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The Roman Empire and the Dark Ages
Examines the history of the Roman Empire and such Dark Ages cultures as the Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Arabs, detailing the tools, weaponry, household and farm implements, machines, clothing, and architecture
48 pages, Library Binding
First published October 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 4, 2014
While this book is ostensibly for young students (grades 6 to 8), I'd recommend it to anyone with a love of history and an interest in the everyday objects from the daily lives of everyone from peasants to kings. The title aside, the actual scope of the material covered ranges from the Celtic tribes who settled England (c. 600 BC) to a medieval town of 1300AD.
The book illustrates how the Celts weren't quite the savages many of us were taught, save their utter inability to be at peace with each other (which puts them in good company with the rest of the human race over the entirety of recorded history). Their farming techniques and tools were at least on par with the Romans and were far more efficient - they even used roller bearings in the wheels of their wagons! They introduced the use of iron into northern Europe, shod their horses and, most barbaric of all: they invented soap.
My favourite sections covered:
The villa (2000 square meters alone), and vineyard of a very wealthy Roman family.
Vindolanda, the northernmost Roman frontier fort in Britain, built approx. AD 79-84. The life expectancy of men was 36, women 28. One of the main activities at Vindolanda was harvesting bracken which served as a flooring over the earthen floors. Thanks for this great innovation, Rome!
The Vikings (of course), and a medieval town house.
The term "Dark Ages" seems a bit unfair considering that a merchant who sold bad wine could be forced to drink it in public. Sounds rather enlightened to me.
Beautifully and clearly illustrated. My hat is off to the artist for the great exploded diagrams of the castle keep and manor house.
The book illustrates how the Celts weren't quite the savages many of us were taught, save their utter inability to be at peace with each other (which puts them in good company with the rest of the human race over the entirety of recorded history). Their farming techniques and tools were at least on par with the Romans and were far more efficient - they even used roller bearings in the wheels of their wagons! They introduced the use of iron into northern Europe, shod their horses and, most barbaric of all: they invented soap.
My favourite sections covered:
The villa (2000 square meters alone), and vineyard of a very wealthy Roman family.
Vindolanda, the northernmost Roman frontier fort in Britain, built approx. AD 79-84. The life expectancy of men was 36, women 28. One of the main activities at Vindolanda was harvesting bracken which served as a flooring over the earthen floors. Thanks for this great innovation, Rome!
The Vikings (of course), and a medieval town house.
The term "Dark Ages" seems a bit unfair considering that a merchant who sold bad wine could be forced to drink it in public. Sounds rather enlightened to me.
Beautifully and clearly illustrated. My hat is off to the artist for the great exploded diagrams of the castle keep and manor house.
May 11, 2025
This book was first published in 1981. And it's impressive that so many years after it's first publication date it kept being reprinted. Almost all historians of my age grew up reading books by Peter Connolly and Giovanni Caselli. They both have great didactical skills, wonderful artistic talent and immense knowledge of several historical periods. This book by Caselli is no exception; the author of the everyday life series (among many others) gives young readers a different book from most history books for this target group...it focus not on historical events but on the tools, livelihood, dwellings and many other aspects of the daily lives of our ancestors (in 1981 this was quite rare).
Very good illustrations depict hundreds of technical instruments, houses, monasteries, "villas", agricultural tools, weapons, and clothing among many other types of everyday implements.
The title is somewhat misleading with big letters "The Roman Empire" and small letters "and the dark ages". In fact it has only 12 pages dedicated to the Roman Empire; the book concentrates on the middle ages (and not only the so called "dark ages"). Each chapter has 4 pages and you can find detailed drawings and information such as the everyday life of a Celtic farmer, how people lived in a Roman town, information about Viking shipbuilding, monastic life or how people lived in a medieval town in the beginning of the XVth century (among several other time periods).
Very good illustrations depict hundreds of technical instruments, houses, monasteries, "villas", agricultural tools, weapons, and clothing among many other types of everyday implements.
The title is somewhat misleading with big letters "The Roman Empire" and small letters "and the dark ages". In fact it has only 12 pages dedicated to the Roman Empire; the book concentrates on the middle ages (and not only the so called "dark ages"). Each chapter has 4 pages and you can find detailed drawings and information such as the everyday life of a Celtic farmer, how people lived in a Roman town, information about Viking shipbuilding, monastic life or how people lived in a medieval town in the beginning of the XVth century (among several other time periods).
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews