and why the Church ordered the Crusades and explores the issues and puzzles and then arriving at a proper conclusion in the fate of outsiders like Jews, blacks and other minorities in an overwhelmingly Christian environment. A section on castles and fortresses that dominated medieval warfare was most interesting and leads to discussions on heraldry and recreational life in the courts of the nobility.

Edited by the distinguished medieval scholar Robert Bartlett, reading this book is like walking thru a museum exhibit, a work which would be especially useful to students of the period, travellers and readers alike who enjoy a good historical blueprint of this fascinating period.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Illustration packed book!, October 5, 2005

By 

Kajsa (St Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Medieval Panorama (Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum) (Hardcover)

I bought this book based on the recommendations below and was not disappointed! I'm a medieval hobbyist & craftsman who is always looking for design ideas. Typically I avoid the medieval "overview" books, but this book is a mother lode of illustrations, many of which I have not seen before. I brought it to a history club meeting and hardly a person saw it who didn't ask about getting a copy. I do recommend Medieval Panorama wholeheartedly for the person who is looking for pictures of medieval objects, buildings and art across a broad range of medieval topics and areas.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth every cent!!!, May 19, 2003

By 

Ms. V. Hoyle (York, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Medieval Panorama (Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum) (Hardcover)

This is a veritable banquet of visual medieaeval sources from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the earliest Renaissance. Medieval Panorama has over 800 illustrations (612 in vibrant colour) drawn from archives, libraries and museums across the world (not just Europe) and all well organised into themed chapters.

There are eight sections in total covering everything from religion, political structure/knighthood/chivalry/ceremony, medieval art, sex/death, the inner world of alchemy, witchcraft, magic, courtly love and romance, to a final chapter on cultures outside mediaeval Europe. There are also succinct biographies of key personalities, from Charlemagne to Wycliffe, with timelines, maps and a stunning bibliography to accompany them.

The volume is beautifully presented with a glossy, gorgeous jacket and a sturdy green bound cloth underneath. The illustrations are accompanied by a scholarly text written by the accomplished Robert Bartlett. As usual he has truly outdone himself to shine within the field.

Bartlett is one of the world's most distinguished mediaeval historians, honoured for the scope and depth of his understanding. A better editor couldn't have been found. He weaves together all the tangled strands of mediaeval art, architecture and intellectual world with a seemingly effortless commentary.

A beautiful, grand project,..., for both scholar, student and those with a general interest. Buy your copy immediately and treasure it for years to come.