A colorfully illustrated encyclopedia offers 253 alphabetically arranged articles, with entries ranging from two to five pages.
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Middle Ages, and standard images leap to mind: castles, monks, serfs, knights, and the omnipresent specter of the Black Death. Many reference titles concentrate exclusively on these medieval European phenomena, as if the rest of the world went into suspended animation for a millennium. This new set, appropriate for students in grades seven and up, presents a truly international survey of global events that occurred between 500 and 1500 C.E.
The alphabetically arranged articles range from two to six pages. Each entry is color coded by continent or geographic region (Oceania, the Americas, Western Asia, etc.). Double-column pages feature a generous font size, manageable paragraphs set off by subheadings, and numerous full-color illustrations, often several per two-page spread. Some entries consider specific events or individuals; others offer broad survey treatments. Multiple see-also references steer researchers toward related articles. An international, multicultural approach is evident throughout. For example, the article on Sculpture includes subsections on Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Hindu, African, and Toltec and Mayan styles, with an insert on the moia (giant heads) of Easter Island. The entry on Peasants compares country life in European, Hindu, Incan, and Chinese societies. Abundant color photographs as well as charts, sidebars, time lines, and maps complement the text.
In addition to an alphabetical table of contents, the first volume offers a "Thematic Contents" list grouping articles according to broad subjects. Additional access is provided by volume-specific indexes. Volume 11 is a comprehensive reference volume and features a time line and glossary, a list of maps, a master index, and several subject indexes. Additional offerings include bibliographies of print materials, Internet sites, sources appropriate for younger readers, and a list of "Places to Go": galleries, museums, and cultural institutions in North America, Europe, and Australia.
The appeal of Exploring the Middle Ages is its overarching worldview, which will support research assignments requiring advanced applications such as comparing and contrasting, making connections, and tracing influences. Ideal for reports, and equally satisfying for browsers, this lavishly illustrated set will be of interest in public and school collections. Kathleen McBroom
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