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History » Historical Eras » Medieval History (500-1400)

Browse book recommendations:

Historical Eras

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What is medieval history? At Five Books, we define medieval history as the millennium that started approximately at the time of the fall of the Roman Empire (c. 500) in the West and lasting through to the Renaissance.

    The best books on Charlemagne, recommended by Carine van Rhijn

  • Read
    The best books on Charlemagne - King and Emperor: A New Life of Charlemagne by Janet Nelson

    1

    King and Emperor: A New Life of Charlemagne
    by Janet Nelson

  • Read
    The best books on Charlemagne - Charlemagne: Empire and Society by Joanna Story (editor)

    2

    Charlemagne: Empire and Society
    by Joanna Story (editor)

  • Read
    The best books on Charlemagne - Ich und Karl der Große: Das Leben des Höflings Einhard by Steffen Patzold

    3

    Ich und Karl der Große: Das Leben des Höflings Einhard
    by Steffen Patzold

  • Read
    The best books on Charlemagne - Charlemagne's Practice of Empire by Jennifer Davis

    4

    Charlemagne's Practice of Empire
    by Jennifer Davis

  • Read
    The best books on Charlemagne - Conquest and Christianization: Saxony and the Carolingian World, 772–888 by Ingrid Rembold

    5

    Conquest and Christianization: Saxony and the Carolingian World, 772–888
    by Ingrid Rembold

  • Read
    The best books on Charlemagne - Saxon Identities, AD 150-900 by Robert Flierman

    6

    Saxon Identities, AD 150-900
    by Robert Flierman

The best books on Charlemagne, recommended by Carine van Rhijn

We call him Charlemagne, but it was not a name that was used in his own lifetime. His conquests stretched across vast swathes of Europe, but he probably didn’t set out to become an emperor. Much has been written about him, but very little is known. Dutch historian Carine van Rhijn, a lecturer at the University of Utrecht, recommends the best books on Charles, King of the Franks.

    The best books on The Ghana, Mali and Songhai African Empires, recommended by Michael Gomez

  • Read
    The best books on The Ghana - Golden Trade of the Moors: West African Kingdoms in the Fourteenth Century by E.W. Bovill

    1

    Golden Trade of the Moors: West African Kingdoms in the Fourteenth Century
    by E.W. Bovill

  • Read
    The best books on The Ghana - Ancient Ghana and Mali by Nehemiah Levtzion

    2

    Ancient Ghana and Mali
    by Nehemiah Levtzion

  • Read
    The best books on The Ghana - Social History of Timbuktu: The Role of Muslim Scholars and Notables 1400-1900 by Elias Saad

    3

    Social History of Timbuktu: The Role of Muslim Scholars and Notables 1400-1900
    by Elias Saad

  • Read
    The best books on The Ghana - Sunjata: A West African Epic of the Mande Peoples by David C. Conrad

    4

    Sunjata: A West African Epic of the Mande Peoples
    by David C. Conrad

  • Read
    The best books on The Ghana - Timbuktu and the Songhay Empire: Al-Sa'di's Ta'rikh Al-Sudan down to 1613 and Other Contemporary Documents by John Hunwick

    5

    Timbuktu and the Songhay Empire: Al-Sa'di's Ta'rikh Al-Sudan down to 1613 and Other Contemporary Documents
    by John Hunwick

The best books on The Ghana, Mali and Songhai African Empires, recommended by Michael Gomez

Long before the Europeans arrived in the 16th and 17th centuries, sub-Saharan West Africa saw the emergence of a series of African empires that lasted for centuries and stretched over vast swathes of the continent. They were known as the Ghana, Mali and Songhai Empires. Here, historian Michael Gomez discusses what led to their greatness, what sustained them and why they fell.

