Medieval Europe: A Short History

Rating:
Summary: Detached and oversummarized
Review: I read this text for a survey course on medieval history. I found the book to be better than most general history texts I've encountered in the past. The organization is superb and the writing is crisp and to the point. Oftentimes it was difficult to highlight anything because every sentence contains useful facts. Hollister writes with good humor in a subject that often lacks amusing anecdotes. The book starts with a brief view of Roman history and ends with the development of the Renaissance. There are chapters on Byzantium and Islam, as well as sections on medieval art, thought and architecture. Sidebars illuminate important medieval figures such as Hildegard of Bingen. Anybody reading this book will come away with a good foundation on medieval Europe.

Rating:
Summary: An Insufferable Revision
Review: I turned to the 9th edition of this book hoping to find a short, descriptive, and informative assessment of Medieval European history and culture. I was quickly disappointed by the vapid opinions that punctuate Bennet's revision of what may have originally been a witty, readable, and informative text.

For example, when setting the stage for the rise of the Middle Ages from the decline of the Roman Empire, Bennet informs us that "the less said about Nero (r. 54-68 C.E.) the better." A few pages later she summarizes the period of the Roman Peace by opining, "if this was humanity's happiest time, God help us all!"

I'm amazed that empty statements like this made it past Bennet's academic peers and editors. I turned to the book seeking to be intelligently informed and educated, not persuaded to a view of history by someone else's personal feelings about the moral qualities of a historical personage or period.

Though I may yet seek an earlier edition of this reputedly fine text, I put down Bennet's revision of Hollister's book and moved on to Morris Bishop's The MIddle Ages.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Survey of Medieval Europe
Review: I, too, had the pleasure of using this book for an undergraduate class, and believe the material to be superbly organized. There seems to be just the right amount of subject headings, and the prose is clear and enjoyable to read. Moreover, illustrations and charts are equally well-placed. Rather than "cramming" a thousand years of history between its covers, the author works his way through a vast amount of material -- omitting the non-essential. It is an outstanding example of what it means to survey a subject.

Yes, the author has no great love for ancient Rome, and perhaps believes there is too much fuss made of the Renaissance. I do not agree with either sentiment. But the author's opinions, rather than detracting from the book, are nothing but a small, though refreshing, infusion of personality in an area that is notoriously dry, namely: the college textbook.

Rating:
Summary: concise overview of midieval history
Review: If one wants to understand the origins of western culture, particularly the difficult role of the middle ages, then one could not wish for a more succinct, and I believe accurate and well written summary. I think Hollister gets it right, we have a large debt to midieval culture. We are not "Greeks" but a synthesis of ideas derived from these times as modified later rediscovery of ancient Greek thought. Hollister's writing is superb. He never lost my attention at any time. He handles the long history and cultural events of this era in a concise yet entertaining manner while retaining the overall themes that a good history of the period must cover. I am a general reader of history, not a student.

Rating:
Summary: concise overview of midieval history
Review: If one wants to understand the origins of western culture, particularly the difficult role of the middle ages, then one could not wish for a more succinct, and I believe accurate and well written summary. I think Hollister gets it right, we have a large debt to midieval culture. We are not "Greeks" but a synthesis of ideas derived from medieval times as modified later rediscovery of ancient Greek thought. Hollister's writing is superb. He never lost my attention at any time. He handles the long history and cultural events of this era in a concise yet entertaining manner while retaining the overall themes that a good history of the period must cover. I am a general reader of history, not a student.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best-written textbooks out there.
Review: It's rare to find a textbook animated by its author's love of the subject matter. And Hollister is a devoted paramour. I had the pleasure of using the seventh edition of this textbook in a medieval history class, and I still have it. Simply put, it's a far-ranging, thorough and fascinating look at the art, events, and culture of the Middle Ages. And as for the previous review's objections to the book: the reason Hollister dismisses the "Golden Age" of Rome as anything but a "Golden Age" are carfeully listed. Infanticide, widespread slavery and poverty (running up to 90 percent), and a closely-bonded upper class that enjoyed the fruits of classical culture without bothering to transmit its fruits to the remainder of the realm. Nor does Hollister object to the Renaissance: he points out that the knowledge and thought processes the Humanists claimed to have rediscovered after the "long sleep" of the Middle Ages were set in motion and used quite well during the High Middle Ages. Humanists were simply more self-consciously "awakened." HIs critique of Renaissance art (if you can even call it that) is a simple observation of how the priorities of artists were changing by the end of the late Middle Ages. This is masterful stuff. The book makes a very convincing argument that western culture was shaped more by the Middle Ages than anything following. And Hollister's playful sense of humor makes everything go down easy. You've got to love a book that can discuss the problems of urban life in London while adding this observation: "The violence of medieval London may be attributable in part to the existence (in 1309) of 354 taverns and more than 1300 ale shops -- a fact that provides added meaning to the term 'High Middle Ages.'" It's pithy asides like these that reveal the humor and humanity of Hollister's effort, and make you realize that this gentleman is in love with his work, knowledgable about it, determined to learn even more, and brave enough to crack jokes in the super-serious world of academia. A terrific introduction to the Middle Ages.

