Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published) Media: Paperback Edition: 2Rev Ed Number Of Items: 1 Pages: 112 Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5 Dimensions (in): 8.6 x 6.9 x 0.3
Fantastic! February 19, 2007 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
If you are a fan of history and have not yet discovered this wonderful series of atlases, you are in for a real treat.
I have to agree with the reviewer below, that taken as a whole this volume might be one of the greatest history books ever published.
It's hard to imagine someone with an interest in history who would not enjoy reading and re-reading this book. It also makes a handy reference book. Wonderful!
Good quality book, but ... January 5, 2007 3 out of 9 found this review helpful
I have bought a whole series of Penguin Atlas books, while the books are well-written, and the prices are relatively cheap, there are some big mistakes I have to point out: The fant/size of the letters are too small ! It is hardly possible to read without a magnifying glass ! It is obviously a big mistake - because I guess 70% of the history books readers are NOT young people under age of 30! You should really investigate who your readers are!
Possibly the best history book ever published April 29, 2005 24 out of 24 found this review helpful
'The best history book ever'? A rather extravagant claim I admit, and impossible to substantiate, but this is truly a superb book for anyone with even the slightest interest in history. It has two main advantages: 1) It covers 1,000 years in barely 100 pages for less than 10 pounds. You could read it in an afternoon 2) It covers the entire sweep of European and Middle Eastern history together, so that every major event can be seen in its context
The main body of the book consists of political maps - the same basic map every time - showing the medieval world at roughly 30-year intervals. Turn the pages fast enough and empires rise and fall like a cartoon show (quite a long show in the case of the Byzantine Empire). The book also pauses occasionally to show the growth of the major religions, trade and population. But an unexpected bonus comes with the writing. McEvedy writes with informal clarity and a deft use of language that makes every paragraph engaging and brings the story to life in a way quite unlike most history books (the Kwarizm Shah, he writes, "fell back to rest against the teeth of the Mongolian dragon"; "the King of France was a lunatic, the Duke of Burgundy open-minded about his loyalties and the French nobility as confused as ever about the difference between tournaments and tactics"). Reading him is a pleasure. The book is substantially updated from earlier editions, justifying the addition of 'New' to the title. Some more subtle analysis has been added, without significantly boosting the word count. The population graphs are also new, so owners of 20-year old editions should consider upgrading. Two gripes: firstly, 1980s editions excluded Iceland, northern Norway and the fringes of Arabia, explaining that including them would compress the crucial central area for the sake of a few backwaters. These areas have been included now, and it shows that the original judgement was correct. Secondly, the book fails to mention the Great Schism of 1054 between Rome and Constantinople, which is one of the defining moments of medieval Christianity. But it's still easily worth five stars.
Interesting March 27, 2003 30 out of 31 found this review helpful
This unfolds the history of Europe and the Near East as a continous story, rather than focusing on one country at a time which is perhaps the more common way to compile this type of atlas. So there are no in-depth analyses of individual Kingdoms or dissections of their political and administrative hierarchies. It does not provide that level of detail, but rather attempts to give an account of what was happening in the region as a whole, for example how the Black Death spread between 1346 and onwards, or the penetration of Christendom in the region in the year 1000, on so forth. The period covered stretches from the rein of Constantine the Great (year 362 being the first entry in the atlas), which is also around the time when the Roman Empire began to decline, to the Voyages of Discovery at the end of the 15th century (1483 being the last entry).
There are 47 maps, visualizing the 'playing field' like trade routes, religions, political and economical development, populations, the range of The Known World, lighuistic groupings, and so on. Rather than detailed disseminations and dissections, the text that accompany the maps deal mainly with over-arching topics like The Crusades, The Black Death, Migrations, etc. This is not to say that you do not find references to more insular topics, such as what individuals like Joan of Arc did in 1429, or how the weavers of Flanders affected the price of wool, etc. The point is that the atlas is painting a bigger picture of the region with the information sectioned in chunks of years rather than organized according to single countries. I wont say that I know the information to be accurate, or how many controversies it contains, or what can or is disputed in the community of historians, but I feel the atlas is a good complementary perspective to additional and more detailed literature.
On a different note, to me the cover promises a perhaps prettier book illustration wise. The front is a detail from an illumination from the "Book of Marco Polo". But he maps are pretty dull in their schoolbook like appearance being all blue and black and white. There are no other illustrations other than the maps.
A unique overview af the subject, a must have February 28, 2000 13 out of 19 found this review helpful
Along with the other books in this series that I have read, Ancient, Modern and Recent History, this book is a solid and occasionally witty overview of the sweep of European development. It is fair to say that I have worn the book out as I often reread and refer to it. A must have on any bookshelf.