    The best books on The Middle Ages, recommended by Hannah Skoda

  • Read
    The best books on The Middle Ages - Framing the Early Middle Ages: Europe and the Mediterranean 400-800 by Chris Wickham

    1

    Framing the Early Middle Ages: Europe and the Mediterranean 400-800
    by Chris Wickham

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    The best books on The Middle Ages - African Dominion: A New History of Empire in Early and Medieval West Africa by Michael Gomez

    2

    African Dominion: A New History of Empire in Early and Medieval West Africa
    by Michael Gomez

  • Read
    The best books on The Middle Ages - The Travels of Marco Polo by Marco Polo & Rustichello da Pisa

    3

    The Travels of Marco Polo
    by Marco Polo & Rustichello da Pisa

  • Read
    The best books on The Middle Ages - Montaillou: Cathars and Catholics in a French Village 1294-1324 by Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie

    4

    Montaillou: Cathars and Catholics in a French Village 1294-1324
    by Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie

  • Read
    The best books on The Middle Ages - Medieval Market Morality: Life, Law and Ethics in the English Marketplace, 1200-1500 by James Davis

    5

    Medieval Market Morality: Life, Law and Ethics in the English Marketplace, 1200-1500
    by James Davis

The best books on The Middle Ages, recommended by Hannah Skoda

Oxford medieval historian Hannah Skoda chooses her top five books on the Middle Ages, explaining why she finds the whole idea of their ‘middleness’ problematic and how a more global approach tends to shatter many long-held assumptions about the period.

    The best books on The Vikings, recommended by Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough

  • Read
    The best books on The Vikings - The Vinland Sagas

    1

    The Vinland Sagas

  • Read
    The best books on The Vikings - A Description of the Northern Peoples by Olaus Magnus

    2

    A Description of the Northern Peoples
    by Olaus Magnus

  • Read
    The best books on The Vikings - Vikings and Gods in European Art by David Wilson

    3

    Vikings and Gods in European Art
    by David Wilson

  • Read
    The best books on The Vikings - Ivory Vikings by Nancy Brown

    4

    Ivory Vikings
    by Nancy Brown

  • Read
    The best books on The Vikings - Ohthere's Voyages

    5

    Ohthere's Voyages

The best books on The Vikings, recommended by Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough

The Vikings discovered America and traded slaves in Baghdad. They sometimes buried their dead in ships, but probably did not burn them. And they did not wear horned helmets. Historian Eleanor Barraclough separates myth from reality and recommends the best Viking books.

    The best books on Dante, recommended by Nick Havely

  • Read
    The best books on Dante - The Divine Comedy I: Inferno by Robert M Durling

    1

    The Divine Comedy I: Inferno
    by Robert M Durling

  • Read
    The best books on Dante - Dante: A Brief History by Peter S Hawkins

    2

    Dante: A Brief History
    by Peter S Hawkins

  • Read
    The best books on Dante - Dante in English by Eric Griffiths & Matthew Reynolds

    3

    Dante in English
    by Eric Griffiths & Matthew Reynolds

  • Read
    The best books on Dante - Dante on View by Antonella Braida and Luisa Calè

    4

    Dante on View
    by Antonella Braida and Luisa Calè

  • Read
    The best books on Dante - Linden Hills by Gloria Naylor

    5

    Linden Hills
    by Gloria Naylor

The best books on Dante, recommended by Nick Havely

Dante’s epic poem The Divine Comedy has inspired countless thinkers and writers since it was first published almost 700 years ago. Here, Dante scholar and author Nick Havely picks the best five books on how one medieval poet had such a lasting impact on world literature, and how Dante’s vitality transmits into modern culture.

    The best books on Reinterpreting Medieval Art, recommended by Marc Michael Epstein

  • Read
    The best books on Reinterpreting Medieval Art - The Sexuality of Christ in Renaissance Art and in Modern Oblivion by Leo Steinberg

    1

    The Sexuality of Christ in Renaissance Art and in Modern Oblivion
    by Leo Steinberg

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    The best books on Reinterpreting Medieval Art - Image on the Edge: The Margins of Medieval Art by Michael Camille

    2

    Image on the Edge: The Margins of Medieval Art
    by Michael Camille

  • Read
    The best books on Reinterpreting Medieval Art - The Reformation of the Image by Joseph Leo Koerner

    3

    The Reformation of the Image
    by Joseph Leo Koerner

  • Read
    The best books on Reinterpreting Medieval Art - Early Medieval Bible Illumination and the Ashburnham Pentateuch by Dorothy Verkerk

    4

    Early Medieval Bible Illumination and the Ashburnham Pentateuch
    by Dorothy Verkerk

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    The best books on Reinterpreting Medieval Art - Anachronic Renaissance by Alexander Nagel & Christopher Wood

    5

    Anachronic Renaissance
    by Alexander Nagel & Christopher Wood

The best books on Reinterpreting Medieval Art, recommended by Marc Michael Epstein

The professor of religion explains how medieval Jews and Christians collaborated. He recommends five books that have changed the way we look at medieval art.