Rating:
Summary: Solid, organized, comprehensive.
Review: Out of my modest library of a dozen or so books on the period, "Medieval Europe, A Short History" is the one that I would recommend to use as a general introduction. I give it four stars because I believe that the highest ranking should be reserved for works of unparalleled insight and expression. That aside, this is a solid, professional, comprehensive, and accessible piece of work.

First published by Dr. Hollister in 1964, the book is now in its Ninth Edition (2002). For this reason, some of the criticisms in the reviews pre-dating the most recent edition are unfounded. (I have a Second Edition, and it is but a shadow of the current volume.)

The work of updating the text has been taken over by Dr. Bennett of the University of North Carolina. I believe that the long legacy of the book and its many revisions reflect what does and does not work in an introductory course to the Medieval period. Dr. Bennett's touch is apparent in the steady but fair commentary given to the role of women throughout the long period.

Above all, the book is compact and well-organized. While, at times, it may proceed like an outline, that aspect is driven by its scope: Western Europe from late antiquity to the Renaissance, with additional commentary (for context) on Byzantium & the rise of Islam. In fact, the amount of information contained within its 397 pages (paperback version) is impressive.

Given its purpose, one cannot expect much digression into painting portraits of the times. What one can expect is a clear and direct exposition of the salient events and major trends of the Medieval period from all angles (political, religious, intellectual, social, economic, artistic, cultural). On that score, it squarely delivers.

The signature element of the discussion are the brief asides and analogies to 20th Century American society and culture. They only show up every once in awhile -- not enough to be distracting and certainly witty enough to bring a smile.

From "A Short History," I'd suggest proceeding with Cantor's "Civilization of the Middle Ages" and to the essays in the "Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe." After that, the door should be wide open to an investigation of whatever detailed aspect of the period a reader might want to pursue.

Rating:
Summary: An Insufferable Revision
Review: The ninth edition of _Medieval Europe_ is a very informative, and very readable, introductory text. Professor Hollister compiled the first edition of this book in the 1960s, and its popularity is evident in how many editions have been produced. Professor Bennett updated the text and published this ninth edition in 2002.

Bennett's updates and additions are very welcome: she adds a great deal of women's history, as well as expanded sections on socio-economics, and religious history. The general layout of the book is also very attractive; it is not a huge tome that will scare people away, rather a small unassuming paperback. Yet, it is filled with organized and well-researched chapters. The suggested readings at the end of these chapters were particularly helpful for me.

Rating:
Summary: "insufferable revision" reviewer needs to do some homework
Review: The quotes used in the review of this textbook to illustrate Bennett's incompetence are actually both written by Hollister. The reviewer might have at least consulted an earlier edition before assuming that Bennett was at fault for all the reviewer's perceived shortcomings in the text.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book!
Review: With this review, I hope to offset some of the unfortunate negative reviews listed here. This book is not only informative, but enjoyable to read--I literally couldn't put it down! How often does one say that about a book of Medieval History? I am currently teaching my first few semesters of Music History, and chose this book to help me get a broad generalization of the currents that shaped Western civilization, and ultimately Western culture. Some may say it is too brief in the retelling of history, but I for one found this book to be exactly what I was looking for. A wonderful overview of European history.