A really terrific book. It's basically a series of maps that show, through time, the flow of power in Europe and the Near East. The text is also excellent, a real marvel of compression and not without the ocasional touch of humour. ( )

Yeah, some people prefer chaps to maps, but maps have their allure, too. Presented here is a series of clearly drawn political maps, showing the shifting boundaries of Europe and adjacent lands from the traditional date of the Fall of the Roman Empire through the discovery of the New World. Supplementing them are several featuring religious and economic developments. Accompanying each map is a high level summary of what happened during the years since the preceding one. Experts will no doubt find errors and oversimplifications, but there aren't many more succinct and usable overviews of the Middle Ages. ( )