Best Books on Early Medieval History, Art, Literature and Archaeology

1.
Beowulf
Beowulf
by: Unknown
3.50 avg rating — 338,025 ratings
2.
Terry Jones' Medieval Lives
Terry Jones' Medieval Lives 4.02 avg rating — 2,940 ratings
3.
Ecclesiastical History of the English People
Ecclesiastical History of the English People
by: Bede
3.83 avg rating — 4,778 ratings
4.
The Norse Myths: A Guide to the Gods and Heroes
The Norse Myths: A Guide to the Gods and Heroes 3.76 avg rating — 1,260 ratings
5.
The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings
The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 493 ratings
6.
The Vikings
The Vikings 3.82 avg rating — 1,162 ratings
7.
How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe
How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe 3.81 avg rating — 46,387 ratings
8.
In Search of the Dark Ages
In Search of the Dark Ages really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2,001 ratings
9.
The Real Middle-Earth: Magic and Mystery in the Dark Ages
The Real Middle-Earth: Magic and Mystery in the Dark Ages 3.83 avg rating — 640 ratings
10.
Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel: Technology and Invention in the Middle Ages
Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel: Technology and Invention in the Middle Ages 3.88 avg rating — 925 ratings
11.
The Anglo-Saxon World: An Anthology
The Anglo-Saxon World: An Anthology 4.07 avg rating — 914 ratings
12.
Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs
Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs 4.11 avg rating — 1,379 ratings
13.
Medieval Bodies: Life and Death in the Middle Ages
Medieval Bodies: Life and Death in the Middle Ages 3.93 avg rating — 2,489 ratings
14.
River Kings: The Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Roads
River Kings: The Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Roads 4.05 avg rating — 3,819 ratings
15.
Fulcanelli and the Alchemical Revival: The Man Behind the Mystery of the Cathedrals
Fulcanelli and the Alchemical Revival: The Man Behind the Mystery of the Cathedrals 3.50 avg rating — 44 ratings
16.
Le Mystère des Cathédrales
Le Mystère des Cathédrales 3.92 avg rating — 591 ratings
17.
Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings
Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings 4.15 avg rating — 8,582 ratings
18.
The Medieval Myths
The Medieval Myths 3.58 avg rating — 136 ratings
19.
The Viking Way: Magic and Mind in Late Iron Age Scandinavia
The Viking Way: Magic and Mind in Late Iron Age Scandinavia 4.54 avg rating — 169 ratings
20.
The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages 400-1000
The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages 400-1000 3.93 avg rating — 3,037 ratings
21.
Barbarians to Angels: The Dark Ages Reconsidered
Barbarians to Angels: The Dark Ages Reconsidered 3.41 avg rating — 492 ratings
21.
The Sagas of Icelanders
The Sagas of Icelanders 4.31 avg rating — 4,176 ratings
23.
The Norman Conquest
The Norman Conquest 4.17 avg rating — 5,003 ratings
24.
The Origins of the Anglo-Saxons: Decoding the Ancestry of the English
The Origins of the Anglo-Saxons: Decoding the Ancestry of the English 3.82 avg rating — 164 ratings
25.
The Mabinogion
The Mabinogion
by: Unknown
3.93 avg rating — 8,433 ratings
26.
Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts
Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts 4.42 avg rating — 1,552 ratings
27.
Europe Between the Oceans: Themes and Variations, 9000 BC - AD 1000
Europe Between the Oceans: Themes and Variations, 9000 BC - AD 1000 4.12 avg rating — 632 ratings
28.
Ancestral Journeys: The Peopling of Europe from the First Venturers to the Vikings
Ancestral Journeys: The Peopling of Europe from the First Venturers to the Vikings 3.95 avg rating — 714 ratings
29.
Viking Art
Viking Art 3.98 avg rating — 80 ratings
30.
Mysteries of the Middle Ages: And the Beginning of the Modern World
Mysteries of the Middle Ages: And the Beginning of the Modern World 3.80 avg rating — 4,636 ratings
31.
The Early Slavs: Culture and Society in Early Medieval Eastern Europe
The Early Slavs: Culture and Society in Early Medieval Eastern Europe 3.77 avg rating — 53 ratings
32.
Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War
Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War 4.71 avg rating — 49 ratings
33.
The Vinland Sagas: The Norse Discovery of America
The Vinland Sagas: The Norse Discovery of America
by: Unknown
3.80 avg rating — 1,391 ratings
34.
Norse Mythology
Norse Mythology 4.10 avg rating — 338,256 ratings
35.
The Viking World
The Viking World 4.36 avg rating — 206 ratings
35.
A History of Science, Magic and Belief: From Medieval to Early Modern Europe
A History of Science, Magic and Belief: From Medieval to Early Modern Europe 3.60 avg rating — 5 ratings
35.
A Monument To The End Of Time: Alchemy, Fulcanelli, & The Great Cross
A Monument To The End Of Time: Alchemy, Fulcanelli, & The Great Cross 4.55 avg rating — 11 ratings
35.
