Book Description
Tremendously detailed and thorough account of premodern weapons of war — from the prehistoric Bronze and Iron Ages and the breakup of the Roman Empire, to the Viking era and the Age of Chivalry. Profusely illustrated with a host of armor and weapons: daggers, longbows, crossbows, helmets, swords, shields, spears and more.
Customer Reviews:
Should Be Called "The Archaeology of Swords" & not Weapons.......2007-06-19
I bought this mainly for what I could learn about fighting axes. What I got was a description of 3 vague axe types without any new (or much old)information about them. Thats not much in 330pp. I was disappointed from the second I opened it and leafed through it. Obviously there were a great many axes used in these times periods yet you wouldn't think so reading this book. The 95% of this is on swords. If you were interested in much of anything else from that time period, forget it. If swords are your thing this is for you.
The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry.......2007-01-07
This is a very informative book, written clearly and delightfully free of arcane references. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 is because most of the illustrations are drawings rather than photographs. The drawings are good though. This is a good reference book for dating the styles and innovations of edged weapons up through the end of the 15th century--Particularly for a collector.
A compelling read.......2006-11-08
This book goes beyond the history and developement of the sword and related weapons. It deals with early European history as it relates to weaponry and fighting techniques and back the claims with archeological findings. Oakeshott also discusses the old sagas and other historical lore, supported by archeology, to illustrate the culture of the sword and the peoples who used these weapons. I find it hard to just finish the chapter that I am on and get about with the day's work. A truely compelling read for those interested in anchient weaponry.
Highly readable and yet extremely informative.......2006-04-25
This fascinating book is the magnum opus of author and sword-expert Ewart Oakeshott (1916-2002). In it, the author traces the evolution of European (and only European) arms from prehistory to the fifteenth century. He shows how weapons changed in shape and composition, sometimes due to changes in technology (for example in the change from bronze to iron) and sometimes due to changes in society (for example in the development of chivalry).
Overall, I found this to be a highly readable, and yet extremely informative book. The author does a great job of explaining the evolution of weapons in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. I enjoyed the many picture and illustrations that are peppered throughout the book, finding them very useful for understanding the text.
Now, as you might expect with a book by a sword-expert, this book focuses primarily on the development of the sword, but as the sword has usually been considered the king of the pre-gunpowder battlefield, this is not a great surprise. So, let me just say that this is a great book for understanding European weapons of any era, and of the evolution of the weapons in general. I think that this is a great book on ancient and medieval weapons, one that I would not hesitate to recommend to all readers.
A must have.......2005-09-21
This is a simple walktrough the age of blade weapons. Easy understood, good illustrations and serious written. It's not a boring learning book, but it is helpfull. Either you are a reenacter or an archeology student. Buy it!
Customer Reviews:
Great for knight-aficionados..........2007-05-13
Great for younger kids interested in knights (3-4years), lots of information and great pictures.
Great Gail Gibbons.......2007-03-22
Like all of Gibbons' books, the text is full of good info...accompanied by useful illustrations.
Knights and Castles.......2007-01-19
I bought this for my 6-year-old grandson, who loves to play with knights and dragons. Great pictures and lots of information presented without a lot of words. I learned a lot, too! Gail Gibbons' books are terrific!
Historical info for kids.......2004-03-05
This is a history book that describes the lives of knights in the Middle Ages. The book describes how boys could become knights, what the rules of the code of honor for knights were, and what battles between knights were like. The book introduces a lot of factual material and vocabulary, but there is no plot or story line. At the end of the book, there is a short section describing some famous knights and their dragons. Personally, I found the book a bit dry, but kids who are fascinated with swords and armor may show some interest in it. The book has about 900 words.
Knights in Shining Armor.......2000-10-23
As an heraldic artist for over 40 years and with grandchildren becoming interested in ALL things, I found this book very helpful in passing on my interests. It has helped them to become intrigued with the Knights of the Roundtable and their play now includes slaying dragons and rescuing fair maidens.They also have started asking about the various insignia in all my books on heraldry.
