The early Middle Ages : the birth of Europe / Lynette Olson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Olson, Lynette, 1946-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Middle Ages.

Europe--History--476-1492.

Europe.

History.

Physical Description:

xvi, 248 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

Other Title:

Birth of Europe

Place of Publication:

Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire ; New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.

Summary:

As a global perspective grows and Eurocentricism wanes, it becomes more important, not less, to see where Europe came from. In this fascinating study, Lynette Olson explores the original formation of Europe from the fall of Rome to the First Crusade, and covers every European region, including the British Isles. From a family trying to find out what happened to their missing kinswoman to Khan Boris negotiating the entry of Bulgaria into the club of civilised nations, vivid case-studies provide supporting detail in a coherent analysis of a period of great cultural change and weak social organisation.

The Early Middle Ages: adopts an easy-to-follow century by century format, gives due attention to the female half of the population and the secular side of life, demonstrates how, out of the triad of Islam, Byzantium and the West, the latter was considered the 'Third World' of its day, features numerous maps, illustrations and a comprehensive Glossary. Authoritative and approachable, this essential introduction to a formative era of European history will engage scholars and students alike.

Contents:

The Frontispiece 1

What the Book is About 3

Approaches 6

1 The Fifth Century: Kingdoms Replace the Western Roman Empire 11

From Empire to Kingdoms 11

The Need for Protection 14

Fluid Identity 15

Barbarians 18

A Warrior Aristocracy 20

The Church 21

From Roman to Medieval Culture 25

2 The Sixth Century: The West Goes Its Own Way 27

Clovis and Theoderic 27

Justinian's Reconquest 34

Frankish Society 42

Gregory's Histories and Malalas's Chronicle 46

The World of Pope Gregory the Great 49

3 The Seventh Century: Cultural Watershed 53

The Conversion of the English to Christianity 53

Civilisation Begins to Come out of the North 59

The Rise of Islam 61

Evaluating the Pirenne Thesis 65

Visigothic Spain 68

4 The Eighth Century: Formation of the Core of Europe 75

Boniface and the English Mission to the Continent 75

Frankish-Papal Relations 81

The Frankish Kingdom 88

5 The Ninth Century: Expanding the Boundaries 97

The Carolingian Empire 97

Nithard and Dhuoda 105

The Vikings 110

Khan Boris of Bulgaria 121

Alfred the Great 124

The Nadir of Europe 130

6 The Tenth Century: Nadir to Take-Off 132

A Tale of Three Cities 132

Odo of Cluny, Gerald of Aurillac and Charles the Simple 137

The Rise of Germany 145

Towards 1000 153

7 The Eleventh Century: Transformation of Europe 157

New Beginnings and Old Ways 157

The Church in the Early Eleventh Century 161

The Three Orders and Feudalism 167

The Norman Conquests 174

The Rise of Towns 184

The Church in the Later Eleventh Century 189

The First Crusade 193

The Final Analysis 197

Primary Source Translations 227.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1403942080

9781403942081

1403942099

9781403942098

OCLC:

71288800

Publisher Number:

9781403942081

9781403942098

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description