The Bright Ages: a New History of Medieval Europe by Matthew Gabrielle

 July 22, 2022

The Bright Ages: a New History of Medieval Europe by Matthew Gabrielle

Interesting re-evaluation of European history during what we commonly think of as the Dark Ages.  Turns out they weren't so dark after all:  people, religions, and cultures migrated farther than originally believed, women had more influence than is usually credited to them, and broad terms like "Viking" need to be re-defined.  People who lived in the Bright Ages considered themselves to be as modern as we consider ourselves today.  The Dark Ages are considered to be dark only because fewer records were preserved, compared to later eras.

I was expecting the narrative to be focused on a popular audience, but I think it's a little too scholarly for that.  Serious historians will be intrigued by the author's new perspective.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.