The illustrations brought to life the costumes and customs of the era. The story was written simply so that any young child could readily understand what the author was saying.
Thanks to Gail Gibbons for such an interesting way for children to learn.
Book Description
Alongside the familiar pitched battles, regular sieges, and large-scale manoeuvres, medieval and early modern wars also involved assassination, abduction, treason and sabotage. These undercover operations were aimed chiefly against key individuals, mostly royalty or the leaders of the opposing army, and against key fortified places, including bridges, mills and dams. However, because of their clandestine nature, these deeds of `derring-do' have not been studied in any detail, a major gap which this book fills. It surveys a wide variety of special operations, from the eleventh to the sixteenth century. It then analyzes in greater depth six select and exciting operations: the betrayal of Antioch in 1098; the attempt to rescue King Baldwin II from the dungeon of Khartpert in 1123; the assassination of Conrad of Montferrat in 1192; the attempt to storm Calais in 1350; the `dirty war' waged by the rulers of France and Burgundy in the 1460s and 1470s; and the demolition of the flour mill of Auriol in 1536. Dr YUVAL NOAH HARARI teaches at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Book Description
The resplendent image of the medieval knight is symbolised by his sword, a lethal weapon on the battlefield and a badge of chivalry in that complex social code. Ewart Oakeshott draws on his extensive research to recount the history of the sword from the knightly successors of the Viking weapon to the emergence of the Renaissance sword - roughly from 1050 to 1550. Evidence for dating is adduced from literature and art as well as from archaeology, and a detailed chronological typology of swords is developed, based on entire swords, pommel-forms, cross-guards, and the grip and scabbard. With clear illustrations and invaluable photographic plates The Sword in the Age of Chivalry offers first-class reference material for all weapons enthusiasts. The late EWART OAKESHOTT was an authority on the arms and armour of medieval Europe. His other books include Records of the Medieval Sword and The Archaeology of Weapons.
Customer Reviews:
a marvellous work on the Sword and it's impact.......2004-08-03
I think I have all of Ewart Oakeshott books, and find them an invaluable source of information on Knights, Weaponry, Armour and how the knight lived, girded himself for battle and their function in the Medieval feudal system. This book is no expect ion, but rather the rule to quality works.
It's full of just about everything you would want to know about the swords, their use, and construction. There are hundreds of sketches to help you understand his discussions, lots of black and white plate photos. The book is broken down to groups - Swords 1050-1350, Group 2 1350-1550, then breaks down into Pommel-Forms, Cross-Guards, Grips and Scabbards.
A wonderful references for the writer, sword collector and same the passing enthusiast.
The authority on sword classification.......2004-06-22
This book is an incredibly detailed academic work on the classification of swords from the 10th century through to the 15th century.
The book is well written, and includes many clear photos (black and white) as well as dozens of sketchs to aid in the identification of these weapons.
The book is full of various historical bits pertaining to each class of sword.
However what makes this book so good, also makes it near useless to anyone but the die-hard sword collector. The book never strays from its details of sword classifications and thier dates of usage. I would not recommend reading this book "for the fun of it".
A must for the sword lover!.......2000-04-29
I came across this book in the UK library while doing a research project on the medieval sword. This book became the basis for the report. It is full of sword information.
The Standard Reference Work on Medieval Swords.......1997-12-05
R.E. Oakeshott is an internationally-known authority on medieval swords; this book is his masterwork. Conversational in tone, it is an easy read, yet still manages to convey an immense amount of information. Oakeshott's typology of medieval swords - which appears in this book - has gained international acceptance. After explaining his typology, the author proceeds to discuss each sword-type. The illustrations include depictions of each sword-type in contemporary art as well as plates of surviving museum pieces. Mr. Oakeshott's enthusiasm for his subject brims over each page, making his book a pleasure to read.
