THE GREAT ATLAS OF THE MIDDLE AGES

A reference work for understanding the fascinating period of the Middle Ages. Spanning from the 5th to the 15th century — covering nearly 1,000 years of history — the Middle Ages were long dominated by superstitions and erroneous beliefs, reducing them to a period of obscurantism, regression and violence. A dark age between two golden eras: Antiquity and the Renaissance. Yet the Middle Ages are immensely more complex than that.

Marked by the predominance of the Church in all aspects of feudal society, the influence of Christianity and the growth of an agrarian economy, the Middle Ages were at the heart of intense commercial, cultural and political interactions. The outer borders of Europe were shaped by the Crusades and military conquests, and the first great explorations were undertaken. States consolidated, major technical innovations emerged and an exceptional artistic output came to light.

In 400 pages and richly illustrated throughout, this volume invites readers to rediscover this key period of history through the countless ruling dynasties — among them the Merovingians, the Carolingians, the Capetians and the Valois. This true encyclopaedia, published in collaboration with the newspaper Le Monde, draws on detailed maps, chronological timelines and an extensive iconography to offer a comprehensive understanding of this fascinating period, which laid the earliest foundations of modern society.