A rich history of how the bonds between horses and people shaped the Middle Ages. This book explores the role of horses across the global medieval world. Covering the early medieval period to the late Middle Ages, Anastasija Ropa examines how horses shaped societies, warfare, and culture as well as how their legacy persists in equestrian sports today.
Drawing on little-known primary sources, artifacts, and the author’s own experience with historical horsemanship, the book offers a vivid account of the deep connection between medieval people and horses. Combining scholarly insight with practical knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study of medieval horses in Europe and Asia to date.
Anastasija Ropalectures at the Latvian Academy of Sport Education and has owned and trained horses for many years. Her books include
Practical Horsemanship in Medieval Arthurian Romance.
Introduction
1 Real and Imagined Equines in the Medieval East and West
2 The Less Glamorous Horse: Breeding, Working and Wild Equines
3 Horses and Horsemanship of Military Elites
4 Horses in War and Equestrian Equipment
5 The Horse and the Supernatural
6 Illustrious Riders and Famous Horses
Conclusion: The Legacy of the Medieval Horse
References
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
This book is a must-read for those with an interest in Medieval history and/or horses.
"The Medieval Horseis a comprehensive and readable exploration of the many meanings of horses in the Middle Ages. The book is a feast not just for history and literature scholars but for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the period without getting lost in buzzwords and theory."
"Ropa takes the reader on an exhilarating journey into relatively unexplored territory as well as revisiting some familiar hilÓ+
![The Medieval Horse [Hardcover]](/itemImage/2/7/9/8/2_6946400.jpg "The Medieval Horse [Hardcover]")