Medieval Philosophy and Theology. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, 1991–. Semiannual (ISSN: 1057-0608). http://cip.cornell.edu/mpat.

Medieval Philosophy and Theology is a peer-reviewed online journal that publishes original scholarship in all areas of medieval philosophy and theology including Christian, Jewish, and Islamic. The journal has been open access since 2006.

Riello, Giorgio, and Prasannan Parthasarathi. The Spinning World: A Global History of Cotton Textiles, 1200–1850. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2009 (ISBN: 978-0-19-955944-2).

This specialized volume offers an interesting perspective on the world at 1200 CE. It explores the history of cotton textiles across the globe, highlighting areas such as the first European cotton industry and cotton textiles in the Indian subcontinent. Part 1 is of particular interest, and is concerned with cotton textile manufacturing across the globe during the medieval period; Part 2 is of marginal interest, containing some chapters covering the period of 1300 to 1800 CE. It includes both black and white and color illustrations, maps, tables, a glossary, a bibliography, information on the contributors, and an index. It is an interesting piece of scholarship on life and commerce in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

Stearns, Peter N., and William L. Langer. The Encyclopedia of World History: Ancient, Medieval, and Modern, Chronologically Arranged. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001 (ISBN: 978-0-227-67968-5).

This extensive reference work containing more than 1,000 pages of encyclopedic entries, genealogical tables, maps, and lengthy appendixes and indexes was first compiled by William A. Langer and originally published in 1940. In 2001, a 6th revised and expanded edition was released, edited by Peter N. Stearns. The volume serves as a reference work for major historical developments since the Paleolithic period.

African Studies Review. Piscataway, NJ: African Studies Association, 1970–. Three times annually (ISSN: 0002-0206).

African Studies Review is the primary journal of the African Studies Association. It publishes original scholarship in all academic disciplines as well as book and film reviews. The readership of the journal is interdisciplinary in nature, so a wide range of original research can be found here, from literary studies to history and archaeology.

History in Africa. Piscataway, NJ: African Studies Association, 1974–. Annual (ISSN: 0361-5413).

History in Africa is the historiographical and methodological journal from the African Studies Association and serves as a companion to the Association’s African Studies Review. The journal publishes textual analyses; criticism; historiographical, bibliographical, and theoretical essays; and archival reports.

International Journal of African Historical Studies. Boston, MA: African Studies Center, Boston University, 1968–. Three times annually (ISSN: 0361-7882).

International Journal of African Historical Studies, which went by the name African Historical Studies from 1968 through 1971, is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes articles devoted to the history of Africa. The journal is interdisciplinary in nature and publishes articles on archaeology, history, anthropology, historical ecology, political science, political ecology, and economic history; articles highlighting European colonialism are not included.

Journal of African History. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1960–. Three times annually (ISSN: 0021-8537; online ISSN: 1469-5138).

Journal of African History is an interdisciplinary journal covering a wide range of topics and periods. Original scholarship and book reviews are included. The journal publishes on topics from the late Stone Age to the present. Articles on social, economic, political, cultural, and intellectual history can be found here.

McEvedy, Colin. The Penguin Atlas of African History. London: Penguin Books, 1995 (ISBN: 978-0-14-051321-9).

This slim volume seeks to condense African history into small, comprehendible bits of information, covering from 175 million years ago to 2000 CE. Each year has only a few paragraphs of crucial information on the period, accompanied by a map illustrating key points. This is a wonderful source for quick and useful information. The most will be gleaned from this book when read in its entirety as the reader can see the progressions and shifts in life on the African continent.

American Antiquity. Society for American Archaeology, 1935–. Quarterly (ISSN: 0002-7316).

American Antiquity is one of the primary journals of the Society for American Archaeology and is devoted to archaeology of the New World and the method and theory pertinent to its study.

Bennett, Wendell Clark, Everett Franklin Bleiler, George Delvigne Howard, Frank Henry Sommer, and Gordon R. Willey. Northwest Argentine Archeology and Lowland Argentine Archeology. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1948 (ISBN: 978-1-258-64343-0).

These volumes offer an extensive treatment of Northwest and Lowland Argentine Archeology, and despite their age, impart important archeological information to the reader. Though these volumes were originally published in 1948 by Yale University Press, the two books were reissued in 2013 by Literary Licensing; the above ISBN is associated with this recent reissue. The text is arranged geographically with the final sections covering the interrelations between the regions. The text covers arts and culture, archeological sites, and the history of Argentina in the pre-Columbian period. It includes extensive illustrations of pottery forms and designs, maps, and a bibliography.

