The Middle Ages is an effort coordinated by Umberto Eco that shows us the many spheres of a time period that lasted a little short of a millennium. The time covered by this first volume goes from the fall of the West Roman Empire until the year 1000 during which the scenery is not only European for it includes Bizancio as well as Arabia. The book doesn't stop at political history, it covers practically all aspects of the medieval world, including economy, philosophy, science, technology, visual arts, literature, and music.