both accessible and informative, thus enriching the study of medieval history. The opening of the book outlines the rationale behind its compilation, emphasizing the scarcity of original sources that are suitable for teaching medieval history. Thatcher and McNeal convey their intent to select important documents that not only bring together previously inaccessible material but also include essential notes and explanations for clarity. They acknowledge that their chosen documents are illustrative of key aspects of the medieval period, particularly the development of the Holy Roman Empire and the legacies of significant leaders like Karl the Great. The authors also caution against over-generalizing from the limited selections in this sourcebook, underscoring its role as a complementary educational tool rather than a comprehensive historical account. (This is an automatically generated summary.)