Customer Reviews:
A great book.......2003-07-26
This is a great book, even if you're into escapist roleplaying, and pretending you're a knight, this will teach you what real chivalry was.
Bigger and more concise than the hagakure, it should be required reading for anyone who aspires to be a good person.
Guidlines of being a better man.......2001-04-05
Those who are members of mideval Recreation will find this book great insight to how the Knights of the day thought, felt, and acted about thier role and the betterment of thier Order. This book gives the reader a chance to view the concepts of chivalry through the eyes of one of the greatest Knights of France.
Listen to a medieval knight reflect on knighthood.......2000-10-21
The original author, Geffroi de Charny, probably did not write this book -- like many busy leaders, he probably dictated it. Kennedy's translation lets you hear him speak. If you think you'd like to hear what a serious, practical, yet idealistic knight thought about chivalry, this is the book for you.
Knighthood explained, if you're Middle Age French..........2000-06-10
A very good dual-text copy of the writings of Geoffroi De Charny (the Knight that kept the oriflamme, a symbol of France, and the first famous possessor of the Shroud of Turin) into what Chivalry is, and what Knighthood should be, and the differences between that and what it really seemed to be.
The prose is well done, giving good insight into the mind of the Knight of that era. Examples of the problems of lust versus courtly love, the appropriateness of staying just a little hungry, and a comparison of the Orders of Grace (priesthood) with the Orders of Knighthood all work together to give the reader a sense of the noble and knightly duties in the pre Republic days of Europe. This is a good starting point (along with Ramon Lull's _The Book of the Order of Chivalry_) for the novice to learn how social Chivalry developed from the military form to the current socio-political. The parallels in current day knighthood can easily be seen once an understanding is gained of the past, and this book brings the past into focus in an amazing way.
Do be advised -- the French and English are interleaved, so you'll either be reading on the right (english) or left (french) once you get past the introduction!
Book Description
Here are the worlds most-loved stories, in a dynamic visual tour de force for todays readers. Each timeless myth is superbly presented in story form and enhanced with original art work by world-renowned artist Giovanni Caselli. Though Bulfinchs has been heralded for more than a century, it has never been published in so beautiful and accessible a format. Evocative four-color illustrations, many full-page, bring to life key events and characters of these universal tales and sagasfrom the Greek and Roman pantheon of gods to the heroes of the Crusades, from the exploits of Robin Hood to the feats of Richard the Lionheart. As enjoyable now as when Bulfinch first assembled them, these selections come from a variety of worksOvids classic Metamorphoses, Egyptian myths, Eastern mythology, and Hindu, Norse, and Celtic sources. Together they form a remarkable tapestry of human endeavor: dreams, illusions, adventures, loves lost and loves found. In this handsome series, they speak to us afresh, across the ages, vivified through Casellis inspired art. Original footnotes, indexes, and prefaces make this series not only entertaining, but completely authoritative as well.Thomas Bulfinch (1796-1867), writer and mythologist, was the first to create a popular compendium of ancient myths and legends. Giovanni Caselli (b. Florence, 1939) is one of Europes most celebrated authors and illustrators. His books have sold in the millions.
Customer Reviews:
Not the high culture you might be looking for.......2007-02-08
The stories in this book, first published in 1855, are wonderful. All of the famous Olympian heroes and gods are here in well-told stories, written in fine prose at a level simple enough for small children. The back cover says that the book contains, "Evocative myths of Greece and Rome; Action-packed tales of the Norse gods; Original text, untouched and unabridged; First full-color illustrated edition of a timeless classic." All true.
However, what the back cover also says is that the book contains, "Specially created illustrations and maps by a world-renowned artist." Very misleading. Don't let the "world-renowned artist" phrase fool you. Treat it like the throw-away phrase, "critics rave" applied to movies in the daily newspaper.
My first issue is with the artist's drawing ability. His is on the same level as those who draw the cheap superhero cartoons on Nickoleon on Saturday morning. Not really a problem in itself, it's just disappointing that such well-crafted stories should be coupled with such bad "art."
