Mysteries of the Middle Ages: And the Beginning of the Modern World (Hinges of History)

Editorial Review:

From the bestselling author of How the Irish Saved Civilization, a fascinating look at how medieval thinkers created the origins of modern intellectual movements.
After the long period of decline known as the Dark Ages, medieval Europe experienced a rebirth of scholarship, art, literature, philosophy, and science and began to develop a vision of Western society that remains at the heart of Western civilization today, from the entry of women into professions that had long been closed to them to the early investigations into alchemy that would form the basis of experimental science. On visits to the great cities of Europe-monumental Rome; the intellectually explosive Paris of Peter Abelard and Thomas Aquinas; the hotbed of scientific study that was Oxford; and the incomparable Florence of Dante and Giotto-acclaimed historian Thomas Cahill brilliantly captures the spirit of experimentation, the colorful pageantry, and the passionate pursuit of knowledge that built the foundations for the modern world.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 3.0 / 5.0

`The problem of universals':

This book manages to inform, illuminate and irritate: a good example of the process of educating. I enjoyed most aspects of the book: the information is well-presented and the language is clear and concise. Mr Cahill has provided some components of medieval history of which I was only vaguely aware, albeit with some interpretations and conclusions with which I may not fully agree. For me, the value of this particular book is the background information provided: the linking of ancient knowledge and... more info

Finding our way through the Dark Ages:

After reading "Mysteries", Cahill's fifth in his "Hinges of History" series, I felt like he was unable to keep the components of this volume tied together as well as he had in the earlier works in the series. This seems caused by the sheer breadth of what is called the Middle Ages. Cahill may have stretched the reasonable definition of a 'hinge' of history too far to keep the focus.
However, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good introduction into the world that we call the Middle... more info

Tendentious:

Cahill writes entertaining prose but what I read in this book makes me feel the need to read more widely in order to get a balanced picture of some of the historical figures mentioned. For instance:
Bernard of Clairvaux was "terrified of real women."
Pope Boniface VIII "was one of the vilest men ever to sit on the throne of St. Peter..."
Despite a Jesuit education, Cahill's understanding of Catholicism seems shaky in spots. He repeatedly refers to Catholic "worship" of the Virgin Mary,... more info

Charming:

I agree with most of the comments by the reviewers so far. I was, in fact, surprised when I read those comments: it is not very often that reviewers express as similar opinions as they have when describing this book. For such reason, I will not go into details about the subjects covered and how they are presented. That has already been done. I will only confirm that the book is not perfect, it has flows and can be at times irritating. For example, its purpose is not always clear, it does not limit itself to... more info

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