The Bog people
The Bog people 4.07 avg rating — 866 ratings
35.
Medieval Germany 1056-1273
Medieval Germany 1056-1273 3.50 avg rating — 12 ratings
40.
The Mound People: Danish Bronze-Age Man Preserved
The Mound People: Danish Bronze-Age Man Preserved 3.97 avg rating — 37 ratings
40.
The Realm of St. Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary
The Realm of St. Stephen: A History of Medieval Hungary 4.07 avg rating — 61 ratings
42.
Cod and Herring: The Archaeology and History of Medieval Sea Fishing
Cod and Herring: The Archaeology and History of Medieval Sea Fishing really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
42.
The Origins of the Irish
The Origins of the Irish 3.87 avg rating — 304 ratings
42.
Archaeology in the U. S. S. R
Archaeology in the U. S. S. R 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings
42.
East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000-1500
East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000-1500 4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings
46.
Sun Dancing: Life in a Medieval Irish Monastery and How Celtic Spirituality Influenced the World
Sun Dancing: Life in a Medieval Irish Monastery and How Celtic Spirituality Influenced the World 3.93 avg rating — 279 ratings
46.
A Land
A Land 3.99 avg rating — 100 ratings
46.
The Routledge Handbook of East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500-1300
The Routledge Handbook of East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500-1300 really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings
46.
Fifty Early Medieval Things: Materials of Culture in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages
Fifty Early Medieval Things: Materials of Culture in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages 3.93 avg rating — 15 ratings
50.
Medieval intellectual history: A primer
Medieval intellectual history: A primer 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
50.
The Other Europe in the Middle Ages: Avars, Bulgars, Khazars and Cumans
The Other Europe in the Middle Ages: Avars, Bulgars, Khazars and Cumans 4.15 avg rating — 20 ratings
50.
Rome in the Dark Ages
Rome in the Dark Ages 3.45 avg rating — 20 ratings
53.
Silk for the Vikings
Silk for the Vikings 4.31 avg rating — 26 ratings
53.
Medieval Cities: Their Origins and the Revival of Trade
Medieval Cities: Their Origins and the Revival of Trade 3.87 avg rating — 775 ratings
53.
Landscape and Change in Early Medieval Italy: Chestnuts, Economy, and Culture
Landscape and Change in Early Medieval Italy: Chestnuts, Economy, and Culture 4.71 avg rating — 7 ratings
56.
Art of the Islands: Celtic, Pictish, Anglo-Saxon and Viking Visual Culture, c. 450-1050
Art of the Islands: Celtic, Pictish, Anglo-Saxon and Viking Visual Culture, c. 450-1050 3.50 avg rating — 8 ratings
56.
Medieval Folklore: A Guide to Myths, Legends, Tales, Beliefs, and Customs
Medieval Folklore: A Guide to Myths, Legends, Tales, Beliefs, and Customs 4.09 avg rating — 187 ratings
56.
Weeds and the Carolingians: Empire, Culture, and Nature in Frankish Europe, AD 750–900
Weeds and the Carolingians: Empire, Culture, and Nature in Frankish Europe, AD 750–900 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
59.
Europe after Rome: A New Cultural History 500-1000
Europe after Rome: A New Cultural History 500-1000 3.63 avg rating — 127 ratings
59.
Medieval Treasures from Hildesheim
Medieval Treasures from Hildesheim 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings
59.
The Complete Works of Liudprand of Cremona
The Complete Works of Liudprand of Cremona
by: Luidprand
3.95 avg rating — 38 ratings
62.
De noordse mythen. Goden en helden van het oude Scandinavië
De noordse mythen. Goden en helden van het oude Scandinavië 3.76 avg rating — 1,260 ratings
62.
Two Lives of Charlemagne
Two Lives of Charlemagne
by: Einhard
3.64 avg rating — 2,083 ratings
64.
Poets and Emperors: Frankish Politics and Carolingian Poetry
Poets and Emperors: Frankish Politics and Carolingian Poetry it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating
65.
Medieval Kingdoms of Nubia: Pagans, Christians and Muslims in the Middle Nile
Medieval Kingdoms of Nubia: Pagans, Christians and Muslims in the Middle Nile 3.58 avg rating — 12 ratings
66.
Early Medieval Art
Early Medieval Art 3.92 avg rating — 100 ratings
66.
Sea of Faith: Islam and Christianity in the Medieval Mediterranean World
Sea of Faith: Islam and Christianity in the Medieval Mediterranean World 3.99 avg rating — 415 ratings
68.
Early Medieval Architecture
Early Medieval Architecture 3.87 avg rating — 103 ratings
68.
The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain
The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of Tolerance in Medieval Spain 3.92 avg rating — 2,949 ratings
70.
Northwest Europe in the Early Middle Ages, c.AD 600-1150: A Comparative Archaeology
Northwest Europe in the Early Middle Ages, c.AD 600-1150: A Comparative Archaeology 4.50 avg rating — 4 ratings
70.