The other, much bigger, problem is the way the people are posed and the way their features are presented. I do not object to nudity per se; I am very familiar with Greek, Roman, and Christian high art. But Giovanni Caselli's drawings are not the tastefully done nudes of antiquity. They are more like the drawings seen in men's magazines. They are not classically beautiful, not even romantically seductive. They are just cheaply sexual. There are dozens of these inappropriate drawings, spread liberally throughout the book. They will be very distracting to your child and -- if you have any culture at all -- distressing to you.
Just because something is childish does not mean it is fit for children. Unless you are looking to introduce your children to poor art and soft porn, I would recommend you skip this book. The good Christian, Jewish, Heathen, Asatru, etc., parent who wants to raise a classically educated child should get the original stories without these illustrations.
Great Book.......2001-03-20
This amazingly illustrated book(s) is so enjoyable. The read is quite fun and the pictures make it look spectacular. It keeps you interested at every piont, with the amazing stories of ancient mythologies. The Age of Fable is the best on information for world mythologies, though mainly that of Greece and Rome. Still there are stories I have never read before of the all-powerful gods of these old religions. There are three volumes altogether, and they are all very fun to read and the pictures help you imagine what things might have looked like.
Customer Reviews:
Another Winner.......2005-11-18
Time Life books did it again. Beautiful illustrations,educationl,interesting. This book has it all. It's a book you won't want to put dowm.
A good introduction to Medieval Europe.......2005-04-14
This book is a good introduction to medieval Europe. The book is divided into several sections, each about a particular social group. There are the monastics, the warriors, the serfs, and the merchants.
The Catholic Church was very powerful. It owned vast tracts of land and developed a hierarchy to run its secular resources. Monasteries and abbeys flourished throughout Europe. The monks and nuns, most of whom were younger sons and daughters of wealthy Europeans, devoted their lives to prayer, study, and assisting the populace. However, they were not immune from worldly temptations such as adultery, bribery, and the siring of children.
During Europe's medieval period, wealthy people hired armed men to protect their property and livelihood from thieves and rivals. These warriors over the centuries developed their own code of conduct, chivalry. Knights advertised their skills to prospective clients in tournaments. Motivated by wealth and faith, many knights and footsoldiers fought in battles near and far. Some fought to defend or to capture castles, while others traveled to the Near East to fight for Christianity in order to redeem their souls.
The vast majority of Europeans lived under the manorial system. They are now known as serfs. Under the manorial system, serfs were obligated to perform agricultural labor for the head of the manor. In return, they were given a plot of land for themselves to cultivate. The tasks of a serf were regulated by the seasons. Most serfs lived in houses, with walls made of mud and a roof made of straws. Although serfs had to pay taxes and give tribute to the lord of the manor, some serfs became wealthy from selling fruits and vegetables. Over the centuries, they formed a social class and some owned many properties.
Merchants arose when the population grew and manors could not accomodate everyone. Many people resorted to carrying and selling their wares in places far away. Traveling merchants spurred the development of skilled artisans, whose products were sold in far away places. Eventually, merchants and artisans organized and established towns to live and to do their business. Pestered by religious figures and lords of manors, these towns eventually bought their political and economic independence from monarchs. To maintain prosperity, artisans formed guilds to ensure the quality of their products. Eventually, members of guilds became part of many towns' ruling body.
Outstanding.......1999-11-11
This is the first book I read from the series. It got me hooked
A great text and pictorial resource!.......1999-11-10
I love this series. I used this text as a resource in my British Literature class to give students a clear idea of many cultural aspects of medieval life with which they were not familiar. The text is simple, yet informative; the illustrations are outstanding. What a joy this book is.
