Powers and Thrones Powers and Thrones

Powers and Thrones

A New History of the Middle Ages

    • 4.4 • 138 Ratings
    • $13.99
    • $13.99

Publisher Description

"Not only an engrossing read about the distant past, both informative and entertaining, but also a profoundly thought-provoking view of our not-really-so-‘new’ present . . . All medieval history is here, beautifully narrated . . . The vision takes in whole imperial landscapes but also makes room for intimate portraits of key individuals, and even some poems."—Wall Street Journal

"A lively history . . . [Jones] has managed to touch every major topic. As each piece of the puzzle is placed into position, the modern world gradually comes into view . . . Powers and Thrones provides the reader with a framework for understanding a complicated subject, and it tells the story of an essential era of world history with skill and style."—The New York Times

The New York Times bestselling author returns with an epic history of the medieval world—a rich and complicated reappraisal of an era whose legacy and lessons we are still living with today.


When the once-mighty city of Rome was sacked by barbarians in 410 and lay in ruins, it signaled the end of an era--and the beginning of a thousand years of profound transformation. In a gripping narrative bursting with big names—from St Augustine and Attila the Hun to the Prophet Muhammad and Eleanor of Aquitaine—Dan Jones charges through the history of the Middle Ages. Powers and Thrones takes readers on a journey through an emerging Europe, the great capitals of late Antiquity, as well as the influential cities of the Islamic West, and culminates in the first European voyages to the Americas.

The medieval world was forged by the big forces that still occupy us today: climate change, pandemic disease, mass migration, and technological revolutions. This was the time when the great European nationalities were formed; when the basic Western systems of law and governance were codified; when the Christian Churches matured as both powerful institutions and the regulators of Western public morality; and when art, architecture, philosophical inquiry and scientific invention went through periods of massive, revolutionary change.

The West was rebuilt on the ruins of an empire and emerged from a state of crisis and collapse to dominate the world. Every sphere of human life and activity was transformed in the thousand years covered by Powers and Thrones. As we face a critical turning point in our own millennium, Dan Jones shows that how we got here matters more than ever.

GENRE
History
RELEASED
2021
November 9
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
656
Pages
PUBLISHER
Penguin Publishing Group
SELLER
PENGUIN GROUP USA, INC.
SIZE
67.3
MB

Customer Reviews

Philastein ,

Get Medieval!

I’ve read 3 previous books written by Dan without leaving a written review. All of them were great books. It just didn’t seem right bypassing this one. I found myself limiting my reading time, so I wouldn’t finish too soon. I didn’t want it to end. This book was phenomenal. Thanks Dan!

juliusa ,

Eh

No matter how many time I truly try to get into this book, it fails to entice. Known history repeated ad nauseum. Horrific acts described ad nauseum. Repetitive writing. It’s just nit that great. But your call.

CVMarshal ,

Leftist “wokeness” strikes again!

In his huge tome, Dan Jones barely mentions Magna Carta — historically, the first, embryonic establishment of human freedom!

Indeed, before Magna Carta, there had never been any serious effort to limit royal power, whether labeled Pharaoh, Caesar, Emperor, King, Queen, et al!

Very sad, and more, terrifying!

The History of the Renaissance World: From the Rediscovery of Aristotle to the Conquest of Constantinople The History of the Renaissance World: From the Rediscovery of Aristotle to the Conquest of Constantinople
2013
Worlds at War Worlds at War
2008
The Age of Faith The Age of Faith
2011
Justinian's Flea Justinian's Flea
2007
The Reformation The Reformation
2011
The Restoration of Rome The Restoration of Rome
2014
The Plantagenets The Plantagenets
2013
Henry V Henry V
2024
The Templars The Templars
2017
The Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses
2014
Essex Dogs Essex Dogs
2023
Crusaders Crusaders
2019
In Search of a Kingdom In Search of a Kingdom
2021
Ten Caesars Ten Caesars
2019
A Distant Mirror A Distant Mirror
1979
Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World
2023
The White Ship The White Ship
2020
The Cause: The American Revolution and its Discontents, 1773-1783 The Cause: The American Revolution and its Discontents, 1773-1783
2021