Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages

YA?A concise but comprehensive introduction to the people, places, styles, and events of an era that was anything but "Dark." Bunson provides a little information on nearly everything related to the time period. Broad topics include trade and commerce, gothic art and architecture, and the Crusades. The inclusion of Arabic terms is helpful, as they are difficult to locate elsewhere. Their alphabetization may be a problem, however; e.g., Al-Hadi is found in the Hs. A detailed timeline and a family tree of dynasties are provided. Unfortunately, the illustrations are few in number and are limited to line drawings. Also, the rather drab map shows only the areas of northern Africa east to Turkey, Europe, and southern Scandinavia. Still, this is a good substitute for the multi-volume Dictionary of the Middle Ages (Scribners) for students who do not want to be overwhelmed.