Continental Saxons from the Migration Period to the Tenth Century: An Ethnographic Perspective (Studies in Historical Archaeoethnology, 6) [Hardcover]

Dennis H. Green (Editor), Frank Siegmund (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 20, 2003 | ISBN-10: 1843830264 | ISBN-13: 978-1843830269

The Continental Saxons developed from a subsistence economy, practiced up to the Carolingian conquest in the late eighth century, to become rulers of the Holy Roman Empire a little over a century and a half later. A historian introduces the topic, evaluating the reliability of the sources. Archaeologists then describe the living conditions, especially along the coast where villages have been excavated, and social customs revealed by grave-goods. Legal procedures are inferred from surviving evidence, and the regional economy, based on agriculture and animal husbandry, is reconstructed through the study of vegetable remains and pollen analysis. The birth of urban communities, stimulated by monastic settlements and trade, is followed through archaeological evidence; study of visual art-forms is based on analysis of grave-goods; and in the absence of surviving evidence for poetry, a Carolingian eulogical poem is discussed. Also discussed are Saxon political relations prior to and during the Carolingian conquest; the few signs of traditional religion that can be gleaned from the 'Lives' of missionaries; and Christianity and the activity of religious orders, which eventually brought about the conversion of the Saxons and the introduction of written culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Well worth the attention of serious students of early medieval history and archaeology. THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Boydell Press (November 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843830264
• ISBN-13: 978-1843830269
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,432,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars At least it is in English, February 21, 2006

By 

Rick A. Riedlinger (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Continental Saxons from the Migration Period to the Tenth Century: An Ethnographic Perspective (Studies in Historical Archaeoethnology, 6) (Hardcover)

Continental Saxons is quite uneven in its offerings. The roundtable style discussion makes up for this in part and some of the contributors were quite good but others were merely distracting. Given how little scholarly information is available on the pre-conversion 'Saxons' -however you choose to define the label- this book is a necessary read for those of us limited to English but who still have an interest in the subject.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION. D. H. Green.

LOCATION IN SPACE AND TIME. M. Springer
The received opinion. Criticism of the received opinion. Saxons in late antiquity. Saxons in the Merovingian age. Saxons in the Carolingian age and during the tenth century.
Discussion...

THE NORTH SEA COASTAL AREA: SETTLEMENT HISTORY FROM ROMAN TO EARLY MEDIEVAL TIMES. D. Meier
The landscape. Frisii, Chauci and Saxones: the North Sea coastal area from the Roman to the Migration period. From anonymity to history: the North Sea coastal area in the early medieval period. Epilogue: cultural heritage of the wetlands.
Discussion

SOCIAL RELATIONS AMONG THE OLD SAXONS. F. Siegmund
The ethnic question. The decrease of settlements in the fifth and sixth centuries. The layout of cemeteries. Demography. Women and men. Grave goods and age groups.
Discussion.

JURAL RELATIONS AMONG THE SAXONS BEFORE AND AFTER CHRISTIANIZATION G. Ausenda. .
Discussion.

RURAL ECONOMY OF THE CONTINENTAL SAXONS FROM THE MIGRATION PERIOD TO THE TENTH CENTURY. W. Dorfler
Introduction and theoretical background. Environmental changes in the Roman Iron Age and in early medieval times. Summary and conclusions.
Discussion.

THE BEGINNINGS OF URBAN ECONOMIES AMONG THE SAXONS H. Steuer.
The Saxons and the Carolingian-Ottonian Empire. Network of pre-urban centres and circulation of goods among the Saxons. The Carolingian coinage reform as an economic revolution. New markets. Fortresses, monasteries and episcopal sites as pre-urban centres in the conquered Saxon territory. Concluding remarks.
Discussion.

SAXON ART BETWEEN INTERPRETATION AND IMITATION: THE INFLUENCE OF ROMAN, SCANDINAVIAN, FRANKISH, AND CHRISTIAN ART ON THE MATERIAL CULTURE OF THE CONTINENTAL SAXONS AD 400-1000. K. Hoilund Nielsen
The late Roman tradition. The Saxon adoption of late Roman Saxon style. Saxon identity. Scandinavian and Frankish traditions. Tom between two traditions. The Christian tradition. The final surrender to Carolingian belief and politics. Conclusion.
Discussion.

THREE ASPECTS OF THE OLD SAXON BIBLICAL EPIC, THE HELIAND.
D. H. Green.
Discussion.

BEYOND SATRAPS AND OSTRICHES: POLITICAL AND SOCIAL STRUCTURES OF THE SAXONS IN THE EARLY CAROLINGIAN PERIOD.
I. Wood.
Discussion.

THE CONVERSION OF THE OLD SAXONS. J. Hines
The historical context. Antiquorum Saxonum prouincia. Charlemagne and Widukind. Cultural revolution or evolution? Postscript.
Discussion. .

CURRENT ISSUES AND SUGGESTED FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN THE STUDY OF THE CONTINENTAL SAXONS. F. Siegmund & G. Ausenda

INDEX.

LIST OF MAPS

Map of north-western Europe in the fourth century .
Map of north-western Europe at the end of the eighth century
Map of central places in and connected with medieval Saxony