A readable, concise and focused history of the European “Middle Ages”, a period of about 1,000 years, with the main trends and changes made wonderfully clear and convincingly explained.
Setting the context of the Middle Ages in Europe, Jones initially discusses the Roman Empire, with a succinct and useful summary of the importance of Rome, without getting bogged down with detail and persuasively highlighting the issues which would be important for the Middle Ages.
The second chapter on the “Barbarian” invasions is masterly, keeping sufficiently high level to describe the overall movement of “tribes”, whilst providing an explanation of the causes of the movement. This is a period of history which I previously only knew from its impact upon the British and north European stories. Necessarily an overview, this should provide me with excellent context for more detailed histories.
Jones then moves on to early Byzantium, the Eastern Mediterranean, which summarises more detailed histories I have read, again highlighting issues which would shape the later Middle Ages, especially in terms of the “closing of the mind” to Socratic questioning.
Retaining focus on the large trends, Jones provides chapters illuminating:
• the explosion of the Arabian Empire around the Mediterranean with the Muslim faith
• the building of larger kingdoms in the West, with Charlemagne and the Franks
• the monks, who both protected and limited learning, providing literacy for kings and bureaucrats
• the knights, who provide one defining image of the Middle Ages, but also provided the military muscle of rulers
• with both monks and knights “crusading” to push back Arab rule in the Levant (Outremer), Spain and the pagan Baltic states
• new forms of warfare and long distance trade arising from the Mongol invasion
• the creation of wealth by Merchants, allowing the funding for larger armies and buildings
• the transition of learning from religious knowledge to broader secular enquiry with Scholars and then universities
• the creation of castles, abbeys and cathedrals with Builders, using finance from Merchants and the mathematical knowledge of Scholars
• the watershed in the Middle Ages created by the Black Death, changing society for the Survivors
• the blooming of culture from Renewers in the Renaissance, with literary and artistic masterpieces which are still referenced directly today
• the expansion of the European trading network by Navigators, who “discover” the Americas and the route to India around Africa, starting colonialism and globalisation
• the breakdown of Roman Christendom with the Protestants

Some chapters covered subjects I have previously read about in greater detail, providing a useful refresher and also fitting the subject into the larger developments of the Middle Ages. However, for me the best chapters were about the Barbarians, which provided an understandable overview of whole movement, and the Merchants, where I was left wanting to read more. What I really appreciated was Jones’s ability to remain focused on the big issues whilst making these live with the judicious use of actual events and people.

I love Jones’s occasional colloquialisms and deprecating humour, including his closing words, “For it is now late. I have written a lot, and it is time to go.” ( )

New works of nonfiction bust myths about the people and progress of the Middle Ages by providing new perspectives on this often misunderstood time period.

Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages
Dan Jones, Nov 2021, Viking/8 Titles
Themes: Europe history, Middle Ages, Medieval

POWERS AND THRONES explores a thousand years of medieval history. Divided into four parts: imperium, dominion, rebirth, and revolution, each section explores key individuals, transformational events, and enduring themes
Take-aways: Of particular note is Jones’ global approach to this time period while maintaining a mostly western lens. Young adults will enjoy the author’s conversational approach and themes of interest to contemporary readers. ( )

Dan Jones has a way of bringing us into a thorny world of men and women rising out of the cloudy murkiness of medieval darkness. A common thread with most of his work. But this piece takes us back considerably farther than most of his books. Not only does this book give us a detailed account of the time but brings us back to the events which caused the middle ages and shaped the foundations of what would become a crux for a new dawn. But what Jones scrapes on here is that new dawn lasted several hundred years until we finally opened our eyes from that darkest moment before the dawn. Jones keeps you entertained which his tongue and cheek wording and does not hesitate to encourage the reader to go farther than the reading he provides. It is hard to readily name a history writer that is as entertaining or informative as Jones. To say this book goes deep is a monumental understatement. When you are done reading this you will have an intimate understanding of every man and woman discussed in the book. When you are done you will either feel sympathy or anger towards not only the monarchs, but the people who moved in their circles. For good or bad Jones gives a critical look at the working behind the politics, trade, religion and emotions of these individuals who shaped our history. Tragic but uplifting Jones will make us glad we live in the time we are in, but put a hook in us that will create a yearning for a time long gone that still has such a grip on us. ( )

غالباً ما يستخدم مصطلح القرون الوسطى كازدراء في إشارة إلى القسوة والغباء والعنف غير المبرر. بل يُطلق على تلك الفترة أيضاً اسم ”عصور الظلام“. لكن لم تكن هذه الألفية الغنية من التاريخ—من سقوط الإمبراطورية الرومانية الغربية في القرن الرابع إلى الإصلاح البروتستانتي في القرن الخامس عشر—مجرد فراغ بين الكلاسيكية والحداثة، إنما شكلت العالم الذي نعرفه اليوم.
قام جونز بعمل جيد جداً في شرح العوامل والقوى التي حكمت عالم العصور الوسطى وموازاتها مع تلك التي تشغلنا اليوم، مثل تغير المناخ، والأوبئة، والهجرة الجماعية، والتقدم التقني. ( )

In this book Dan Jones tries to write a single volume to cover the thousand years from the beginning of the end of Rome and the start of the Renaissance. Although mainly Western Europe-centric, the book is not exclusively so and this places the 'dark ages' and the 'early Medieval' in a wider context. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on how the Western Roman empire fell but the Eastern Empire flourished and also the rise of Islam and its impact on the world. This is a great introduction which offers pointers to more in depth study. ( )