Medieval History

Rattle through 1000 years of horrible history, from the fifth century to the sixteenth century Famine, plague and public execution – the medieval period wasn't the best time for some, but heroic rulers like Charlemagne, William the Conqueror and Henry V made sure that it was full of action. Brimming with facts, this book helps you get under the skin of the people who lived at the time, from impoverished peasants to opulent monarchs. From the Dark Ages to the Renaissance and all the upheavals in between, this book takes the pain out of medieval history. The Black Death – assess the deadly pandemic that swept through Britain and Europe killing millions of people The Holy Roman Empire strikes back – understand how the empire fought to maintain its position Falling apart – witness the arrival of powerful armies from the east and invaders from the north, and the dramatic effects of religious schisms Heading for the Holy Land – uncover the reasons why crusading became so popular, and ultimately so unsuccessful, between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries Living in the medieval world – understand the lives of monks and monarchs, peasants and popes, and travellers and traders of the period Waging conflicts, battles and wars – a look through the troubles that shaped the medieval age; from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Wars of the Roses Open the book and find: Why the peasants revolted Where Chaucer gained inspiration to write The Canterbury Tales Which religious groups fought for power How the Magna Carta shaped our present-day legal system Why the Vikings may have got to America before Columbus Profiles of the best and worst medieval monarchs How Joan of Arc made her name The great and grisly histories of surviving medieval castles Go to Dummies.com for videos, step-by-step examples, how-to articles or to shop!

A captivating look into the medieval (and modern day) society of the Knights Templar The Templar Code is more than an intriguing cipher or a mysterious symbol – it's the Code by which the Knights Templar lived and died, the Code that bound them together in secrecy, and the Code that inspired them to nearly superhuman feats of courage and endurance. If you know a little or a lot about the Templars, read The Da Vinci Code (or saw the movie), or are a Catholic wanting to know the church's official stance on the Templars, you're in the right place. The Templar Code For Dummies reveals the meaning behind the cryptic codes and secret rituals of the medieval brotherhood of warrior monks known as the Knights Templar. With this comprehensive and user-friendly guide, you'll learn: What part the Knights Templar played in the Crusades How the Order started as protectors of pilgrims The myths of the Holy Grail, and how they're connected to the Knights Templar How the Knights Templar rose so high and fell so far How the fraternity of the Freemasons' modern Order of Knights Templar figures in Why the Catholic Church didn’t like Dan Brown's version of the Templar story The Catholic Church's relationship with women and the connection with the Knights Why the Knights Templar still captures our imagination today Whether the Knights had a real part to play in historic events such as the French Revolution and the American Civil War You can learn about all of that and so much more, including sites where the Holy Grail might actually be, what you can’t miss if you’re sightseeing in Templar territory, and potential hiding places of Templar treasures. Get your copy of The Templar Code For Dummies to learn more about the fascinating history of this intriguing group of knights.