The Early Middle Ages

The problem with the early middle ages is that most History classes tend to speed through it too fast b/c; (1) It's not quite as exciting as the later medieval ages and the Renaissance; and (2) I believe the reason for this is b/c there just isn't as much documentation for the early middle ages.But, in actuality, there's a lot to the early middle ages and this book is a quick read for those who just want to get a coverage but not a textbook equivalent of the era.Contents/highlights include: (1) Barbarian invasions which resulted in the fall of the Roman Empire; (2) the ascension of the Franks in Gaul; (3) the continuation of the Roman Empire in the east in Constantinople; (4) the spread of the Roman Catholic Church and all the various orders and sects it formed during the early Middle Ages; (5) Charlemagne's Empire, its dissolution and the Treaty of Verdun; (6) the emergence of feudalism; (7) the Byzantine Empire and the iconoclasts; (8) the spread of Islam and the conquests which followed; includes Mohammed and Mecca, of course; (9) the vikings and their many raids; they were the last of the various barbarian invasions in Europe; and (10) the end of the early Middle Ages.I recommend this book to people when they want to learn more about the early Middle Ages.