World Affairs Board - View Single Post - The Problem of Middle Ages Historical Research

Maggot · 10-25-2007, 20:37 PM

If you’re looking for some really good books, I’d suggest looting a good university library. The community public libraries will have some good books, but because they link their funding directly to circulation they’re more interested in having a dozen copies of the latest bestseller than one good research book, and will toss out great research books to make room for crap. They also will be more likely to get a book because it is new, instead of whether or not it is good. These are a few decent books, some of them in my personal library, that I’d recommend for reading on the Middle Ages. Sadly, I cannot remember the titles and authors of all of them:

The Face of Battle, John Keegan (Battle of Agincourt chapter)

The Medieval Warhorse, by Ann Hyland

A History of Private Life: Revelations of the Medieval World, General Editors: Philippe Aries and Georges Duby.

Daily Life in Medieval Times, by Frances and Joseph Gies

Longbow, by Robert Hardy (the technical information in the appendix is the best part)

Anglo-Saxon Military Institutions, by C Warren Hollister

Saracen Archery, by Taybugha al-Baklamishi al-Yunani (I believe that this is the author’s name, it’s a pretty hard thing to find, as English translations of Middle Eastern archery manuals go).

The Crossbow: Mediavel and Modern, Military and Sporting,Its Construction, History & Management. With a Tratise on the Balista and Catapult of the Ancients. And an Appendix on the Catapult, Balista and the Turkish Bow, by Sir Ralph Payne-Gallway

Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel, by Joseph Gies.

If you can get a translation of Feats of Arms and Chivalry, by Christine de Pisan, I’d highly recommend it. Essentially, it’s the Art of War of the Medieval Period. It was considered a battle bible for commanders for over a hundred years after it was written.

10-25-2007, 20:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
Maggot Regular Join Date: 10-20-07 Location: British Columbia Posts: 109 Country:	If you’re looking for some really good books, I’d suggest looting a good university library. The community public libraries will have some good books, but because they link their funding directly to circulation they’re more interested in having a dozen copies of the latest bestseller than one good research book, and will toss out great research books to make room for crap. They also will be more likely to get a book because it is new, instead of whether or not it is good. These are a few decent books, some of them in my personal library, that I’d recommend for reading on the Middle Ages. Sadly, I cannot remember the titles and authors of all of them: The Face of Battle, John Keegan (Battle of Agincourt chapter) The Medieval Warhorse, by Ann Hyland A History of Private Life: Revelations of the Medieval World, General Editors: Philippe Aries and Georges Duby. Daily Life in Medieval Times, by Frances and Joseph Gies Longbow, by Robert Hardy (the technical information in the appendix is the best part) Anglo-Saxon Military Institutions, by C Warren Hollister Saracen Archery, by Taybugha al-Baklamishi al-Yunani (I believe that this is the author’s name, it’s a pretty hard thing to find, as English translations of Middle Eastern archery manuals go). The Crossbow: Mediavel and Modern, Military and Sporting,Its Construction, History & Management. With a Tratise on the Balista and Catapult of the Ancients. And an Appendix on the Catapult, Balista and the Turkish Bow, by Sir Ralph Payne-Gallway Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel, by Joseph Gies. If you can get a translation of Feats of Arms and Chivalry, by Christine de Pisan, I’d highly recommend it. Essentially, it’s the Art of War of the Medieval Period. It was considered a battle bible for commanders for over a hundred years after it was written. __________________ Work is the curse of the drinking class.