Customer Reviews:
Primary Source worth reading.......2007-10-11
I am currently reading this book for a Graduate seminar in gender and sexuality in the middle ages. The topic bores me to death, yet, this source is entertaining in a variety of ways. First, its a primary source so it is not riddled with feminist/activist arguments. It is simply a handbook from a medieval knight on how a perfect knight or men-at-arms should act. Though several pieces have insight into gender issues in the middle ages, it certainly gives the modern audience of what medieval (at least 1) knights viewed as proper behavior. Charny also speaks on how a ruler (king, lord, etc) should work within society. If your interested in medieval thought this is certainly a good book to read. If your into medieval military history this source may be helpful, yet I will warn you that it is nothing like The Art of War by Machiavelli. Your not going to find pages of military thought and strategic theories. However, if you are interested in the subject I advise you to read it, if anything you will grasp a little understanding of the individual knight or warrior through De Charny's eyes.
Average customer rating:
- More than just Arms and Uniforms
- I loved it
- I find it very interesting and educational
- Concise Medieval history of warfare, weapons and armor.
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The Age of Chivalry (Arms and Uniforms, Vol.1)
Liliane Funcken , and
Fred Funcken
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Military Science
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0130462764 |
Customer Reviews:
More than just Arms and Uniforms.......2000-01-05
The authors did a nice job of using the english language to make knights interesting without being fiction. I learned about what happens when a knight breaches the code of chivalry which was not in any of the other books I researched.
I loved it.......1999-05-07
I realy liked this book a lot. The drawing are extreamly good. The author shines a lot of light on certin things othe authors don't. I just had to get this book
I find it very interesting and educational.......1999-02-25
was a great book i wan't a copy becaus i looked through it and it seemed cool
Concise Medieval history of warfare, weapons and armor........1998-12-01
At first glance this work looks like it belongs in the YOUTH section of the library. Not so! Profusely illustrated, this series (vol.1-3) comes with fascinating (and cited) accounts of the militant culture of feudal Europe (with a Swiss bias).
Book Description
A beautiful gift edition of Thomas Bulfinch's classic retelling of famous myths and folk legends, with interpretive essays by Princeton classics professor Richard P. Martin.
Customer Reviews:
Very In-Depth.......2003-08-26
This book does cover the well-known myths of several different cultures, and it does well on that, but no book can cover every myth of every time period, and in the end I suppose that's what everyone wants.
For the most part if you're looking for Greek or Celtic myths this is a book you have to have, any other society's myths and you'd probably be better off with a different, more concentrated book, not something with such a wide-spread focus.
Overall a wonderful book, completely worth it's cost.
Excellent new edition.......2003-01-21
This new edition of the classic Bulfinch's Mythology is excellent. It has retained all of Bulfinch's old texts and introductions to myths and their histories, but it has also added some new introductory material. This material, much having to do with Bulfinch's own life and education helps to bring light into the context for which Bulfinch was writing. For example, did you know that Bulfinch originally began writing mythology pieces for magazine entertainment? There is also much information in the new introductions about Bulfinch's education and the place that he held (or rather, didn't hold) within Boston's then extremely rigid social strata. The editor also provides an interesting look at why Bulfinch told the myths in the way he did and compares the sources that Bulfinch used to those of his contemporaries (Hawthorne, for example). It really is very interesting reading.
Of course, this edition of Bulfinch's mythology still contains all of the wonderful myths that our society has come to know through this book, along with Bulfinch's original introductions to each chapter.
The book is large and heavy, therefore not a great traveling companion. Still, it more than makes up for it with content. If you keep this book out on your shelf and read a small bit of myth every day, you will never be bored or lack for reading material again.
The definitive source for myth..........2000-03-24
Bulfinch's Mythology is, simply put, the best. I cannot think of another book I simply enjoyed reading more. It deals with classical myth, the tales of Charlemagne and Arthur, some Celtic myths... it is an invaluable companion to someone who is studying cultural history, or just as an eminently readable book. It serves as an admirable companion to Frazer's "The Golden Bough", giving some context to much of his writing.
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The Book of the Sword: With 293 Illustrations
A Knight and His Weapons
Records of the Medieval Sword
A Knight and His Armor
A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: in All Countries and in All Times
