The Middle Ages: A Graphic History
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 The Middle Ages: A Graphic History
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World History > Early Medieval > High Middle Ages
The Middle Ages: A Graphic History busts the myth of the ‘Dark Ages’, shedding light on the medieval period’s present-day relevance in a unique illustrated style.
This history takes us through the rise and fall of empires, papacies, caliphates and kingdoms; through the violence and death of the Crusades, Viking raids, the Hundred Years War and the Plague; to the curious practices of monks, martyrs and iconoclasts. We’ll see how the foundations of the modern West were established, influencing our art, cultures, religious practices and ways of thinking. And we’ll explore the lives of those seen as ‘Other’ – women, Jews, homosexuals, lepers, sex workers and heretics.
Join historian Eleanor Janega and illustrator Neil Max Emmanuel on a romp across continents and kingdoms as we discover the Middle Ages to be a time of huge change, inquiry and development – not unlike our own.
Emily's Review
I have long been fascinated by all things medieval. So when I stumbled upon this book, I knew I needed to read it. This book is a fascinating introduction to an often overlooked time period. I appreciated that the author, a medieval historian, wrote this book to debunk the idea so many have about the "dark ages." And don't be scared off by the fact that it is a graphic novel! I'd say this is more of a hybrid between a typical book and a graphic novel - there are illustrations in comic format, but the bulk of the book is text. However, it's very readable and the illustrations are very fun!
I also really liked that this book focuses on Europe as a whole, rather than just looking at what was happening in England, as so is so often the case. Yes, England had a big role in later history, but in this time period there is a lot going on with the Holy Roman Empire, Italy, the Byzantine Empire, (it even touches on the Middle East and China!) so I really liked that we got a broad focus. This book guides you through the politics, religions, and shifting alliances of the Medieval period, covering a huge swath of time. It's divided up between Early Middle Ages, the High Middle Ages, and the Late Middle Ages. There is a lot of information in here, but I never felt bogged down or overwhelmed. I really appreciate that the author dedicated an entire chapter to the marginalized people of that period.
I learned so much reading this and it has reignited my love for the Middle Ages!
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