Demarest, Arthur Andrew. Ancient Maya: The Rise and Fall of a Rainforest Civilization. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2004 (ISBN: 978-0-521-59224-6).

Ancient Maya: The Rise and Fall of a Rainforest Civilization offers an in-depth exploration of the Mayan civilization from its earliest beginnings through the post–classic period. Chapters 10 and 11 are concerned with the downfall of the classic Mayan period, the transition, and beginning of the post-classic era. Includes maps, illustrations, diagrams, references, and an index.

Henderson, John S. The World of the Ancient Maya. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1997 (ISBN: 978-0-8014-3183-8).

This volume is exhaustive in its coverage of the Maya, a Central American native peoples whose civilization spanned from approximately 250 BCE to the 16th century CE. Of interest for the period surrounding 1200 CE is Chapter 8, which covers the post-classic Maya (from 1000 CE to 1525 CE). Also of peripheral interest are Chapters 2 and 4 which delve into the world of the Maya and the Maya universe. These chapters further illuminate Mayan history and culture in 1200 CE. The book includes a guide to pronunciation, a chronological chart, maps, and a variety of textual and photographic illustrations in both color and black and white. It ends with a section of notes, a bibliography, and an index.

Latin American Antiquity. Washington, DC: Society for American Archaeology, 1990–. Quarterly (ISSN: 1045-6635).

Latin American Antiquity is one of the primary journals of the Society for American Archaeology. It is devoted to scholarship on archaeology, prehistory, and ethnohistory in Mesoamerica, Central America, South America, and culturally related areas.

Milwaukee Public Museum and Lee Allen Parsons. Pre-Columbian America: The Art and Archeology of South, Central and Middle America. Handbook for the Exhibition Hall. Milwaukee, WI: Milwaukee Public Museum, 1974 (ISBN unavailable).

Pre-Columbian America: The Art and Archeology of South, Central and Middle America is a catalog from a seminal exhibition of pre-Columbian artifacts at the Milwaukee Public Museum in 1974. The catalog contains some introductory text and extensive photos of artifacts, including where they were produced. A short list of further reading is included.

Pauketat, Timothy R. The Oxford Handbook of North American Archaeology. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012 (ISBN: 978-0-19-538011-8).

An extensive current text divided into three sections: archaeological histories and cultural programs; Pan-American connections; and histories, perspectives, and definition. Each chapter is written by a different author thus showcasing the strengths and perspectives of many prominent scholars. Contains illustrations and maps as appropriate. Each chapter ends with references and a complete index can be found at the back of the volume. Ideal for course reading, as each chapter is self-contained.

Adams, Richard E.W., Murdo J. MacLeod, Frank Salomon, Stuart B. Schwartz, Bruce G. Trigger, and Wilcomb E. Washburn, eds. The Cambridge History of the Native Peoples of the Americas. 6 vols. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1996 (ISBN: 978-0-521-34440-1, 978-0-521-65205-6, and 978-0-521-33393-1).

The Cambridge History of the Native Peoples of the Americas is a comprehensive multivolume work concerned with the history and culture of Native Americans. It includes dozens of contributors, all well-respected in their particular areas of study. The book is organized geographically and by culture, and many chapters contain information relating to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Contains illustrations, maps, and an index.

Varien, Mark, and Richard H. Wilshusen, eds. Seeking the Center Place: Archaeology and Ancient Communities in the Mesa Verde Region. Salt Lake City, UT: University of Utah Press, 2002 (ISBN: 978-0-87480-735-6).

This volume contains the work of many contributors and includes information on the Great Pueblo Period, which lasted from approximately 1150 to 1300 CE in what is now Colorado. It contains detailed archaeological information appropriate for an upper level audience. Includes illustrations, maps, and an index.

Bao, Yuheng, Ben Liao, and Letitia Lane. Renaissance in China: The Culture and Art of the Song Dynasty, 907–1279. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 2006 (ISBN: 978-0-7734-5881-9).

This volume covers the Song Dynasty, which is of particular interest during its last century and a half. It focuses specifically on aspects of culture and art within the Song period such as landscape painting, religious art, and calligraphy. The final chapter discusses art from three dynasties: Liao, Jin, and Xi Xia. The volume includes a chronology, an index of important figures in Song history, a useful bibliography of suggested books in Chinese, English, and other languages, and 50 color illustrations.

