Medieval Reading List

**zakalwe** · 02-09-2006, 11:08

Ok, I went through all my books last night to stack up a pile on those that have information on the period of this game and also the period slightly prior to 1080. I'm pretty good for politics and social history, Scottish history, Byzantine and Middle Eastern history, but have a large gap for actual military history. Can anyone recommend any good general books about Medieval warfare (other than the Osprey series)? 'Medieval Warfare - A History' by M Keen looks interesting. Anyone have that?

(I started a similar thread at .com, but it didn't seem to go anywhere

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**lancelot** · 02-09-2006, 12:39

'War in the Middle Ages' by Phillip Contamine is considered to be required reading for War Studies & Defence Studies at the University level. It is a very good book, kinda technical but lots of information....

'Alexiad' by Anna Comenna for a Byzantine perspective, I found to be very interesting, if a bit slow in places.

**Subedei** · 02-09-2006, 13:08

Paul Keagan: "A History of Warfare" has some information on war & mankind in general. Starts pretty much with the caveman up to the atomic bomb. But it has a hige part about the relevant period. And it`s a good read....

**Hambut_bulge** · 02-09-2006, 13:43

Originally Posted by Subedei

Paul Keagan: "A History of Warfare" has some information on war & mankind in general. Starts pretty much with the caveman up to the atomic bomb. But it has a hige part about the relevant period. And it`s a good read....

Think you mean "A History of Warfare" by John Keegan

It is a very good read.

**Vladimir** · 02-09-2006, 14:23

If you want a more macro military perspective I would recommend Mohamed et Charlemagne by Henri Pirenne (in whatever language you prefer). It has some good information on the Merovingian period thru Charlemagne.