LibGuides: SSI2-194: Castles: Getting Started

Background & Overviews

Tertiary sources, such as subject encyclopedias and textbooks, are excellent starting points in your research. Use them to find:

Helpful overviews of key facts: who? what? when?
Bibliographies of especially key scholarly works.
Identification of important primary sources.
Brief descriptions of main scholarly arguments: how? why?

At Collins Library, you can access subject encyclopedias in a variety of formats: print, ebook, or via larger digital collections.

Print encyclopedias are located on the first floor of the library, across from the Learning Commons.

Specific online encyclopedias can be searched for and accessed via PRIMO, the library's discovery platform.

Large digital collections of subject encyclopedias can be accessed via several publisher-based platforms.

Online Subject Encyclopedia Collections

ABC CLIO eBooks
This eBook Collection contains encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, and guides from ABC-CLIO, Greenwood Press, Libraries Unlimited, and Praeger.
Arts & Humanities Through the Eras
Profiling milestones and movements in the arts, literature, music and religion from a specific period.
Gale eBooks
Provides full text online access to Gale electronic books, including encyclopedias and other reference resources.
Oxford Reference
Contains the complete texts of many Oxford companions, encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference titles in a fully indexed, cross-searchable database. Included in addition to articles are images, maps, timelines, bibliographies, photographs and much more.
SAGE Knowledge
The social sciences platform for SAGE and CQ Press books, reference materials and other content.

Recommended Subject Encyclopedias

The subject encyclopedias, guides, overviews, and histories listed below are likely to be especially useful for this course. All of them are available online.

The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages by Robert E. Bjork (Editor)
Call Number: Click title for online access!
Publication Date: 2010-07-29
The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle Ages is a major new reference resource for all key aspects of European history, society, religion, and culture from circa 500 CE to circa 1500 CE.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare & Military Technology by Clifford J. Rogers; William Caferro; Shelley Reid (Editors)
Call Number: Click on title for online access
Publication Date: 2010
Examines all aspects of warfare and military technology in medieval times.
The Medieval Castles of Wales by John R. Kenyon
Call Number: Click title for online access.
Publication Date: 2011
The opening chapter traces the history of castle architecture in Britain. The five subsequent chapters--divided by region--guide the reader through these structures, with each entry featuring a history of the site, a description of the visible remainn. A final chapter provides an extensive bibliography for further reading.
Castles in Medieval Society by Charles Coulson
Call Number: Click title for online access.
Publication Date: 2003
The author sets out to recreate the medieval understanding of castles as symbolically fortified places of all kinds, from ancient walled post-Roman towns and prestigious religious enclaves to transitory campaign forts.
Castles in Ireland by T. E. McNeill
Call Number: Click title for online access.
Publication Date: 1997
The castles of Ireland are an essential part of the story of medieval Europe, but were, until recently, a subject neglected by scholars.
The Crusades: An Encyclopedia by Alan V. Murray (Editor)
Call Number: Click title for online access.
ISBN: 1576078620
Publication Date: 2006
Surveys all aspects of the crusading movement from its origins in the 11th century to its decline in the 16th century.
Medieval France: An Encyclopedia by William W. Kibler (Editor); Grover A. Zinn (Editor); John Bell Henneman (Editor); Lawrence Earp (Editor)
Call Number: Click title for online access.
ISBN: 0824044444
Publication Date: 1995
Over 2,400 entries cover the political, intellectual, literary, and musical history of the country from the early fifth century to the late 15th.

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