The textbook's narrative flow overall is engaging and clear and offers students and the general reader an entertaining and fairly detailed overview of the major thematic and chronological events in the section of European history often referred to as the 'Middle Ages'. The collapse of the Western Roman Empire, barbarian invasions, the rise of Christianity, Christian doctrine and the role of bishops and monks and their integral contribution in helping formulate western Europe's nascent states is explored. There are many more sections exploring the period from different angles yet chronologically the Middle Ages are clustered into three, the early, the central and late middle ages. The maps are mostly well made however I noticed a few mistakes in the shapes of certain landmasses.
The Islamic world is discussed relatively briefly and the description of the religions doctrine is very minimal and simplified relative to Christianity. Also the book tends to focus overwhelmingly on Western Europe, Eastern Europe is explored in less depth. Overall however the well flowing prose style and interesting exploration of Europe as it began to develop the early forms of modern European nation states today and grows to become a region that would influence world history from the 1500s onwards makes this a good informative read, for students on University courses covering the European Middle Ages and general history enthusiasts that would like transcend more popular history into something slightly more in depth and academic albeit very accessible.
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