A reconstruction of an intricate tableau of life in the medieval world, using existing evidence of art and architecture to explore all spheres of life, from the dizzy heights of courtly love to the fields of the humble serf. With major sections on urban, rural and court society, the art and tradition of the church, including detail on leisure, science and new information on the role of women, this book brings to life the imagination, ambitions and everyday realities of the world which formed the foundations of modern western society.