ATLAS of MEDIEVAL EUROPE
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loginThe preparation of an atlas of the history ofEurope during the Middle Ages presentsnumerous and complex difficulties. In the firstplace the period to be covered stretches from thelate fourth century down to the late fifteenth (oreven early sixteenth) century. In addition,however, an atlas of this kind evidently cannotbe confined to Western Europe: Byzantium andEastern Europe have to be included, as indeeddo such important matters as the exploits ofcrusading Europeans overseas, the impact ofMuslims or Mongols, travel abroad, and the earlyvoyages of discovery. In terms of social groupingsequally formidable problems present themselves.Obviously the main political events from the fallof the Roman Empire down to the battles andtreaties of the Hundred Years War have to beincluded, but so too do the activities of otherprotagonists; for example, popes and anti-popes,those who attended and participated in the greatChurch Councils or in parliamentary assemblies,Italian and Hanseatic merchants, tax collectors,women, colonists, peasants, shepherds (and theirsheep), Jews and New Christians, heretics,writers and translators, troubadours, andarchitects and artists. Despite the difficultiesinherent in such a task, however, the inclusionof such varied facets offers some positiveadvantages. For in addition to the emperors,kings, princes and great nobles, the artisans andpeasants who participated in the FrenchJacquerie or the English revolt of 1381 left theirmark on the period, as indeed did the humbleBéguines and Beghards.
