
What is Medieval History?
John H. Arnold(Author)
Polity Press
Published on 27. December 2007
Book
Hardback
176 pages
978-0-7456-3932-1 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
What is it that medieval historians do? And how and why do they do it? What is Medieval History? provides an accessible, far-ranging and passionate guide to the study of medieval history. The book discusses the creation of the academic field, the nature of the sources, the intellectual tools used by medievalists, and some key areas of thematic importance from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Reformation.
Students, teachers, researchers and interested general readers will find the book an invaluable guide. The author explores his field through numerous fascinating case studies, including a magical plot against a medieval pope, a fourteenth-century insurrection, and the importance of a kiss exchanged between two tenth-century noblemen.
Throughout the book, readers are shown not only what medieval history is, but the cultural and political contexts in which medieval history has been written. And, above all, What is Medieval History? demonstrates why the pursuit of medieval history continues to be important to the present and future world.
John H. Arnold, ein Wissenschaftler mit internationalem Ruf, macht das Mittelalter für Studienanfänger lebendig und erläutert anhand thematischer Schwerpunkte die akademische Herangehensweise bei der Beschäftigung mit dieser Epoche.
Students, teachers, researchers and interested general readers will find the book an invaluable guide. The author explores his field through numerous fascinating case studies, including a magical plot against a medieval pope, a fourteenth-century insurrection, and the importance of a kiss exchanged between two tenth-century noblemen.
Throughout the book, readers are shown not only what medieval history is, but the cultural and political contexts in which medieval history has been written. And, above all, What is Medieval History? demonstrates why the pursuit of medieval history continues to be important to the present and future world.
John H. Arnold, ein Wissenschaftler mit internationalem Ruf, macht das Mittelalter für Studienanfänger lebendig und erläutert anhand thematischer Schwerpunkte die akademische Herangehensweise bei der Beschäftigung mit dieser Epoche.
Reviews / Votes
"This stimulating and nuanced book should be required reading for, at the very least, all of those taking Master and Doctoral degrees in the period and it will give those already 'in the field' at schools and universities much to reflect upon." BBC History Magazine "A stimulating and very readable little book." Medieval Archaeology "As Arnold argues in this very readable little book, the subject/ period is one of vitality and movement. Like many of us, he appears optimistic about its future." History "A lively and thorough introduction for students embarking on the study of the period." Year's Work in English Studies "Acute and wide-ranging, engaging and up-to-the-minute. It will be essential reading for students of medieval history at all levels, and a stimulating challenge to their teachers, medievalist and non-medievalist alike." Chris Wickham, University of Oxford "Explains what every would-be medievalist needs to know and is seldom told. With matter-of-fact prose and a bundle of good stories, John Arnold gently walks his readers through the basics of the field--development, sources, methods, debates, and relevance. For both students and their teachers, every page of this book will enlighten, inform, and amuse." Judith Bennett, University of Southern California "Strong on content and structure, and both original and challenging, while remaining accessible to its readership. The main points, about concepts and debates, are all very well illustrated." Dame Janet Nelson, King's College LondonMore details
Product info
gebunden
Series
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Students and scholars of medieval history.
Dimensions
Height: 22.7 cm
Width: 14.7 cm
Thickness: 1.9 cm
Weight
338 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7456-3932-1 (9780745639321)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions

John H. Arnold
What Is Medieval History?
Book
11/2020
2nd Edition
Polity Press
€68.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Additional editions

John H. Arnold
What is Medieval History?
Book
12/2007
Polity Press
Unfortunately, price unknown
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
John Hugh Arnold is a British historian. Since 2016, he has been the Professor of Medieval History at the University of Cambridge. He previously worked at Birkbeck College, University of London, where he specialised in the study of medieval religious culture.
Content
List of Illustrations vii
Preface and Acknowledgements viii
1 Framing the Middle Ages 1
A Medieval Tale 1
Medievalisms and Historiographies 8
The Politics of Framing 16
2 Tracing the Middle Ages 23
Polyphony or Cacophony? 23
Editions and Archives 26
Using Documents 30
Chronicles 36
Charters 40
Images 46
Legal Records 51
3 Reading the Middle Ages 57
Anthropology 58
Numbers and Statistics 65
Archaeology and Material Culture 72
Texts and Cultural Theory 79
4 Debating the Middle Ages 86
Ritual 88
Social Structures 95
Cultural Identities 104
Power 109
5 Making and Remaking the Middle Ages 119
Notes 128
Further Reading 143
Index 148
Preface and Acknowledgements viii
1 Framing the Middle Ages 1
A Medieval Tale 1
Medievalisms and Historiographies 8
The Politics of Framing 16
2 Tracing the Middle Ages 23
Polyphony or Cacophony? 23
Editions and Archives 26
Using Documents 30
Chronicles 36
Charters 40
Images 46
Legal Records 51
3 Reading the Middle Ages 57
Anthropology 58
Numbers and Statistics 65
Archaeology and Material Culture 72
Texts and Cultural Theory 79
4 Debating the Middle Ages 86
Ritual 88
Social Structures 95
Cultural Identities 104
Power 109
5 Making and Remaking the Middle Ages 119
Notes 128
Further Reading 143
Index 148