The Civilization of the Middle Ages: A Completely Revised and Expanded Edition of Medieval History, the Life and Death of a Civilization

Several decades later, it is easy to see this book as light or dated. The study of Medieval Europe saw no less than three very fat instant authorities published in a recent fifteen year span. But it is unquestionably Mister Cantor's books and teachings that was some of the inspiration and spur for the academic rush we witnessed some 15 - 20 years after this book. Such a legacy earns Cantor a standing five stars.

I was fortunate enough to buy this book the night before coming down with a nasty flu. I barely put it down and it made the ordeal tolerable. This book is definitely of an introductory nature. My father, a medievalist, read it at the same time and gave it a lukewarm approval. His main complaint was that it contained too many generalizations, but admitted they are tough to avoid in this type of survey. Now let me tell you the good part. If you know little or nothing about the middle ages and need a meaningful introduction, this is a good one. A strong point is the balance between narrative and analysis; this book tells you what happened but also why it matters. Everything is given proper context. Moreover, the book takes its title seriously; besides the standard discussion of political events, it describes the evolution of society, economy, and philosophy, key ingredients for understanding what a civilization was like. Cantor is accessible to a wide audience. For example, he gives short summaries of both Platonic and Aristotelian philosophies to help the reader better understand some of the intellectual debates of the times. I have a minor complaint with the organization of the book, which is more topical than chronological. Although this choice certainly has its merits, it makes it a little difficult for someone unfamiliar with the storyline to associate contemporary events that are treated in different chapters. This is the only aspect of the book that is at all difficult for a newcomer and certainly not a serious problem. The topical organization, however, impresses upon the reader the central themes of medieval history such as the rise and fall of the papacy and growth of national monarchies. Several popes, thinkers, and saints are memorably sketched and their contributions clearly stated. You will understand why Saint Benedict and his organization of monasteries is famous after reading this book. For those who wish to delve further, a short and long bibliography are given. My only complaint is that the long bibliography contains about 150 entries without any kind of organization, so finding a book on a given time period, topic, or location requires scanning through the entire list. I did find this book interesting enough, however, to pick up one out of the bibliography that is equally good (History of Medieval Spain by O'Callaghan). [Reviewer's background: I am a non-historian who likes to read history as a hobby. This was the first book on medieval history that I have read. The only history book with medieval content I had read previously was one world history survey (ancient to modern times) book.]

This is one of the single most engaging books I have ever read, in large part because Cantor writes like a novelist and knows his material so thoroughly that not one single sentence seems forced or contrived. I have read the reviews others have written here and have to laugh when, in the few that are negative, people complain that Cantor uses too many different words for the same thing. The beauty of the English language is its surprising depth and, even, repetition. It's a complex language of which most people today are wholly ignorant. Further, these words represent the very heritage and history upon which this book is based. I found it refreshing to escape the paltry vocabulary used in most books, but that's not to say that Cantor's writing is inaccessible, because it's a truly captivating read.That said, a few maps and, perhaps, a timeline would have been a helpful addition.

Prof. Cantor's work is not only informative but also easy to read. His insight and commentary are particularly helpful for any student of Medieval Civilization. Prof. Cantor is a realiable source of information and I am pleased to have his book in my collection!

Professor Cantor provides the definitive short history of the Middle Ages. His analysis explains a civilization without crushing the reader with a myriad of esoteric facts. If you want to understand that not-so-distant age, this is the book to buy.