2001-08-21 A good general book about middle-ages

Author covers a millenium in 320 pages and does quite a good job. All the main events of the period, except history of Byzantium, are discussed: the rise and decline of papacy, big crusading adventures and formation of nation states. The author divides the book into the paragraphs that touch upon certain themes (like the great schism). Despite that the book is easy to follow as Mr Keen more or less follows the chronological order of events. I think that the book is excellent introduction to the fascinating epoch of middle-ages.