Europe in the High Middle Ages (The Penguin History of Europe)

This addition to the Penguin series is good. A general survey of this time period and gives a grounding for readers interested in this subject.

Europe in the High Middle Ages by William Chaster Jordan is the third book in the series The Penguin History of Europe. The High Middle Ages is the name given to the period of medieval history from 1000 to 1350. During these years, European civilization reached heights not seen in the West since the fall of the Roman Empire. The political situation in Europe stabilized somewhat, trade increased, cities grew, universities were established and learning flourished. The nations of Europe ceased to be helpless victims of foreign invasion and, through the Crusades even began to project power outside the continent. Although the nations of Europe began to take their modern shape during the high middle ages, political power was extremely decentralized, especially in France, more than in the period immediately before and afterwards. The Papacy became more prominent on the international stage and powerful Popes could even challenge kings and emperors for influence. It all ended in the middle fourteenth century with a change in climate that caused a decade of famine. Then the horrors of the Black Death struck Europe in 1349. No institution in Europe survived unscathed, and the optimism and vitality of the High Middle Ages was gone. When Europe began to recover from these disasters, it was no longer the Middle Ages, but the Renaissance, and the West was moving in a new direction. William Chester Jordan brings this fascinating period of history to life in his book. Like the other books in The Penguin History of Europe, The High Middle Ages focuses less on a detailed chronology of events and more on a general overview of cultural and historic developments, especially including the political development of the emerging nation states of Europe and their relationship with the Papacy. There is also a lot of information on the intellectual trends of the High Middle Ages as well as a good account of how it all seemed to fall apart in the fourteenth century. Unfortunately, the author breaks of the story in 1350, just as the Black Death is ravaging Europe, leading to a kind of cliffhanger effect. Still, I can recommend Europe in the High Middle Ages for anyone who wants to learn more about that fascinating period of history.

Brilliant, especially compared to the second book in the series. I wish Jordan would write more general history like this. The third book in the series was withdrawn (because of the only review of it which said that it was horrible?). If only Jordan would re-write that history. I've read similar, shorter histories of this time period, and it's a joy to learn how things really happened instead of just learning that they did happen. He really brought the time alive for me.

very good experience

This is a decent introductory survey of the period, but does not quite live up to the other two books already published in the Penguin History of Europe series, Inheritance of Rome (400-1000) and Pursuit of Glory (~1650-1815). Perhaps it is unfair to compare "High Middle Ages" to the other two stellar works, and this remains an adequate book which I enjoyed reading. But there might be better surveys of the period out there.

On the one hand, reading this book left me with awe many times. It turns out that much of our society today has roots in the high middle ages: Common Law, Universities, Roman Catholic vs Orthopedic church, etc. Many of the processes mentioned in the book were fascinating: The investiture controversy, the crusades, one hundred years war... However, it was a difficult read. Sometimes it throws at you a bunch of occurrences, like "this guy killed that guy then those guys killed this other guy" and so on for whole pages... Makes it difficult to read. Therefore gave ot four stars.

A great overview of the period.

great value