The Making of the Middle Ages

The tumultuous history of Europe during the Early Middle Ages, told through eighty-­five specially commissioned maps and an authoritative narrative.

Medieval Europe remains a mystery to many, yet the relative dearth of information about the period cannot mask its crucial importance in history. Often mischaracterized as a time of darkness and decline, the period from 476 to 1000 ad was marked by turmoil, rebirth, and transformation.

From Constantine to Charlemagne and from the Huns, Goths, and Saxons to the Slavs, Franks, Vikings, Rus’, Bulgars, and Magyars, this atlas brings to life the dynamic story of how a new Europe emerged from the ashes of a crumbling empire. Witness the spread of Christianity, the emergence of Islam, the rise and fall of empires, and the birth of the leading nations of modern Europe.

This unique atlas offers an unprecedented cartographic overview of Europe's transformation from the fall of the Roman Empire to the dawn of the first millennium. Featuring eighty-­five specially commissioned maps, this book provides a striking visual narrative of invasions, migrations, religions, kingdoms, and empires. Complemented by additional illustrations and photographs, it draws together an unparallelled survey of early medieval Europe. Written by respected historian and cartographic editor John Haywood, this authoritative and stunning volume is an essential guide for anyone seeking to understand the complex melting pot of the European continent during this era.