The Poetry of Charles d'Orléans and His Circle: A Critical Edition of Bnf Ms. Fr. 25458, Charles d'Orléans's Personal Manuscript of His Poetry and that of His Court at Blois
The Poetry of Charles d'Orléans and His Circle: A Critical Edition of Bnf Ms. Fr. 25458, Charles d'Orléans's Personal Manuscript of His Poetry and that of His Court at Blois liked it 3.00 avg rating — 3 ratings
72.
The Illuminated Manuscripts of Medieval Spain
The Illuminated Manuscripts of Medieval Spain 4.67 avg rating — 12 ratings
72.
Charles Duke of Orleans poet and prince
Charles Duke of Orleans poet and prince 3.25 avg rating — 4 ratings
74.
The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings
The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 289 ratings
74.
The Effluents of Deity: Alchemy and Psychoactive Sacraments in Medieval and Renaissance Art
The Effluents of Deity: Alchemy and Psychoactive Sacraments in Medieval and Renaissance Art 3.25 avg rating — 4 ratings
74.
How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization
How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization 4.13 avg rating — 2,996 ratings
77.
A Handbook to Eddic Poetry: Myths and Legends of Early Scandinavia
A Handbook to Eddic Poetry: Myths and Legends of Early Scandinavia 3.91 avg rating — 11 ratings
77.
Castles: Their History and Evolution in Medieval Britain
Castles: Their History and Evolution in Medieval Britain 3.98 avg rating — 407 ratings
77.
Thrice Great Hermetica and the Janus Age: Hermetic Cosmology, Finance, Politics and Culture in the Middle Ages through the Late Renaissance
Thrice Great Hermetica and the Janus Age: Hermetic Cosmology, Finance, Politics and Culture in the Middle Ages through the Late Renaissance 4.03 avg rating — 38 ratings
80.
Crafts and Social Networks in Viking Towns
Crafts and Social Networks in Viking Towns 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings
80.
Seven Noble Knights: A Saga of Family, Betrayal, and Revenge in Medieval Spain
Seven Noble Knights: A Saga of Family, Betrayal, and Revenge in Medieval Spain 4.36 avg rating — 25 ratings
80.
The Music of Christendom: A History
The Music of Christendom: A History 3.65 avg rating — 17 ratings
83.
Early Medieval Art
Early Medieval Art 3.57 avg rating — 75 ratings
83.
The Wild Man: Medieval Myth and Symbolism
The Wild Man: Medieval Myth and Symbolism 3.71 avg rating — 7 ratings
83.
Discover Early Music
Discover Early Music 3.83 avg rating — 6 ratings
86.
The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction of the Classical World
The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction of the Classical World 4.07 avg rating — 6,286 ratings
86.
If It Ain't Baroque: More Music History As It Ought To Be Taught
If It Ain't Baroque: More Music History As It Ought To Be Taught 4.02 avg rating — 159 ratings
88.
The Vikings
The Vikings 3.95 avg rating — 287 ratings
88.
Worlds of Arthur: Facts and Fictions of the Dark Ages
Worlds of Arthur: Facts and Fictions of the Dark Ages 3.55 avg rating — 241 ratings
88.
Vision: The Life and Music of Hildegard Von Bingen
Vision: The Life and Music of Hildegard Von Bingen 3.63 avg rating — 54 ratings
91.
King and Emperor: A New Life of Charlemagne
King and Emperor: A New Life of Charlemagne 3.62 avg rating — 236 ratings
91.
The Medieval Reader
The Medieval Reader 3.71 avg rating — 152 ratings
93.
Introduction to Early Medieval Western Europe, 300–900: The Sword, the Plough and the Book
Introduction to Early Medieval Western Europe, 300–900: The Sword, the Plough and the Book 3.92 avg rating — 26 ratings
93.
The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature
The Discarded Image: An Introduction to Medieval and Renaissance Literature 4.28 avg rating — 3,175 ratings
95.
The Rise of Western Christendom: Triumph & Diversity 200–1000
The Rise of Western Christendom: Triumph & Diversity 200–1000 4.18 avg rating — 684 ratings
95.
Pleyn Delit: Medieval Cookery for Modern Cooks
Pleyn Delit: Medieval Cookery for Modern Cooks 4.17 avg rating — 169 ratings
97.
Mohammed, Charlemagne, and the Origins of Europe: The Pirenne Thesis in the Light of Archaeology
Mohammed, Charlemagne, and the Origins of Europe: The Pirenne Thesis in the Light of Archaeology 3.37 avg rating — 68 ratings
97.
Lost Gold of the Dark Ages: War, Treasure, and the Mystery of the Saxons
Lost Gold of the Dark Ages: War, Treasure, and the Mystery of the Saxons 4.09 avg rating — 100 ratings
97.
Dragon's Blood & Willow Bark: The Mysteries of Medieval Medicine
Dragon's Blood & Willow Bark: The Mysteries of Medieval Medicine 4.19 avg rating — 157 ratings
100.
Towns and Trade in the Age of Charlemagne
Towns and Trade in the Age of Charlemagne 3.47 avg rating — 15 ratings
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