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Medieval Europe is up there with the Wild West and Ancient Greece as one of the most mythologized periods in history. But how much do we actually know about the era—and the people who lived it?
With labels like the “Dark Ages” and fantasized depictions such as Game of Thrones and Medieval Times Dinner Theater, most of what we picture amounts to muddy villages and a thousand years of misery. Looking beyond the views that gave us that belief—from the Renaissance rebirth to movies with the same gray filter—we’re offering a far more genuine, albeit messier, look at the Middle Ages.
Doing away with the classic castles-and-quests snapshot, these books peer into medieval life, covering topics including medicine, sex, politics, and much more.
A Distant Mirror
Two-time Pulitzer-winning historian Barbara Tuchman does away with the myth that medieval history is just Game of Thrones-style palace intrigue, instead offering a more nuanced view of the 14th century.
From wars to plagues, taxes to passions, in the National Book Award-winning A Distant Mirror, she offers an illuminating perspective on the daily, domestic lives of serfs, saints, mystics, mercenaries, knights, and many more in “a beautiful, extraordinary book” (Wall Street Journal).
The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women
Unpacking true experiences from all classes, author Rosalie Gilbert pulls from court records and confessional manuals to offer a real look into the intimate lives of medieval women.
From female sexuality to romance and courtship, learn how exactly sex was viewed and played a role in the Middle Ages.
The Templars
Throughout time, the legendary Knights Templar have continued to be shrouded in mystery—although they play a major role in pop culture, from Indiana Jones to Dan Brown.
Taking a deep dive into the knight-crusader image, historian Michael Haag “sifts through the history and the legends to illuminate these mysterious Holy Warriors” (Library Journal).
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The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England
Hailed as “the most remarkable medieval historian of our time” by The Times, Ian Mortimer, although not dismissing the gritty conditions of medieval times, offers a more practical look at how people actually ate, dressed, worked, and lived throughout the era.
Get sent back to the 14th century with this guide, and experience it through every sense, from smell to taste.
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The Bright Ages
Almost immediately, when we conjure images of medieval times, we think of the Dark Ages: a 1,000-year horror. But authors Gabriele and Perry consider what else the period has to offer, in “a nuanced historical work that almost anyone can enjoy reading” (Slate).
In fact, as they go on to describe, medieval Europe was far more connected, colorful, and intellectually stimulating than many stereotypes have come to suggest. Moving through 10 centuries of history, from Europe to Asia and Africa, visit familiar events like the Fall of Rome to the Black Death in a vivid new light.
Medieval Bodies
From concerns of growing old to dealing with indigestion, medieval people were far more connected to their bodies than we may think.
Historian Jack Hartnell dissects their anatomical knowledge, as well as their relationship, both real and symbolic, to their inner workings.
Medieval Horizons
Another book from Alexander Prize-winning author Ian Mortimer, this work traces innovation and progress across the medieval period, dismantling the notion that it was a stagnant era.
Including science, technology, and culture, Medieval Horizons considers the major changes that took place, in which the world shifted from a warrior-led society to that of Shakespeare.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
