“Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages” by Dan Jones is an epic reappraisal of the medieval world—a rich and complicated legacy left to us by the rise of the West. Let me share my thoughts on this remarkable book:

In this meticulously researched work, Jones takes readers on a captivating journey through the tumultuous Middle Ages. Here are the key highlights:

Scope and Ambition:
Jones covers a thousand years of history, from the fall of Rome to the emergence of Europe as a dominant force.
He weaves together the big forces that shaped the medieval world: climate change, pandemic diseases, mass migrations, and technological revolutions.
Narrative Brilliance:
The author’s prose is both informative and entertaining. He skillfully balances historical accuracy with engaging storytelling.
Jones introduces us to a cast of fascinating characters—from St. Augustine and Attila the Hun to Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Prophet Muhammad.
Through intimate portraits and sweeping imperial landscapes, he paints a vivid picture of an era in flux.
Themes and Transformations:
The collapse of the once-mighty city of Rome in 410 marked the end of an era and the beginning of profound transformation.
Successive Western powers thrived by attracting or sometimes stealing valuable resources, ideas, and people from the rest of the world.
The West rebuilt itself on the ruins of an empire, eventually dominating the globe.
Legacy and Lessons:
As we stand at a critical turning point in our own millennium, understanding how the medieval world evolved matters more than ever.
Jones’s exploration of power dynamics, cultural exchanges, and societal shifts provides valuable insights into our present.

The book was archived before our group could download it. We are sure that we would have enjoyed the book judging from the reviews it has received.

In Powers and Thrones, Dan Jones explores the long period of history known as the Middle Ages. Starting in 410 AD, just before the fall of the Roman Empire, and ending in 1527 during the Renaissance, he looks at some of the ‘powers’ that helped to build the world we know today – not just ‘thrones’, but also powers such as money, trade, religion and exploration. He moves forward chronologically throughout the book while choosing a different topic to focus on in each chapter; Monks, Knights, Scholars, Crusaders, Merchants and Builders are just a few of the chapter titles.

As well as putting key events into the context of their own time, Jones also draws lots of parallels with modern life. It’s impossible to read about the first recorded global pandemic – a form of bubonic plague thought to have killed millions of people worldwide during the middle of the 6th century – without thinking of the similarities and differences with our own recent Covid-19 pandemic. Again, when he discusses the later outbreak of plague in the 14th century known as the Black Death, he looks at the economic impact on prices and wages, something as relevant now as it was then. It was also interesting to read about the effects of climate change and extreme weather such as droughts on the mass migration of people in the 4th and 5th centuries that led to ‘barbarian’ tribes pushing across the Roman frontiers and contributing to the fall of Rome.

Although the book concentrates on broad themes like these, Jones does pick out individual historical figures to write about in more detail. These range from ancient leaders such as Attila the Hun and Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths to Henry the Navigator, Marco Polo, and Dick Whittington – a real-life merchant and politician before he became a British pantomime character! The book is quite Eurocentric, but Jones doesn’t ignore things that were taking place in other parts of the world, particularly where they affect European life and culture. For example, he includes sections on Genghis Khan and the Mongols and on the caliphates of the Arab world.

The problem with Powers and Thrones is that there’s just too much information here for one book. Any of the chapters could have been expanded into an entire book in itself; trying to condense it all into one volume was a bit overwhelming. I’m still glad I read it, though, and am pleased I made it all the way through to the end – I finished it with a real sense of achievement!

This book was epic, but brilliant. I learnt so much about civilisations and peoples that I had never encountered before and more recent history made so much more sense when put into the context of what had gone before. The writing style makes the almost overwhelming content very readable and the huge cast of historical figures very accessible. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

I am a big fan of Dan Jones, both book and tv wise and this did not let me down. He has such a rich and vivid way of telling history that you often forget youre not reading a story but are in fact reading history. Wonderful

An excellent book, which is perfect for dipping in and out from. Dan Jones writes fluently and makes the learning of History enjoyable.

This was a very entertaining and accessible look at the Middle Ages in Europe, primarily through a western lens. I thought Dan Jones did a great job of corralling all of the elements of such a vast time span (the book covers approximately 1000 years) and felt that he included enough detail to give a good general idea of the point, without becoming too bogged down in minutiae. Running chronologically, the book has chapters covering the fall of Rome, the rise of the Byzantines, the Crusades, the Black Death and the Reformation, among others and I thought that the narrative pacing worked well throughout. Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and will definitely look out for more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Excellent, well researched and engaging - I’d expect nothing less from this author. This book is brilliant.

I wish history had been taught like this in school. Dan Jones is well-briefed with regard to his material, but also has the gift of being able to write well-flowing accessible prose. very enjoyable.

In this book Dan Jones tries to write a single volume to cover the thousand years from the beginning of the end of Rome and the start of the Renaissance. Although mainly Western Europe-centric, the book is not exclusively so and this places the 'dark ages' and the 'early Medieval' in a wider context. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on how the Western Roman empire fell but the Eastern Empire flourished and also the rise of Islam and its impact on the world. This is a great introduction which offers pointers to more in depth study.

