Knight Era: Medieval Europe

Author: Time-Life Books
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-02-01
Features: The war for the English throne between Matilda, daughter of Henry I, and Stephen of Blois, the nephew of Henry and the grandson of William the Conqueror, had been ongoing for several years. Both sides' warriors needed a respite. Despite this, John Marshal, Matilda's military commander, could only secure a one-day truce from Stephen if he agreed to release his young son William as a hostage. Without hesitation, Marshal sent his five-year-old son into the enemy camp and then, after securing the truce, continued forward to resupply and reinforce his troops. Enraged, Stephen placed the young William in a basket attached to a crossbow and prepared to hurl him to his death. But Marshal did not back down. Instead, he provoked Stephen with words, saying he had "a hammer and forge to create weapons even better than these."
The Knight Era: Medieval Europe is one of the titles in Time-Life Books' world history series Living in Distant Times. This volume tells an engaging story about the young boy in the crossbow basket and other significant events in medieval Europe. It guides readers through the silent monasteries, battlefields, cities, manors, and castles of the Middle Ages, offering a detailed look at the real lives of figures like Stephen and Matilda, John and William. Based on contemporary manuscripts, letters, church documents, manor accounts, court records, and other historical sources, the book vividly recreates the lives of ordinary people and rulers. Among the historical figures featured are the serf Abraham, the university student Alexander Neckham, Joan of Arc, and the enigmatic abbess Hildegard of Bingen. Henry uses vibrant medieval illustrations to depict major events and daily life: the Pope, clad in gold and purple robes, crowning Charlemagne; numerous priests in deep red vestments turning the surroundings into a sea of red; hunters chasing prey in lush forests; and citizens in colorful attire gathering on the streets as cities receive official charters. These historical settings are enriched by medieval artifacts, from religious relics and chain mail to children's toys and ceramic dishes. The images of fortified castles, towering cathedrals, and quiet monasteries evoke a longing for the Middle Ages.
To compile this series, the team at Time-Life Books immersed themselves in the collections of scholars, travelers, museums, and universities. They not only provided each book with rich illustrations of artworks and crafts to bring the past to life but also created various maps, reconstructions of cities and buildings, and detailed reconstructions of the entire world in which the stories took place. The opening overview is a thought-provoking historical essay, accompanied by a timeline, giving readers a clear understanding of the era. The narrative is designed to be engaging and fresh, with every detail, character, anecdote, and historical fact offering a new perspective—allowing readers to experience what life was like in those distant times.