Publisher's blurb:
The object of the Medieval Origins series is to show the things that had to happen prior to the Middle Ages in order for that period to unfold the way it did. The Greeks and their mythologies, the Romans and their Empire, and the rise of Christianity all had to exist in order for what we think of as Medievalism to come about. The earlier events contextualize the period, and allow us to make sense of some of the strange, brutal, and beautiful things we think of when we talk about Medieval Europe.
Understanding the origins of the medieval period can help us to become better worldbuilding and gamemasters. We can craft better adventures, not just by cannibalizing and remixing tales from history, but through understanding the connections between historical events. Having a grasp of history can even help us to create better characters, but connecting them to richer back stories, understanding the cultural, religious, and political motivations for their actions, and giving them a grander sense of purpose.