• Considers the complex changes the Middle Ages brought on contemporary culture in Europe
• Examines the people and their lifestyles, from kings to the ordinary man
• Looks at the big ideas of the period, including Christian salvation and sacred kingship
• Considers the impact the period on the modern day

  
The Middle Ages is a term coined around 1450 to describe a thousand years of European History. In this Very Short Introduction, Miri Rubin provides an exploration of the variety, change, dynamism, and sheer complexity that the period covers. From the provinces of the Roman Empire, which became Barbarian kingdoms after c.450-650, to the northern and eastern regions that became increasingly integrated into Europe, Rubin explores the emergence of a truly global system of communication, conquest, and trade by the end of the era. 
   
Presenting an insight into the challenges of life in Europe between 500-1500 — at all levels of society — Rubin looks at kingship and family, agriculture and trade, groups and individuals. Conveying the variety of European experiences, while providing a sense of the communication, cooperation, and shared values of the pervasive Christian culture, Rubin looks at the legacies they left behind.
  
  
The Very Short Introductions Podcast: Episode 11 Middle Ages