Product Description

Europe during the later Middle Ages was a scene of unparalleled chaos. At no time in history did so much misery, in the form of war, famine, plague and death, descend upon the earth - at times it must have seemed like the end of the world people constantly feared was truly at hand. Taking his themes from the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the author describes how the Great Famine and Black Death swept away nearly half of Europe's population, while the royal houses of England and France were engaged in a Hundred Years War that meant constant political strife. Yet, as is revealed in this work, a firm belief in the ways of providence and the first stirrings of greater political freedom allowed communities to endure. Far from conventional notions of the "waning"of the Middle Ages, John Aberth reveals a world that we can recognize as very similar to our own.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #698692 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

From the Back Cover
Europe during the later Middle Ages was a scene of unparalleled chaos. At no other time in history did so much misery--in the form of war, famine, plague, and death--descend upon the earth. At times it must have seemed like the end of the world was truly at hand. And yet, as John Aberth reveals in this lively work, a firm belief in the ways of providence and the first stirrings of greater political freedom allowed communities to endure. Far from conventional notions of the "waning" of the Middle Ages, John Aberth reveals here a world with fears, hopes, and passions that we recognize as our own.

Relying on rich literary and historical sources, John Aberth brings this period vividly to life. Taking his themes from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he describes how the Great Famine and Black Death swept away nearly half of Europe's population, while the royal houses of England and France were engaged in a Hundred Years War that meant perpetual political strife. Above all loomed the specter of Death, ever present and constantly feared. Throughout the later Middle Ages, ordinary people were transformed by this daunting and fearful series of crises, yet in their prayers, chronicles, poetery, and especially their commemorative art are foreshadowings of the age to come. As John Aberth reveals in this informative and sympathetic work, in their struggles we glimpse the birth of the modern.

About the Author
John Aberth is Associate Professor of History at the University of Nebraska and is the author of Criminal Churchmen in the Age of Edward III(1996). He lives in Omaha, Nebraska.

Customer Reviews

a valueable study aid
I cannot understand why I am the first person to review this book, this book is without doubt written with the first year history degree modules in mind.
Aberths book is a great indroduction to a complex period very useful when us 1st yr undergraduates are learning to skim read/pick out relivent information.
It was almost a reqiuirement to have this book when studying this period and very hard to get hold off once term starts.
The only reason I give it 4 stars is that its opinunated and in my opinion referenced badly and little use beyond the first yr but vauleable none the less.

A brilliantly readable text, perfect for A-level
From the Brink of the Apocalypse: Confronting Famine, War, Plague, and Death in the Later Middle Ages

Very well written, giving some excellent overvierws of long term issues in the 14th Century. A jewel.