Understanding Medieval Primary Sources

<p>Medieval society created many kinds of records and written material which differ considerably giving us such sources as last wills sermons manorial accounts or royal biographies. </p> <p><em>Understanding Medieval Primary Sources</em> is a collection of essays that will introduce students to the key primary sources that are essential to studying medieval Europe. The sources are divided into two categories: the first part treats some of the many generic sources that have been preserved such as wills letters royal and secular narratives and sermons. Chapter by chapter each expert author illustrates how they can be used to reveal details about medieval history. The second part focuses on areas of historical research that can only be fully discovered by using a combination of primary sources covering fields such as maritime history urban history women's history and medical history. </p> <p><em>Understanding Medieval Primary Sources</em> will be an invaluable resource for any student embarking on medieval historical research. </p>