British Journal for Middle Eastern Studies. United Kingdom: British Society for Middle Eastern Studies, 1974–. Three times annually (ISSN: 1353-0194).

British Journal for Middle Eastern Studies is an international, interdisciplinary, refereed journal of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies. It offers a variety of scholarship concerning the Middle East making it an important holding for an English-speaking and -reading audience. Articles published cover the Middle East from ancient times to the present; as such, not every issue will prove useful to scholars of the medieval period.

East Asian History. Canberra, AU: Australian Centre on China in the World, 1991–. Biannual (ISSN: 1830-9010). http://eastasianhistory.org.

East Asian History is an online refereed journal that publishes a variety of scholarly work on the history of East Asia. Its digital format allows authors to seamlessly include sound, video, and photos within articles.

Ibn Shaddād, Bahā’ al-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Rāfí, and D. S. Richards. The Rare and Excellent History of Saladin, or, Al-Nawādir Al-Sultaniyya Wa’l-Mahasin Al-Yusufiyya. Aldershot, Hants, England: Ashgate, 2001 (ISBN: 978-0-7546-0143-2).

This text is a translation of the writings of Ibn Shaddad who lived from 1144 CE to 1234 CE. It recounts the life of the Muslim ruler Saladin, for whom Shaddad served as judge of the army. Saladin is an integral figure in the history of medieval Asia and Europe. Though embellished, this firsthand account of Saladin is unique for what is tells us about Saladin as well as Shaddad.

International Journal of Middle East Studies. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1970–. Quarterly (ISSN: 0020-7438).

International Journal of Middle East Studies is the journal of the Middle East Studies Association. It publishes book reviews and original works on politics, society, and culture in the Middle East from the 7th century to contemporary times. Articles on Spain, Southeast Europe, Eastern Europe, parts of Africa, South Asia, and Russia are covered in relation to the Middle East.

Komaroff, Linda, and Stefano Carboni. The Legacy of Genghis Khan: Courtly Art and Culture in Western Asia, 1256–1353. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2002 (ISBN: 978-0-300-09691-0).

This title pairs very well with The Secret History of the Mongols: A Mongolian Epic Chronicle of the Thirteenth Century, described later. This volume is a companion to an exhibition by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2002. As one would expect of such a title, it is beautifully illustrated with high quality photographs and contains informative writing from some of the top scholars on Mongol history. Chapters are thematic, covering courtly life, the Mongols in Iran, and the art within the book, among other subjects. Photographic illustrations are in color and black and white; each figure is detailed at the back of the book in a catalog. A lengthy bibliography and index are included. This book will be of particular interest to those studying art.

Rachewiltz, Igor de. The Secret History of the Mongols: A Mongolian Epic Chronicle of the Thirteenth Century: Volumes 1 and 2. Leiden: Brill, 2004 (ISBN: 978-90-04-13159-0).

The Secret History of the Mongols is a large, two-volume set, a translation of a primary source from the thirteenth century detailing Mongol history. The table of contents is found in the first volume, which also includes the text of the book. Volume two contains lengthy appendixes, a bibliography, a section on abbreviations, an index, and notes on additions and corrections. The volumes also contain useful maps and illustrations. An interesting and accessible text for those interested in primary sources.

Studies on Asia. Normal, IL: Illinois State University, 1960–1969; 2004–. Semiannual. (ISSN: 1554-3749). http://studiesonasia.illinoisstate.edu.

Studies on Asia is an interdisciplinary online journal sponsored by the Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs. The journal publishes original scholarship pertaining to the history of Asia as well as contemporary studies; translations, poetry, and prose are also published.

Backman, Clifford R. The Worlds of Medieval Europe. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009 (ISBN: 978-0-19-533527-9).

This title offers an extensive examination of medieval Europe, closely investigating the rise of Christianity and the Papal Monarchy, the Carolingian era, the rise of monasticism, early Germanic Society, and many other topics. It includes photographs of manuscripts and medieval sites, maps, chronologies and genealogies in extensive appendixes, footnotes throughout, and an index. Each chapter ends with suggested readings, source anthologies, and studies which direct the reader to additional information if desired.

Bark, William Carroll. Origins of the Medieval World. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1966 (ISBN unavailable).

