Part I. Slow transition from classical to medieval world -- The transformation of classical civilization: the political and economic story through the fifth century CE -- The transformation of classical civilization: religion and culture through the fifth century CE -- Warriors, farmers, and saints in the barbarian kingdoms (200-600) -- Byzantine empire: a struggle for unity and regaining past glory (451-630) -- Islam: the religion, politics, and culture (570-1000) -- Part II. Central Middle Ages -- Technology, society, and politics in early medieval west (600-750) -- The age of Charlemagne (750-814) -- Europe: disunited, assaulted, and saved (814-1024) -- New devotion, growth of towns, and commerce (950-1100) -- Part III. High Middle Ages -- The era of the first crusade (1071-1097) -- The renaissance of the twelfth century -- The flowering of the Middle Ages (ca. 1150-1300) -- Part IV. The transition from the medieval to modern periods -- Falcons, swords, occam's razor, and germs: from bouvines to the black death (1214-1347) -- Conformity, creativity, and authority (1350-1500) -- The medieval twilight in Europe and western Asia: decay and discovery -- Epilogue.