About this item
Highlights
- For students, researchers, and history lovers, a look at day-to-day life in a rarely explored era.
- Author(s): Frances Gies
- 288 Pages
- History, Europe
- Series Name: Medieval Life
Description
About the Book
From acclaimed historians Frances and Joseph Gies comes the reissue of their classic book on day-to-day life in medieval cities, which was a source for George R.R. Martin s Game of Thrones series.
Evoking every aspect of city life in the Middle Ages, Life in a Medieval City depicts in detail what it was like to live in a prosperous city of Northwest Europe in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The year is 1250 CE and the city is Troyes, capital of the county of Champagne and site of two of the cycle Champagne Fairs the Hot Fair in August and the Cold Fair in December. European civilization has emerged from the Dark Ages and is in the midst of a commercial revolution. Merchants and money men from all over Europe gather at Troyes to buy, sell, borrow, and lend, creating a bustling market center typical of the feudal era. As the Gieses take us through the day-to-day life of burghers, we learn the customs and habits of lords and serfs, how financial transactions were conducted, how medieval cities were governed, and what life was really like for a wide range of people.
For serious students of the medieval era and anyone wishing to learn more about this fascinating period, Life in a Medieval City remains a timeless work of popular medieval scholarship."
Book Synopsis
For students, researchers, and history lovers, a look at day-to-day life in a rarely explored era. "About life and death, midwives and funerals, business, books and authors, and town government."-- "Choice" "An excellently written account of what is known of the life of medieval burghers....a delightful introduction to the subject." "--Library Journal"Review Quotes
Some particular books I found useful for a "A Game of Thrones" and its sequels deserve mention. ... "Life in a Medieval Castle" and "Life in a Medieval City," both by Joseph and Frances Gies. --George R.R. Martin, author of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series"
"An excellently written account of what is known of the life of medieval burghers....a delightful introduction to the subject.""--Library Journal"