Dan Jones is such a master of his subject. I have learnt so much of the period from his books. Incredibly well researched and neatly written - if you like history then his books - all of them including this one is an absolute must. I shall be reading it again and again gaining more each time I'm sure.

Dan Jones did it again!

Another wonderful and comprehensive read by Mr. Jones!

Though the Middle Age is not my favorite time of history to read about, Mr. Jones still made it a fun read!

Strongly recommend to all history junkies!

Dan Jones is one of my favorite historians. I have a number of his books; he writes so well, is a master of his subject, and is very thorough. His new book, "Powers and Thrones," is a worthy addition to his body of work.

"Powers and Thrones" is a history of the years of the Middle Ages, the 400's through the 1500's. It is a lot of ground to cover in one volume, but Dan Jones pulls it off. The medieval world seems very far away and as close as yesterday. Jones makes history and historical figures come to life. I have a working knowledge of the time period, but I learned a great deal and was glad to do so.

Although this is popular history, it is properly footnoted.I am a big footnote reader, and I am sure I am not the only one. I really enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the period.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

A typical Dan Jones book. To a great extent, he is rather style over substance, but it is a good book to dip into. What concerns me, is that I can't guarantee that what he writes is accurate and that is something that I have found with other of his books. As with all such texts, I go to a bit I know well and see what he has to say. In this, he glosses over and misses the point, so I'm not sure.

Something to play with, to open ideas for further study, but not to be relied upon, sadly.

This really was an excellent book. A new history of the middle ages for our times, its long but the author has a lot to cover. Dan Jones is fast emerging as one of the best historical writers of our era, and has moved well beyond the Wars of the Roses and the Crusades.

Well, isn’t this an epic undertaking. The history of the Middle Ages, across Europe and into the four corners of the world (except Australia because it still hadn’t been discovered) – in 16 chapters, 633 pages and about 25 hours of reading. And it is awesome!

I couldn’t read this book at a leisurely pace because I was actually scheduled to interview Dan Jones on 29 September, for Lindum Books in Lincoln and I desperately wanted to make sure I had read the whole thing beforehand. So, I had 10 days to read it and I am quite proud of myself that I managed it. I put all other books aside and concentrated on this, hoping it would keep my attention. I was a little worried. It is a long book and covers such a wide historical arena. Could it keep my interest? Well, the simple answer is YES!

Powers and Thrones by Dan Jones is a thoroughly enthralling read encompassing over a thousand years of history, from the Sack of Rome in 410AD to the sack of Rome in 1527. Writing the story of the entire medieval era was a massive undertaking that Dan said he wanted to do, both as his 10th book and to mark his 40th birthday. And it is, indeed, a magnum opus to be proud of. Powers and Thrones is a perfectly balanced book, giving just enough attention to each area of interest and geographical location, going from Rome, to Byzantium and on to the rise of Islam, Dan Jones manages to cover the significant events and influences that drove change and development through the entire Middle Ages.

Powers and Thrones demonstrates how climate change, disease, technology and ideology were often the forces behind change. For example, the Guttenberg Press was revolutionary in every way, allowing the mass production of books, pamphlets and the dissemination of knowledge to a far-wider audience. It was the medieval equivalent to our social media, both in its reach and influence, and Dan Jones highlights how significant it was in Europe’s emergence from the medieval era, with its impact on learning, communication and – perhaps above all – religion.

What makes this book special is the way Dan Jones manages to make Powers and Thrones relevant to today. Writing it in the midst of a pandemic certainly must have helped to give Dan a sense of history all around him and he alludes to this in the book. When interviewing him, Dan told me that living through Covid gave him a better understanding of the plague years of 14th century Europe, of the fear and panic that must have consumed people. And by referring to modern-day equivalents, such as world leaders, the pandemic and the rise of social media, Dan is able to draw the reader in and make medieval history relevant in the modern age.

Dan Jones does not shy away from the harsh questions, either, examining the development and morals of slavery, the reasoning behind the crusades and the rise of Protestantism. What may surprise readers is the facts this book is essentially Euro-centric – it made me realise how Anglo-centric my study of history has been over the years. By focusing on change and development in mainland Europe, whilst encompassing England and the British Isles in various guises where appropriate, it gives the reader a whole new outlook on the medieval era, whilst also demonstrates how events in Europe – even back then – could influence events in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Powers and Thrones highlights the driving forces of change, whether it was people, ideas or technology, and demonstrates how such change effected Europe in general and individuals in particular, whether it was the empire of Charlemagne, the rise of monasticism, or even the development of the humble stirrup that led to the emergence of the knightly class.

In Powers and Thrones, Dan Jones combines a narrative of international events with case studies that focus on individual people, organisations and movements. By highlighting such diverse subjects as Empress Theodora, the rise of Islam, El Cid and the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral, the author manages to personalise what might otherwise have been a wide, sweeping narrative. The Warennes also get a mention in the involvement of William de Warenne, the 1st Earl, and his wife, Gundrada, in founding the first Cluniac priory in England, St Pancras Priory in Lewes, Sussex. From my personal point of view, it is fabulous that Dan Jones chose to include Empress Theodora so prominently – a woman who rose from extremely humble roots to become Empress of Byzantium and a woman who was influential in holding that empire together, especially in adroitly soothing religious dissension. It is impossible to get everything from 1,000 years of history in one book, but by showing the big picture, whilst highlighting particular events, ideas, buildings or people, Dan Jones manages to provide a fascinating narrative that is fast-paced and engaging without being overwhelming.

