Mysteries of the Middle Ages: And the Beginning of the Modern World (Hinges of History) (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: Middle Ages, Thomas Aquinas, Virgin Mary (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea

“Fascinating…Commendable…Cahill has an impressive knowledge of the Greek world.…His admirable skill at summing up movements of enormous complexity surfaces throughout the book.”
—Seattle Times

“Astonishing…If anybody can get us reading about Homer, Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Thucydides, Xenophon and more, Cahill will.”
—Chicago Tribune


Praise for Desire of the Everlasting Hills

“Each of [Cahill’s] books offers moments of genuine insight into the workings of culture, literature, and the human heart.”
—Commonweal

“With grace, skill, and erudition, he summarizes obtuse semantic and historical arguments, highlights the findings most relevant to lay readers, and draws disparate material together in his portraits of Jesus, his mother, Mary, and the apostle Paul.”
—Washington Post Book World


Praise for The Gifts of the Jews

“Captivating…Persuasive as well as entertaining…Mr. Cahill’s book is a gift.”
—New York Times

“Cahill’s clearly voiced, jubilant song of praise to the gifts of the Jews is itself a gift—a splendid story, well told.”
—Boston Globe

Praise for How the Irish Saved Civilization

“Charming and poetic…an entirely engaging, delectable voyage into the distant past, a small treasure.”
—New York Times

“Cahill’s lively prose breathes life into a 1,600-year-old history.”
—Boston Globe --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Review

“Intoxicating. . . . Cahill's command of rich historical detail makes medieval cities and their colorful characters come to alive.”
—The Los Angeles Times

“Cahill offers a fascinating portrayal of the intellectual richness that foreshadows the coming Renaissance. . . . [He] deftly focuses on key locations and major figures that form the foundations of Renaissance and Modern thought in feminism, science, and art.”
—Rocky Mountain News

“[Cahill] succeeds roundly in bringing his own gift of enticing readers to the study of the past, describing the development and definition of the medieval worldview, as well as he has ever done.”
—New York Daily News

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Anchor (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385495560
• ISBN-13: 978-0385495561
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #43,654 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #15 in	Books > History > Historical Study > Civilization & Culture
  #22 in	Books > History > World > Renaissance
  #55 in	Books > History > World > Medieval

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rose by any other name is still a rose, March 13, 2008

By	B. Simmons (Skokie, Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a well-written, beautifully illustrated book. The treatment of the footnotes is unusual and eminently readable; they are on the same page, rather than being relegated to the end of the book, and not in the usual 6 or 7 pt fine print of a scholarly treatise. The author obviously knows his subject matter, but his writing is more conversational than pedagogical. However, buyer beware. If you've read the hardcover "Mysteries of the Middle Ages: The Rise of Feminism, Science, and Art from the Cults of Catholic Europe," don't buy this so-called reprint edition. They've simply changed the subtitle to "And the Beginning of the Modern World." It's not the additional volume on the making of the modern world promised on page iii of the hardcover edition.

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best when it sticks to the middle ages, May 3, 2008

By	Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is a well written book that illustrates some of the major advances toward a more modern world that occurred during the middle ages. This is largely accomplished through a detailed examination of several key people (and one could surely quibble with these selections, although they are pretty reasonable to me): Hildegarde of Bingen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Francis of Assisi, Peter Abelard, Henry II (Plantagenet), Roger Bacon, Dante, Giotto, and a handful of others.

One issue that bothered me somewhat: the focus or purpose of this book is not real clear. The author, Thomas Cahill, begins by mentioning that the Middle Ages are, against the claims of some, the beginnings of modernity and has often been unappreciated for its contributions. However, at the end, he notes that (Page 313) "The story this book has had to tell is the story of the (often overlooked and belittled) Catholic contribution to Western civilization." And then, if one reads the book, he is often quite critical of the Catholic hierarchy. Thus, I am not sure that there is a consistent thematic spine to the book. That is hardly critical, but I sometimes asked myself what the purpose of this book might be.

That said, this is a handsomely produced work. There is a nice technique for including footnotes on the pages where a reference is made; there are very nice reproductions of the art of the day, maps, and so on; there is plenty of space between the lines and this renders reading much easier. From time to time there are summary charts (e.g., key dates on timelines).

For those (including me) who may a little about some of the key players but not much about others, this is a delight. I enjoy the music of Hildegarde of Bingen, but I scarcely had a sense of her role in the history of the times. Abelard and Eloise was a rather lugubrious story to me, but I had no great depth of information on their relationship and the events that challenged them. The juxtaposition of Thomas Aquinas and Francis of Assisi is nicely done.

On the other hand, gratuitous and underdeveloped linkages to today's politics just detract from the narrative flow. On pages 182-183, we read a rather ill formed critique of George Bush. Whatever one thinks of Bush and his Iraqi policy, such a throwaway commentary contributes little and is, in fact, irritating. If an author wish to draw parallels to today's political situation, such an author should be obliged to flesh out the comment rather than making snide asides.

Overall, though, a well done work exploring the important changes taking place in the Middle Ages, presaging the move to modernity.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mixture of facts and opinions, April 12, 2008

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Mysteries of the Middle Ages is the third book in a series of seven on European history.

Thomas Cahill's thesis is that the Middle Ages were not the intellectual desert that many people think them to be. He suggests that they were a period of fertile development in the areas of science, philosophy and the arts. Rather than trying to give a broad overview of the period, he introduces us to a number of the main characters who lived in the period. The book is a history of the Church and faith more than the countries, but it is through the gradually shifting nature of that faith that the world changes.

The book begins with a quick overview of the Greek and Roman civilization. As strange as it may seem to start there, it becomes clear that much of the Middle Ages are the re-discovery of Greek philosophy and science, but with a different twist to it.

During the course of the book we meet a sequestered nun who, by the end of her long life is going on speaking tours of Europe; another woman who lives her own life as ruler; and a gentle man who renounces all wealth and power. We are introduced to a villain who has a great effect on all three of the above, and many other characters who are all unique in the way they view the world they live in.

While I found the stories fascinating, I found Cahill's diversions into commentary on the modern day less interesting. He interjects his opinions of our modern day in a way that more often distracts than adds to the book. The entire closing chapter is in this vein. That said, I found the way the author tells the story usually carried me past the infrequent rants. I would still recommend this amusing and readable book to anyone who wishes an introduction to this misunderstood period of our history.

Armchair Interviews says: When Cahill is telling stories he is terrific, when he is ranting, less so.