A new perspective on the Middle Ages
Our image of the Middle Ages is often based on clichéd representations such as noble knights, courtly love, imposing cathedrals, and dark dungeons. This two-dimensional image was shaped by the Renaissance and Romanticism and does not align with the complexity of the period between 500 and 1500. Recent research emphasizes the profound social, economic, and cultural changes in these thousand years.
Content and themes
The revised edition of the standard work Centuries of Distinction illuminates these medieval transformations through important themes:
- Christianization
- Rise of the commercial economy
- Crusades
- Consequences of the plague epidemics
- World and human view in the Middle Ages
The focus is on Europe, with attention to western interactions with the Islamic world, North Africa, the Byzantine Empire, and the Asian steppes.
Authors and reliability
Wim Blockmans (1945), emeritus professor of medieval history at Leiden University, and Peter Hoppenbrouwers (1954-2023), also a professor at this university, share their expertise. Their earlier works concern, among other things, Dutch history and Eurasian steppe empires.
Language and use
This work is suitable for Dutch readers with an advanced language level (B2-C2) and is primarily intended for education and self-study in history. Intertaal is your reliable supplier, guaranteeing fast delivery of this high-quality learning tool.