Powers and Thrones is, quite simply, an amazing book. It is chock full of little snippets of information that you may never have known, it relates medieval events to our modern day equivalents, such as the Black Death to Covid. Such references to the modern era could easily have backfired, but they serve to make the book more accessible and entertaining and not a little amusing. The moments of light-heartedness often provide an extra depth to the reading experience and make the book accessible to every reader.

Powers and Thrones was certainly an ambitious project, but in the hour-long interview I had with Dan Jones, he spoke about every aspect of it with passion and enthusiasm an that same passion and enthusiasm comes across throughout the book. The book is a pleasure to read and would be a welcome addition to any bookshelf.

Jones takes the reader on a journey of pilgrimage, crusades and conquests, growth of markets, education and changes in religion from 410 AD to 1527AD.

This is the epic history of Viking invasions, the rise and fall of the Roman empire, with stories of lost treasure, adventures at sea and revolts, it's sometimes easy to forget you're reading nonfiction. Almost every aspect of history from conquests to education including the creation of Bologna University and it being the best place in the west to study law, the creation of Oxford and how the Plantagenets helped it begin to thrive.

The story of famed scholar Aquinas is not only interesting but Jones also adds humour especially in one line about perfume which I won't spoil. I particularly enjoyed reading about Leonardo da Vinci and his life in Europe as well as Martin Luther, a man I am definitely wishing to learn even more about after reading this. It has certainly given me an interest in reading more about his life. The notes and bibliography have certainly given me much more future reading for my own interests. I love reading how things that happened so long ago are similar to recent events or how things had a lasting impact, even to this day.

This is certainly a big book but it's incredible especially as Jones has a way of writing that is so entertaining. Although this book covers an extensive time frame there was not a single chapter that wasn't interesting. Jones separates the book into four sections Imperium (c.410 AD – 750 AD); Dominion (c.750 AD – 1215 AD); Rebirth (c.1215 AD – 1347 AD) and Revolution (c.1348 AD – 1527 AD) making it very easy to focus on a specific era if that is your preference, unlike myself who devoured the whole thing and still wanted more. This is honestly the perfect book for anyone who wants to learn a bit of everything or focus on a specific era and whilst it may have taken me a while to read I was genuinely sad when I came to the end.

Powers and Thrones is catnip for those drawn to books on history, here, the middle ages, specifically. It covers a thousand years from the fall of Rome, AD 410, to Henry VIII's reign in England, AD 1527. This time period in the East and West was a bubbling cauldron of change, innovation, religion and pandemic. Amazing to see the numerous uprisings as powerful forces flood the lands, the conquest that follows with a decline as another nation takes up the reins. What struck me most was the way so many countries swapped power over this period. No one nation held their territories for too long but all made a mark with new methods of warfare, technology, innovation and learning. We think our current world is a global one but that was the case much further back in time than we may be aware.

I loved Powers and Thrones. Dan Jones delivers this content in a way that is approachable, for those casually interested in history, yet makes it feel as if he is personally connected with the main players throughout this period. Each character feels fully fleshed out with a 'warts and all' description of his personality and capabilities. It is hugely addictive charting the progress and changes as new factions take control and how their influence affect the world. I couldn't love this more. Fascinating and inspiring, this may be the greatest period in our societal evolution.

Powers and Thrones is Dan Jones most ambitious work yet. A book which covers almost 1000 years of history. The entirety of the middle ages, from the fall of Rome to the European Reformation and the Renaissance of the 16th century. The book is long, as would be expected, and even the audio version takes up a whopping 24 hours.

Ambitious it may be, but it has delivered. Splendidly. Powers and Thrones is a readable and accesible history of this period for the general reader, which avoids many of the popular misconceptions and patronizing generalizations. Mr Jones has tried to make his work of history "relavant" but accurate at the same time, and as (for the most part) also suceeded at this.

It covers everthing from the Viking invasions to the Crusades and the Hundred Year War, but the focus is not just Eurocentric. There are also some chapters on Islamic and Byzantine history, to glimpse of the bigger picture. The chapters and sections also allow the reader to "dive" in whenever they want, or read up on the parts of history they like better than others.

Reading the entire book won't be a chore though. Highly recommended.

Grateful thanks to Head of Zeus for an ARC which I foolishly forgot to download, and so went through the audiobook instead.

This is the first book I read by Dan Jones and it's brilliant. It's a huge book (720 pages) but it was no issue as it's fascinating and gripping like a novel.
This is the first comprehensive history of Middle Age I've ever read. Growing up in Italy I learned a lot about the fall of the Roman Empire, Charlemagne, Popes vs Emperors and son.
This book is something more as it looks to other places and it's not eurocentric.
There's humour but there's also a lot of research and the author is able to turn historical facts into a fascinating story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine