Debating Medieval Europe

Reviews / Votes

'The contributors to this edited volume do not engage in debate in the style of oppositional exposition, such as by questioning whether there was a Renaissance or what the causes of WW I were. Rather, they offer overviews of what has happened, looking at familiar chapters of medieval history, such as "The Transformation of the Roman World," "The Carolingian Moment," and "The Norman World, c. 1000-c.1100." All the authors work from the premise that the traditional narrative, while not incorrect, has been modified by the scholarship of the last generation-newer work is well cited in the extensive chapter bibliographies-and that a more nuanced picture of medieval society is now emerging to enrich and amplify older generalizations. For instance, the more recent focus on royal women, greater ambiguity about burial practices and religious conviction, and more qualifications in the hagiographic accounts of Irish monks shaped by conversions all enrich the familiar story. These are readable essays with special concern for the student studying in a survey course. The promise of a second volume for the later medieval period sounds a welcome note.'
--J. T. Rosenthal, emeritus, SUNY at Stony Brook
Summing Up: Recommended. All undergraduates.
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