"The Middle Ages: A Graphic History" by Eleanor Janega

 

Publisher: Icon Books

Copyright: 2021

ISBN: 9781785785917

As the title suggests this is essentially a graphic novel, however with the double twist that it is both drawn in the style of the middle ages, and it's real!

This book takes the reader on a guided tour of some of the many topics that would be part of a mediaeval history course.

In part one Dr. Janega covers such topics as common misconceptions about the middle ages, the mediaeval period and what it was, myths of the dark ages, the fall of Rome and how that affected neighbouring countries. Part two deals with early religions including Christianity Islam Judaism, the various saints etc. Part three deals with the rise of empires. Part four is about the life around the year 1000 and how the majority of christians expected the world to be ending in the immediate future, Which led to various atrocities such as the crusades, the Norman conquest, and a lot of antisemitic violence.

Part five deals with the high middle ages. Part six with the role of women and other groups of people who were and still are marginalized such as sex workers, homosexuals, Jews, Heretics, and lepers in the medieval period.

Part seven deals with the late. Mediaeval period which was dominated by the black death, the 100 years war, the schism in the Catholic Church and various peasant revolts. Part eight deals with the end of the Middle Ages.

Dr. Janega makes the whole of mediaeval history very easy to understand, and this would make this book a valuable addition to any school's library.