How the Barbarian Invasions Shaped the Modern World: The Vikings, Vandals, Huns, Mongols, Goths, and Tartars who Razed the Old World and Formed the New - Softcover

Craughwell, Thomas J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1592333036 ISBN 13: 9781592333035

Publisher: Fair Winds Press, 2008

Synopsis

This richly detailed chronicle brings to life the personalities of Attila the Hun, Alaric the Goth, Genghis Khan, and many other barbarian kings and chieftains whose rampages across Europe, Asia, and North Africa changed the course of history.

In this highly readable and authoritative book, author Thomas J. Craughwell draws upon the latest historical and archaeological research to reveal the impact of the barbarian invasions on the modern world: from the establishment of the English language, to the foundation of world capitals such as Dublin, to the introduction of gunpowder to Europe. Illustrated with more than 100 archival images gathered from around the world.

About this title

About the Author:

Thomas J. Craughwell has written about saints for the Wall Street Journal, Inside the Vatican, and Catholic Digest, among other national publications.

Review:

"Most of us in the western world might enjoy tracing our cultural roots to the classic glories of Greece and Rome. But deep down we suspect that our mythic ancestors are really those so-called barbarians who broke things and created the modern world. With rarely a wasted word Thomas J Craughwell tells the stories of history-changing invasions of the Goths, Vandals, Vikings, Mongols and other marauding bands. He gives us the expected scenes of rape and pillage, but also an appreciation of the invaders' strategy, motives and their often-overlooked gifts and innovations. And he reminds us, with a fine sense of story and anecdote, that "barbarians" are what someone else calls an exotic, dangerous stranger. No one is a barbarian to him-or her-self. Handsomely illustrated with imaginatively selected historical paintings, drawings and maps. -- David Willis McCullough, author-editor of Chronicles of the Barbarians and Wars of the Irish Kings.

“With evident learning and great relish, Thomas J. Craughwell forges the story of the extraordinary change wrought in the world by the barbarians. He brings to sometimes horrifying life the onslaught of the Goths, Huns, Vandals—a particularly nasty crew—Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and others. With fascinating and little-known information on such barbarian luminaries as Attila the Hun and Olga, the murderous Viking princess of Kiev, this book is both wonderful history and thoroughly engrossing reading.” —Joseph Cummins, author of The World’s Bloodiest History and The War Chronicles: From Flintlocks to Machine Guns

About this edition

• Publisher: Fair Winds Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1592333036
• ISBN 13: 9781592333035
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320