MRU Library Website: History: Medieval Studies

Background Sources for Medieval History

The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages by Robert E. Bjork (Editor)
ISBN: 9780198662624
The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages is a major reference resource for all key aspects of European history, society, religion, and culture from 500 to 1500. S
The Middle Ages by Tom Streissguth; Bruno Leone (Consultant Editor)
ISBN: 073774636X
Readers will learn about important religious, political, social, and cultural transformations. Entries cover people, events, and philosophies of the medieval age.
The Central Middle Ages, 950-1320 by Daniel Power
ISBN: 1281164097
Thematic chapters analyse the political, social, economic, religious and intellectual history of Latin Christendom, and trace its expansion to the north, south and east. As well as many familiar topics the authors discuss less well known aspects of the period such as the popular experience of religion or the new kingdoms of east-central Europe. The book includes a chronology of developments, a glossary, maps, illustrations and guidance for further reading.
Dictionary of the Middle Ages by Joseph R. Strayer (Editor); American Council of Learned Societies Staff (Contribution by)
ISBN: 0684190737
Publication Date: 1989-04-01
Covers many aspects of medieval life in Western Europe, the Scandinavian north, the Byzantine and Slavic east, the Muslim south, and the ubiquitous world of Judaism from A.D. 500 to 1500. Explore the conditions of daily life, major and minor figures, terms and concepts, countries and provinces, and movements, monuments, people, and events.

Medieval Studies Databases and Journals

Bloomsbury Medieval Studies
An interdisciplinary resource regarding the medieval world that brings together high-quality secondary content with visual primary sources. This is a perpetual package with unlimited simultaneous user access.
International Medieval Bibliography
Multidisciplinary bibliography of Europe, North Africa, and the Near East (300-1500 CE). You may need to search for the titles you find here again in LibrarySearch to find full-text access or print books at MRU.

Journal of Medieval History
Devoted to all aspects of the history of Europe in the Middle Ages. Research articles, historiographical essays, ‘state of research’ studies, editions of short texts and review articles on all aspects of historical enquiry between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance.
Early Medieval Europe
Interdisciplinary articles on the history of Europe from the later Roman Empire to the eleventh century.
Essays in Medieval Studies
Interdisciplinary journal of medieval studies. Contents for each volume are selected from papers delivered at the annual meeting of the Illinois Medieval Association.
Speculum: A Journal of Medieval Studies
Articles from all fields studying the Middle Ages, a period ranging from approximately 500 to 1500. European, Arabic, Byzantine, Hebrew, and Slavic studies are included.

Search Advice

The subject headings or "tags" below are used in MRU's LibrarySearch and in other research tools to describe sources relating to the medieval period. Try adding a keyword specific to your topic to one of these heading/tags:

“Middle ages”
Medieval
History 476-1492

For example: “middle ages” sexuality

Good starting points for finding secondary sources at MRU that discuss the medieval period are:

LibrarySearch: Use the limiters on the right, narrow by subject to a relevant heading or time period
Project Muse: Use the limiters on the left to narrow to history.

Primary Sources for Medieval History

Need some advice for finding primary sources? Review these tips.

Starting points for finding primary sources from the medieval period:

Avalon Project: Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy
Legal documents from the Middle Ages, along with other time periods.
English Historical Documents
Over 5,500 indexed and fully searchable primary documents from 500-1914; includes many major documents from the history of Britain.
Epistolae: Women's Medieval Letters
A collection of medieval Latin letters to and from women, dating from the 4th to the 13th centuries, Letters are presented in their original Latin as well as in English translation. Hosted by Columbia University.
Eurodocs: History of Medieval and Renaissance Europe
Includes documents in several languages, but primarily English. Facsimiles and transcriptions on a range of topics.
Internet Medieval History Sourcebook
An excellent starting point for a wide range of primary sources from the Middle Ages. Browse using the left side panel, or do a keyword search. This collection includes some secondary sources as well, so assess carefully.
Sexuality in Medieval Europe
Companion guide of primary documents to a textbook on medieval sexuality.
MRU LibrarySearch
Add the term SOURCES to your search to return items at MRU that have been tagged as primary sources. E.g. medieval sexuality sources

History | Medieval Studies

Background Sources for Medieval History

Medieval Studies Databases and Journals

Search Advice

Primary Sources for Medieval History

Starting points for finding primary sources from the medieval period: