Understanding Medieval Primary Sourcesis a collection of essays that will introduce students to the primary sources that are key to studying medieval Europe. The sources are divided into two categories: the first part treats some of the many generic sources that have been preserved, such as wills, letters royal and secular narratives and saints#xE2;#xAC;" lives. Chapter by chapter each expert author illustrates how they can be used to reveal details about medieval history. The second part focuses on areas of historical research that can only be fully discovered by using a combination of primary sources, covering fields such as maritime history, urban history, women#xE2;#xAC;"s history and medical history. Understanding Medieval Primary Sourceswill be an invaluable resource for any student embarking on medieval historical research.