Life in a Medieval Village Audiobook By Frances Gies, Joseph Gies cover art

Life in a Medieval Village

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Life in a Medieval Village

By: Frances Gies, Joseph Gies
Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
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Life in a Medieval Village, by respected historians Joseph and Frances Gies, paints a lively, convincing portrait of rural people at work and at play in the Middle Ages. Focusing on the village of Elton, in the English East Midlands, the Gieses detail the agricultural advances that made communal living possible, explain what domestic life was like for serf and lord alike, and describe the central role of the church in maintaining social harmony. Though the main focus is on Elton, c. 1300, the Gieses supply enlightening historical context on the origin, development, and decline of the European village, itself an invention of the Middle Ages.

Meticulously researched, Life in a Medieval Village is a remarkable account that illustrates the captivating world of the Middle Ages and demonstrates what it was like to live during a fascinating - and often misunderstood - era.

©1990 Frances and Joseph Gies (P)2017 Tantor Anthropology Europe Medieval Village Middle Ages Medieval History Medieval Life

Critic reviews

"Using the English village of Elton, the Gies vividly detail the everyday lives of people during the Middle Ages." ( School Library Journal)
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if you're interested in medieval life, then it will keep your attention no problem. however it does go on quite long with just reading old records.

it gets very dry but still interesting

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A great reference for medieval English life. I found myself having to go back to catch something missed due to the density of information.

Very thorough and informative.

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Overall has some interesting things. This is not a lecture series like the great courses series. It reminds me of a good text book.

Reads like a good text book

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I wish the chapters were titled by audible but ice complaints go that's really kind of petty LOL

a reliable academic text

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Using a English village as the template, this book shows you what life was like in a medieval village. It busts a lot of misconceptions I had and helps to really make these people feel like real people.

A step back in time

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Easy to understand narration at a decent pace. Easy to pick and up and continue on without confusion even mid phrase.

Chapter divisions were at sinple placements for stoppages and left little less breaks to be desired.

Content is insightful and full of colorful vocabulary, most of which is came across then defined in terms or in contextual distinction of the times. Not only paints a proportioned picture of an aversge village life in Medieval England of which this is centered, but also gives a wider bredth into how it was different from that on the content of Europe

Enjoying listen and Id assume an enjoying read aswell.

Simply Insightful.

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The only thing I don’t like about the performance is the way the presenter handles quotes. She switches to a weird low register stuffy voice. It’s a minor thing but I find it unnecessary. Other than that I like it very much and have listened to it over and over.

Well researched and well presented.

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While dryer than some of the more popular historical explorations, the extensive citations and level of detail here are much more useful as a trailhead or supplement for amateur historical investigation of the economic institutions and factors that influenced life year-to-year for the vast majority of people in the High Middle Ages. I found it a valuable bridge for a layperson, such as myself, toward the work of academic historians.

Treasure for the Amateur Medievalist

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All of it. Even the reader was dull. I tried it three times and could not stomach it.

Dry and boring records read

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