Medieval Europe and the World
From Late Antiquity to Modernity, 400-1500
Published in March 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-19-515694-2 (ISBN)
Description
This brief but comprehensive textbook covers the history of the time period known as the Middle Ages. Beginning with the rise of Christianity in the West, and ending with the crises that shook Europe and Byzantium in the fifteenth century, the text serves as an excellent guide to one of the most complex and creative periods the world has ever known. The narrative discusses events in Europe alongside the spread of Islam and the rise and fall of the Byzantium Empire. While the text gives ample coverage to political events, an equal emphasis is placed on social and cultural developments of the time. The authors give careful attention to such things as the daily life of peasants, the rise of urban societies, and the changing status of women. Numerous illustrations bring the history to life. With nine maps, a chronological table, and a detailed list of suggested further readings, this is the perfect text for undergraduate courses in Medieval history.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
maps, num. halftones
numerous halftones and maps
Dimensions
Height: 233 mm
Width: 154 mm
Weight
458 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-515694-2 (9780195156942)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
the late Robin W. Winks, Randolph W. Townsend Professor of History, Yale University and Teofilo F. Ruiz, Professor and Chair of the History Department, University of California, Los Angeles
Content
Maps and Boxes ; Preface ; Introduction ; 1. THE END OF THE ANCIENT WORLD: CHRISTIANITY AND THE WESTERN EMPIRE ; 1.1. The Crises of the Ancient World ; 1.2. Christianity: The Importance of Religion in the Later Roman World ; 1.3. The Development of Christianity in Late Antiquity ; 1.4. Though and Letters in the First Christian Centuries ; 1.5. The Christian Triumph as a Historical Problem ; 1.6. The Aftermath of the Empire in the West ; 1.7. Summary ; 2. BYZANTIUM AND ISLAM, 500-1000 ; 2.1. Byzantium ; 2.2. Byzantine Christianity and Relations with the West ; 2.3. The Fortunes of Empire, 330-1081 ; 2.4. Byzantium and the Slavs and the Turkic people ; 2.5. The World of Islam, c. 570-1096 ; 2.6. Islam in the West ; 2.7. Islamic Civilization ; 2.8. Summary ; 3. MEDIEVAL SOCIETY IN THE WEST: FROM LATE ANTIQUITY TO THE CENTRAL MIDDLE AGED ; 3.1. The Breakdown of Roman Civilization ; 3.2. The Germans ; 3.3. The Franks: The Building of an Empire ; 3.4. After Charlemagne: The Northmen or Vikings ; 3.5. Society and Culture in the Early Medieval West ; 3.6. Culture ; 3.7. The Spread of Christianity ; 3.8. Summary ; 4. MEDIEVAL SOCIETY: WARRIORS, PEASANTS, AND MERCHANTS ; 4.1. Introduction ; 4.2. Europe and the World Around 1000 ; 4.3. Feudal Europe: The Structures of Everyday Life ; 4.4. Urban Societies ; 4.5. On the Margins of Society ; 4.6. The Changing Status of Women ; 4.7. Summary ; 5. THOSE WHO PRAY: PRIESTS, MONKS, AND CRUSADERS ; 5.1. The Investiture Controversy ; 5.2. The Crusades ; 5.3. The Church in Society ; 5.4. Summary ; 6. CULTURE AND LEARNING IN LATE MEDIEVAL EUROPE ; 6.1. Culture in the Medieval West, 1000-1400 ; 6.2. Literature ; 6.3. The Arts ; 6.4. Summary ; 7. POLITICS AND SOCIETY: THE ORIGINS OF KINGDOMS AND COMMUNITIES, 1000-1300 ; 7.1. The Early Construction of the State in the West ; 7.2. The Emergence of Centralized Kingdoms in the West ; 7.3. Summary ; 8. POLITICAL COMMUNITIES: CENTER AND PERIPHERY ; 8.1. Byzantium 1081-1453 ; 8.2. Russia, Poland-Lithuania, and the Politics of Eastern Europe ; 8.3. The World of Islam ; 8.4. Scandinavia ; 8.5. Germany, Italy, and the Low Countries ; 8.6. Italy: Despots and Condottieri, 1268-1513 ; 8.7. The Low Countries ; 8.8. Summary ; 9. THE LATE MEDIEVAL CRISIS AND THE TRANSITION TO THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD ; 9.1. The Crisis of Late Medieval Society ; 9.2. The Structural Crises ; 9.3. The Challenge of Crisis: Famine, War, Plaque, and Rebellion ; 9.4. The Answers of Late Medieval Society ; 9.5. The Final Genesis of the Nation State ; 9.6. Into the Modern Period ; Chronolgy ; Suggested Readings ; Index