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 A useful overview poorly put together and poorly edited Jul 26, 2008
Well, I guess it's helpful as a quick guide, but their is a terrible lack of correlation between the text, the images, and the maps. In many cases, the geographical locations discussed in the text (even in the title of a section) is not indicated on the associated map!
This work appears to be a collection of short pieces on various areas and times, with the associated maps being whatever Oxford University Press (OUP) had laying around for that period. Often, the main focus of the map is unrelated to the main focus of the text. Often, the spelling of a place name in the text differs from that on the map (they may both be correct, but the lack of consistency makes the use of the maps and text together more difficult, and further implies that the maps were not generated to support the text, or vice-versa).
The maps alone may be useful, and the text alone may be useful, but you'll often go crazy trying to find a label on the map showing the area being discussed in the text. For example, the two maps in the section entitled "The Delhi Sultanate and the Vijayanagara India" indicate neither the location of the Delhi Sultinate or that of the Vijayanagara empire.
The captions to images sometimes fail to even identify what the image is (e.g., a work of art with no reference to the artist or period or source).
In one example, the page of text primarily discussing the Swiss Confederation (1300-1500) holds a figure related to Burgundy and a map (facing) of "Burgundy under Charles the Bold". Turn the page, and you find text primarily discussing Burgundy (1300-1500) with a map of "The Swiss Confederation" and a painting showing Burghers of the Swiss Confederation city of Lucerne being sworn in.
On top of all this, there are far more typos that one would expect from OUP. Though many are minor (odd or missing punctuation, single letter misspellings, etc), the frequency indicates sloppy proof-reading.
Bottom line - it appears that OUP rushed this one out; throwing in whatever maps covered the area and time period of the text; a quick proof read; but not much more. Even so, each individual section does contain a good textual overview, and the maps (considered as stand-alone references) can be useful for the purpose for which they were originally drafted.
 Remarkable Atlas Mar 24, 2008
I purchased this book to enhance my paltry knowledge of a whole era / epoch. The atlas absolutely overwhelmed me with both the maps and the teaser articles.
Conceptually, it's a brilliant collection - It seems to be accurate with the myriad transitions which happened over the amazingly long, dark period it covers. I've ended up using it both as an adjunct font of research material and a printed source which is entertaining and enlightening to read. My paltry knowledge is a little less paltry having purchased this book.
15 of 15 found the following review helpful:
 Good for non-academic readers or beginners to medieval history Nov 11, 2006
Rosamond McKitterick has done some fantastic research on the early Middle Ages, and that's why I bought this book. However, this is not the kind of book that McKitterick wrote or edited before. Academic readers, especially medievalists, may disappointedly find that this is what they need. Not to say that it is not good: It is beautifully printed and contains lots of illustrations and introductory texts about medieval Europe (a small part on China, India and the Islamic world). Thus it is suitable for non-academic readers to get into medieval history. For academic readers, the illustrations are too many and unnecessary; the texts and atlases are introductory and not detailed enough. They may be useful in undergraduate lectures but not in research.
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