First published in 1992, Medieval Military Technology has become the definitive book in its field, garnering much praise and a large readership. This thorough update of a classic book, regarded as both an excellent overview and an important piece of scholarship, includes fully revised content, new sections on the use of horses, handguns, incendiary weapons, and siege engines, and eighteen new illustrations.The four key organizing sections of the book still remain: arms and...

Medieval Warfare: A Reader examines how armed conflict was experienced in the Middle Ages both on the field of battle and at home. This comprehensive collection of more than 130 primary-source materials—some translated here for the first time—traces over one thousand years of military developments, including the fall of Rome, the fight for Jerusalem, the building of castles and other fortifications, the rise of gunpowder, and the negotiation of treaties. Developed by two of the le...

This fascinating reference covers the weapons and armor used by warriors from the 4th to the 15th century and discusses how and why they changed over time.In the Middle Ages, the lack of standardized weapons meant that one warrior's arms were often quite different from another's, even when they were fighting on the same side. And with few major technological advances in that period, the evolution of those weapons over the centuries was incremental. But evolve they ...

There is much more to the Norman story than the Battle of Hastings. These descendants of the Vikings who settled in France, England, and Italy - but were not strictly French, English, or Italian - played a large role in creating the modern world. They were the success story of the Middle Ages; a footloose band of individual adventurers who transformed the face of medieval Europe. During the course of two centuries they launched a series of extraordinary conquests, carving out kingdoms from...

In this modern age the regional and national boundaries which define Scotland seem fixed and permanent. But of course this has not always been so.In this book Alistair Moffat looks at the shifting political shape of the land long before its modern borders were created. In doing so he brings to vivid life the half-forgotten kingdoms that came and went during Roman times, the Dark Ages and the early medieval period. This is a fascinating journey into a tantalisingly little-known peri...

This biography of an overlooked but important Anglo-Saxon ruler sheds light on the Dark Ages of England.In the eighth century, Offa ruled Mercia, one of the strongest Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. For over thirty years he was the dominant warlord in the territory south of the Humber River and the driving force behind the expansion of Mercia's power. During that turbulent period, Offa commanded Mercian armies in their struggle against the neighboring kingdoms of Northumbria ...

Rattle through 1000 years of horrible history, from the fifth century to the sixteenth centuryFamine, plague and public execution – the medieval period wasn't the best time for some, but heroic rulers like Charlemagne, William the Conqueror and Henry V made sure that it was full of action. Brimming with facts, this book helps you get under the skin of the people who lived at the time, from impoverished peasants to opulent monarchs. From the Dark Ages to the Renaiss...

The definitive classic used as a source for Game of Thrones: "The Gieses succeed in making a remote and unfamiliar world accessible." — Kirkus ReviewsA bestseller by two widely respected historians, Joseph and Frances Gies's Life in a Medieval Castle remains a timeless work of popular medieval scholarship.Focusing on Chepstow, an English castle on the Welsh border that survived the turbulent Middle Ages with a relative lack of viole...

The centuries after the end of Roman control of Britain in AD 410 are some of the most vital in Britain's history - yet some of the least understood. Warlords brings to life a world of ambition, brutality and violence in a politically fragmented land, and provides a compelling new history of an age that would transform Britain. By comparing the archaeology against the available historical sources for the period, Warlords presents a coherent picture of the...

Sir Charles Oman brings medieval warfare to life in this epic work of military history. He traces the evolution of weaponry, strategy and tactics from the end of the Roman legions to the final battlefield dominance of the armored knight. Many conflicts are discussed in depth, including those of the Byzantine Empire, the Viking invasions, the Crusades, the Hundred Years War, and the English wars against the Scottish. Additional chapters cover advances in siege warfare and defenses, and the ...

This definitive history provides a comprehensive and accessible account of medieval siege warfare, including detailed case studies of famous sieges.Long before the advent of city culture, rival civilizations used siege tactics to take over fortified palaces, temples, and defensive walls. But the “golden age” of siege warfare came during the medieval period, as the proliferation of formalized cities made siege tactics the ideal choice during military conflict. In

The Clash of History's Titans is part of the series conveniently portable, stylishly packaged and eminently collectible set of six books that each open a window onto a selection of remarkable stories, characters and themes from the past. When two supremely powerful political rivals lock horns in a clash of personality and ideology, they can change the course of human history.The Clash of History's Titans brings to life the drama of history's most vicious political...