Primary sources of medieval times?

[inox_ionizer]

Hello, wise sages. I will study medieval history next semester, and taking a look at the cirriculum, I will probably want to add a bit, hopefully some primary sources, as these were not present at all in the cirriculum. Does anyone have suggestions? It is a study focused on Europe and the nearby regions.

When it comes to Norse history, I already bought Heimskringla, a 13th century work about Norwegian kings, which I think will satisfy my needs in that theme. I also watched Monty Python's documentary about the Holy Grail.

 

[Al_Mansur]

The Domesday Book of William the Conqueror is very important in the study of medieval times.

 

[Vieira151]

I also watched Monty Python's documentary about the Holy Grail.

 

[inox_ionizer]

The Domesday Book of William the Conqueror is very important in the study of medieval times.

Thanks for the tip, I am fascinated at the detail of this census and will read more about it, but it looks to me that reading the work itself is outside my scope. I saw the Anglo-Saxon chronicle being mentioned in relation to the Domesday Book, that might be the sort of thing I am looking for.

 

[nikosierra125]

I would also like to know some good sources and I shall now follow this thread.

On topic, does Maximillians Triumph count? It has lots of pretty pictures.

 

[FrisianDude]

I also watched Monty Python's documentary about the Holy Grail.

Funnily, that one bugger did a nice series on the (English) middle ages.

 

[nikosierra125]

Where he discovered that big leather bell end ? I laughed, then thought about it and it made sense, then laughed again as it was so silly but probably true.

 

[Ule]

haha terry jones. his book and tv series the barbarians is worth a read/watch.

on a note the doomsday book is an easier read than the anglo saxon chronicle, but the doomsday book is record of land/holdings etc and the chronicle is a listing of events, its the more exciting of the two.

ive got a few other books ill have to get back to you with the names as im in work at the moment

 

[kurczak]

Hello, wise sages. I will study medieval history next semester, and taking a look at the cirriculum, I will probably want to add a bit, hopefully some primary sources, as these were not present at all in the cirriculum. Does anyone have suggestions? It is a study focused on Europe and the nearby regions.

When it comes to Norse history, I already bought Heimskringla, a 13th century work about Norwegian kings, which I think will satisfy my needs in that theme. I also watched Monty Python's documentary about the Holy Grail.

That's a really long period and extensive area to cover over one semester. For the Frankish empire the standard course would be:

Historia Francorum
Chornicle of Fredegar
Annales regni Francorum
Vita Caroli
Annales Bertiniani
Annales Fuldenses

If you want to go more East, you could read the first piece of literature ever written in a Slavic language here. Or the Nestor's Chronicle (Russia), Chronicle of Greater Poland, Annales by Jan Dlugosz or Gesta principum Plonorum (Poland), Cosmas' Chronica Bohemorum, Zbraslav Chronicles, Chronicles of Dalimil or Chronicles of Hájek (Bohemia/Czech republic)

Although if you're (kinda) new to the middle ages, I wouldn't bother with primary sources if I were you, they're not at all as fun as they seem. They're mostly boring and tedious. Start with anything by Jacques le Goff. Medieval Callings is a great book for example.

 

[F.F.C._fritz]

Why not Bede - Historia ecclesiastica gentis anglorum?
I think it is the main written source for english dark ages, 'twas written in the VIII century. If you want to know about...Brytenwalda time frame, that's what you need. 
The book should be found without THAT much effort.

Anyway, I'd suggest you to choose a specific area of interest (both in time and space) before you select the primary source.

 

[NikeBG]

I think this is a relatively useful place to start.

 

[inox_ionizer]

Thanks for all suggestions.

I think this is a relatively useful place to start.

Oh, that looks awesome!

That's a really long period and extensive area to cover over one semester. For the Frankish empire the standard course would be:

Historia Francorum
Chornicle of Fredegar
Annales regni Francorum
Vita Caroli
Annales Bertiniani
Annales Fuldenses

If you want to go more East, you could read the first piece of literature ever written in a Slavic language here. Or the Nestor's Chronicle (Russia), Chronicle of Greater Poland, Annales by Jan Dlugosz or Gesta principum Plonorum (Poland), Cosmas' Chronica Bohemorum, Zbraslav Chronicles, Chronicles of Dalimil or Chronicles of Hájek (Bohemia/Czech republic)

Although if you're (kinda) new to the middle ages, I wouldn't bother with primary sources if I were you, they're not at all as fun as they seem. They're mostly boring and tedious. Start with anything by Jacques le Goff. Medieval Callings is a great book for example.

Hm, I will probably get my hands on Medieval Callings, looks very interesting. On the reading of primary sources, I want to try at least a few (the work I already bought, Heimskringla, looks quite readable, it even came with modern illustrations), maybe I have been spoiled by Greek and Roman literature.

Why not Bede - Historia ecclesiastica gentis anglorum?
I think it is the main written source for english dark ages, 'twas written in the VIII century. If you want to know about...Brytenwalda time frame, that's what you need. 
The book should be found without THAT much effort.

Anyway, I'd suggest you to choose a specific area of interest (both in time and space) before you select the primary source.

Looks interesting, I never thought there was so much literature from the English dark ages. As for specific areas of interest, I do certainly have them, but I think I will keep the discussion broad for now, maybe some person inspires me to find new interests.

 

[Ule]

see if you can find. "The year 1000" by Robert Lacey and Danny Danzinger, abacus history publishing.

its a collection of diary extracts mostly from monks/priests, which gives you a over sight to the early medieval year for the standard man, harvest and festivals other such things.

also "Britain in the middle ages" by Francis Pryor, harper perennial publishing. its just a good book with plenty of source material for britian 1000ad-1500ad. also its francis pryor you can trust it to be well written and researched.

 

[inox_ionizer]

I already bought Medieval Callings, which I think covers much of the same as The Year 1000. I also bought The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, so for now I think I have enough about Britain, seeing as it will probably have decent coverage in the cirriculum, but I will see later. In case anyone wonders what else I bought, it was Ibn Fadlan and the Land of Darkness, a Penguin publication collecting writings from several Arabic travellers, and Two Lives of Charlemagne, which pairs the earlier mentioned Vita Caroli (I think?) with another biography.

 

[NikeBG]

I'm also currently reading the Chronography of Michael Psellos, which is very interesting as well - so interesting that I'm reading just a couple of pages per hour, so I could stop and fully imagine it all. Naturally, if you do get it, it's preferable to find an unabridged version.

 

[Skot the Sanguine]

Glad to see someone was aware of the Fordham site.  Was going to post it until I saw Nike did already.  I had to use it for college nearly a decade ago...was good then and still is (not like there is any new material being made anyway!)

 

[Topsoldier]

The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land By Thomas Asbridge. VERY good complications and summary of history during each one of the Crusades if your into that era/region of history. Its actually a pretty good read and not pure history book style.

 

[inox_ionizer]

Oh, I almost forgot this. I'll take a look when I get closer to that subject, thanks for the suggestion.