Tips
Encyclopedias are great for:
- choosing a topic
- quick self-education
- perspective on a topic
- variant spellings, vocabulary, terminology
- bibliography
Wikipedia?
You already know how helpful it is to get some background information on your research topics. Wikipedia is often the default because it's so easy to find an entry and the entries are often helpful.
That said, the quality and reliability of Wikipedia entries is not something you can count on. In addition, most Cornell instructors will tell you that you cannot cite wikipedia entries.
The rules for a good Wikipedia entry are: No statements of opinion and every statement of fact must be referenced to a source. A Wikipedia entry is only as good as they sources it cites. Follow the source notes to verify the information.
For this course, you may want to browse or search some of the library's online subject encyclopedias. Admittedly, they are not as easy to search, but the quality of the entries is often worth the effort. In addition, the entries are signed by the author and include the citation.
OBO & Cambridge Histories
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Oxford Bibliographies: Medieval StudiesHighly recommended. In progress. Annotated sources, both primary and secondary.
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Cambridge Histories OnlineProvides full text online access to the complete 300-plus volumes of Cambridge Histories reference series. Provides political, economic and social history, philosophy and literature of selected countries and subjects.
Encyclopedias
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Encyclopedia of the IncasCall Number: Olin Library Reference (Non-Circulating) Oversize F3429 .E495 2015 +Publication Date: 2015In this A-to-Z encyclopedia, Gary Urton and Adriana von Hagen, together with over thirty contributors, provide a broad introduction to the fascinating civilization of the Incas, including their settlements, culture, society, celebrations, and achievements. -
The Mongol Empire: a Historical Encyclopedia [2 Volumes]Publication Date: 2016Covering the rise and fall of the Mongol Empire, this essential reference presents the figures, places, and events that led this once-beleaguered region to rise up to become the largest contiguous empire in history. In the 13th century, -
Trade, Travel, and Exploration in the Middle Ages: an EncyclopediaPublication Date: 2000Covers the peoples, places, technologies, and intellectual concepts that contributed to trade, travel and exploration during the Middle Ages, from the years A.D. 525 to 1492. -
Medieval Islamic Civilization vol. 2Publication Date: 2005Covers the socio-cultural history of the regions where Islam took hold between the seventh and sixteenth century. -
Encyclopaedia of Islam
15,000 signed articles covering the entire Islamic world, past and present. Entries include biography, history, geography, religion, institutions, manners and customs, tribes, industries, science, and terminology.
Medieval Encyclopedias
Ancient History Encyclopedia An open source, European Union project. Covers some medieval history topics quite well.
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The Oxford Dictionary of Saints byPublication Date: 2011
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The Oxford Dictionary of the Middle AgesPublication Date: 2010
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Medieval Scandinavia by Publication Date: 1993 -
The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Anglo-Saxon EnglandPublication Date: 2013
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The Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature in BritainPublication Date: 2018
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Medieval England : An encyclopediaPublication Date: 2017
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Medieval France : An encyclopediaPublication Date: 1995
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Medieval Iberia : An encyclopediaPublication Date: 2002
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Medieval Jewish CivilizationPublication Date: 2002
