New Penguin Atlas Of Medieval History
(Colin McEvedy)
If you want a historical atlas that is not dull or tedious, then the New Penguin Atlas of Medieval History is for you. In this 1992 upgrade of a previous version Colin McEvedy presents the history of medieval Europe in a lively and engaging fashion that compels you to keep reading. As McEvedy says (not in these exact words), many historians used to view medieval Europe as the mess that was left after the Roman Empire collapsed. Of course nothing could be further from the truth, as the author amply demonstrates in the narrative that ensues. The Roman Empire was a precursor to the nation-states of Europe that evolved after it had dissolved into a corrupt heap. The 'barbarian' invasions heralded the arrival of people who would populate Europe and gradually transform it into the thriving cultural hub that it became over the centuries. It is the author's purpose to highlight the intriguing complexity of this process.
Colin McEvedy goes about the task of presenting this atlas with enthusiasm and zest. This is really a mixture of atlas and historical narrative; with the former providing a visual aid to the latter. The multi-tracked account of what was occurring in different parts of Europe at different times makes for a challenging intellectual experience, but a worthwhile one. Meanwhile, the maps are constantly changing - for example, if you examine the political and ethnic divisions of Europe in 830 AD, you can then turn the page and see how much things have changed by 888 AD. Over the course of this volume the countries of Europe begin to take shape; McEvedy successfully conveys the fluid nature of this journey. This atlas is another example of history at its best - absorbing, accurate and sophisticated. Full credit should be accorded to Colin McEvedy for this stunning historical achievement.
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- A History Of Europe
- The Penguin Atlas Of World History
- The Fall Of Rome
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