    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages, recommended by Nancy Goldstone

  • Read
    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir

    1

    Eleanor of Aquitaine
    by Alison Weir

  • Read
    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - The Serpent and the Moon by Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent

    2

    The Serpent and the Moon
    by Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent

  • Read
    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - The Heptameron by Marguerite de Navarre

    3

    The Heptameron
    by Marguerite de Navarre

  • Read
    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - Murder of a Medici Princess by Caroline P Murphy

    4

    Murder of a Medici Princess
    by Caroline P Murphy

  • Read
    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - Wedlock by Wendy Moore

    5

    Wedlock
    by Wendy Moore

The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages, recommended by Nancy Goldstone

The author of The Maid and the Queen takes us on an enjoyable ride through European history, looking at well-connected women who outwitted their husbands or asserted their independence.

    The best books on Queens and Power, recommended by Helen Castor

  • Read
    The best books on Queens and Power - The Empress Matilda by Helen Castor & Marjorie Chibnall

    1

    The Empress Matilda
    by Helen Castor & Marjorie Chibnall

  • Read
    The best books on Queens and Power - My Heart Is My Own by John Guy

    2

    My Heart Is My Own
    by John Guy

  • Read
    The best books on Queens and Power - The Weaker Vessel by Antonia Fraser

    3

    The Weaker Vessel
    by Antonia Fraser

  • Read
    The best books on Queens and Power - Monuments and Maidens by Marina Warner

    4

    Monuments and Maidens
    by Marina Warner

  • Read
    The best books on Queens and Power - The King’s Two Bodies by Ernst Kantorowicz

    5

    The King’s Two Bodies
    by Ernst Kantorowicz

The best books on Queens and Power, recommended by Helen Castor

Women’s historical role in politics wasn’t always as limited as we might assume. Medieval historian Helen Castor tells us about powerful women in British history and how they were constrained or conspired against.

    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture, recommended by Rory McTurk

  • Read
    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - The Culture of the Teutons by Vilhelm Grønbech

    1

    The Culture of the Teutons
    by Vilhelm Grønbech

  • Read
    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - Icelandic Culture by Sigurður Nordal

    2

    Icelandic Culture
    by Sigurður Nordal

  • Read
    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - Saga and Society by Preben Meulengracht Sørensen

    3

    Saga and Society
    by Preben Meulengracht Sørensen

  • Read
    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - The Origins of Drama in Scandinavia by Terry Gunnell

    4

    The Origins of Drama in Scandinavia
    by Terry Gunnell

  • Read
    The best books on Old Icelandic Culture - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún by J R R Tolkien

    5

    The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún
    by J R R Tolkien

The best books on Old Icelandic Culture, recommended by Rory McTurk

Rory McTurk, Emeritus Professor of Icelandic Studies at the University of Leeds, introduces us to the landscape of old Icelandic culture, addressing the Icelandic sagas, medieval Nordic history, and links to Anglo-Saxon England.

    The best books on The Celts, recommended by Simon Young

  • Read
    The best books on The Celts - The Celts by Barry Cunliffe

    1

    The Celts
    by Barry Cunliffe

  • Read
    The best books on The Celts - In Search of the Dark Ages by Michael Wood

    2

    In Search of the Dark Ages
    by Michael Wood

  • Read
    The best books on The Celts - Concepts of Arthur by Tom Green

    3

    Concepts of Arthur
    by Tom Green

  • Read
    The best books on The Celts - The Trials of Arthur by Arthur Pendragon and Chris James

    4

    The Trials of Arthur
    by Arthur Pendragon and Chris James

  • Read
    The best books on The Celts - Life of St Columba by Adomnan of Iona & Richard Sharpe

    5

    Life of St Columba
    by Adomnan of Iona & Richard Sharpe

The best books on The Celts, recommended by Simon Young

Writer and Dark Age historian delves into five books on Celtic history, and talks about the challenge of separating history from legend. One priority for any Dark Age historian, he says, is “to avoid these awful bogs”

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