In What is Medieval History, Arnold develops an understanding of medieval history throughout the book. He uses this understanding to help the reader understand that medieval history is both important and relevant to a wide range of disciplines. Arnold's use of book structure as well as narration and other techniques help him get his thesis across. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Arnold begins the book by telling a story that feels both familiar and strange. The story is about a priest who is repeatedly asked to play a role in magical rites, including a plan to assassinate the pope. Although the story's magic and torture are things most of us associate with the Middle Ages, there are many elements that run counter to our expectations. The most obvious surprise is that it is not an old witch who is the magician, but a priest. By beginning with this story, Arnold leads us to question what we actually know about medieval history. It makes us realize how the stereotypes and common ideas that many of us have about the Middle Ages are not necessarily accurate. The rest of the first chapter continues by talking about how people generally perceive the Middle Ages and the problem that poses. For centuries, people viewed the classical era as a time of great learning and prosperity and the medieval era as a time of barbarism. The word medieval itself is commonly used in a demeaning way, such as the phrase "becoming medieval". He also discusses the fact that it is difficult to define the Middle Ages exactly because the end and start dates can vary depending on how you define the era. Arnold also talks about how we study history and the problems that arise from it. One of the first things he talks about is the problem of conflicting sources. When we read documents such as manuscripts from the Middle Ages, or any era really, we must be careful not to take them literally, as we may qualify several documents dealing with the same subject but with contradictory facts. We must also be careful not to assume that what we read accurately represents the times, as many documents would not have survived. There is also the problem of prejudice. For example, if a religious person had written the document, it would likely contain religious bias. Nor should we neglect the little things in favor of the big things. In the section on images, for example, Arnold explains that common images that come to mind of the Middle Ages are huge stained glass windows and beautifully illustrated manuscripts. However, the images engraved on the coins or painted on the walls are just as important, if not more so, because they are what represent the common people and the "popular culture" of the time. This chapter was particularly helpful in giving me a better understanding of how to study and research medieval history. By detailing numerous research materials as well as the various issues to consider when studying these materials, it provides the reader with useful guidance for future research. The book also discusses some of the different approaches one can take to medieval history. Not only a strictly historical approach but also an anthropological, statistical approach,archaeological and theoretical. This gives the reader an insight into the wide range of approaches to the study of medieval history. We can therefore see the importance that medieval history can have not only for the historian but also for many other disciplines. The very structure of the book itself allows for a better understanding of a thesis. Starting with the previously mentioned story at the beginning of the book, it instantly makes us question whether what we thought about the Middle Ages is really true. This is followed by different ways of studying history and problems that a researcher may face. He then ends the book with a personal story of comments made by a carpenter towards him. In this story we can see a real and current example of how we perceive the Middle Ages today. Many people consider its study a waste of time and far less useful than practical skills like carpentry. However, by beginning with doubting the veracity of our previous beliefs about this period, followed by the wide range of methods and questions involved in the study of history, we can see the value it really has . Before reading the book, we may have held similar beliefs to those of the carpenter, but by the end we are able to see how wrong this view is. We have seen how wrong our own preconceptions about the period can be, as well as not only the various other ways of studying the period, but also the ways in which we can mislead ourselves. We can thus see the practical nature of the study of medieval history. I would say the big problem with this book is that the middle really seems to drag on. Although it has some important information and advice to offer, I think Arnold could have presented it from a different perspective. Although I have argued that the structure of the book is important in conveying the thesis, I believe that changes could have been made while keeping the structure intact. I think Arnold should have sprinkled a few more stories throughout the book rather than at the beginning and end. Stories help both keep the material interesting and allow the author to highlight what they are trying to say by providing an example to the reader. This book gave me a better understanding of how to study medieval history. Arnold accomplishes this effectively by discussing many of the previously mentioned issues that arise when studying this era. What is more useful, however, is that I can apply these lessons not only to medieval history, but also to history in general. I cannot make assumptions or stereotypes about a time or place, especially ones in which I have not lived. A researcher must keep an open mind and avoid bias in their work. In addition to applying to history in general, these tips are also useful for researching any topic. This speaks to what I believe to be Arnold's thesis. Medieval history applies to a wide range of disciplines. Likewise, Arnold's advice applies to many disciplines. Thus, although indirectly, we can see how medieval history can be applied to other studies. This book made me think about the importance of studying medieval history. This may not seem as important to society as the role of a doctor or an electrician, for example. However, this is not without merit. By studying and understanding the Middle Ages, we can better understand humanity in general. It is important to know the origins and evolution of different ideas and objects in order to better understand how they work today. In.