Originally published in 1958 and reissued in 1966, at only 162 pages this book is a condensed introduction to the beginnings of the medieval world. Though now over four decades old, it offers an interesting perspective on the fall of Roman leadership in the west and the birth of the medieval period. This book is strictly narrative and contains no maps or illustrations. It raises many questions that encourage critical thinking and additional study on the part of the reader.

Cook, William R., and Ronald B. Herzman. The Medieval World View: An Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 1983 (ISBN: 978-0-19-503089-1).

The Medieval World View: An Introduction begins with a chapter dedicated solely to the Bible. From here, the book goes on to investigate the classical heritage and political structure of the period, and offers pointed examinations of religious culture. Contains maps and illustrations, basic bibliographical endnotes, a bibliography, and an index.

Heer, Friedrich. The Medieval World: Europe, 1100–1350. Cleveland, OH: World Publishing Company, 1962 (ISBN unavailable).

This volume is comprehensive in its coverage of the years 1100 to 1350 CE in European history. Chapters are thematic, covering subjects such as aristocracy, peasantry, the crusades, the conflict of East and West, science, vernacular literature, art, and architecture. Although it lacks historical maps, the book contains 100 photographic illustrations, bibliography, and an index.

Hosking, Geoffrey A. Russia and the Russians: A History. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2011 (ISBN: 978-0-674-06195-8).

This book begins by exploring the history of Kievan Rus, the iteration of the Russian State relevant to the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The Mongols and the rise of Muscovy are also covered, with the rest of the book progressing through the fall of the USSR. Contains maps, images, a chronology, and copious notes.

Nelson, Janet L., and Peter Linehan. The Medieval World. London: Routledge, 2001 (ISBN: 978-0-415-18151-8).

This extensive volume is the work of 38 well-known medieval scholars. Each stand-alone chapter is written by a different author. Chapters are linked by four themed sections: identities in the medieval world; beliefs, social values, and symbolic order; power and power structures; and elites, organizations, and groups. Each chapter ends with its own notes, reference, or bibliography, making the book ideal for a range of readers. The volume includes nearly 80 illustrations and maps, short biographical entries on each contributor, a short note on abbreviations, and an index.

Pearsall, Derek Albert. Gothic Europe, 1200–1450. Harlow, England: Longman, 2001 (ISBN: 978-0-582-27638-3).

This volume is closely focused on the timeframe covered by this guide. The chapters cover politics, economics, society, and culture. Since this book is more chronologically narrow than many others, it achieves a greater depth on some subjects concerning the period. It includes both color and black and white illustrations, one map, genealogical tables, and an index. It also includes a reading guide that functions as a suggested reading list organized by topic, and a glossary of technical terms, both of which are invaluable resources to a reader new to medieval scholarship.

Archaeology in Oceania. Sydney, AU: University of Sydney, 1966–. Three times annually (ISSN: 0084-6570).

Archaeology in Oceania publishes articles and research reports on prehistoric and historical archaeology, human biology, and modern material culture. It focuses on the history of Australia and the surrounding islands, and the Pacific Rim.

Australian Archaeology. Australia: Australian Archaeological Association, 1974– (ISSN: 1322-9214).

Australian Archaeology is the journal of the Australian Archaeological Association. It publishes articles in all areas of archaeology, including prehistoric, historic, and contemporary, as well as articles in cultural heritage management in Australia and the surrounding areas. Articles in related disciplines are also published.

Australian Historical Studies. United Kingdom: Routledge, 1940–. Three times annually (ISSN: 1031-461X; online ISSN: 1940–5049).

This journal publishes articles in history and related disciplines relevant to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific region. It is one of the oldest journals dedicated to the historical study of the Pacific Rim.

Craig, Robert D., and Frank P. King. Historical Dictionary of Oceania. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1981 (ISBN: 978-0-313-21060-0).

This volume serves as a comprehensive reference to the history and cultures of Oceania. It is an important work as these areas are often neglected by more generalized reference texts. Includes a chronology, maps, a bibliography, and indexes.

Swain, Tony, and G. W. Trompf. The Religions of Oceania. London: Routledge, 1995 (ISBN: 978-0-203-97762-0).

This book explores the rich religious history of the lands in the Pacific Rim, which the authors argue had an extensive effect on the religious history and traditions of the world. As a more focused topic, this book is recommended for advanced readers with a deeper interest in Oceania or the history of religion. Includes a select bibliography and an index.