The Early Middle Ages: Europe 400-1000 (Short Oxford History of Europe) [Paperback]

Rosamond McKitterick (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 14, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0198731728 | ISBN-13: 978-0198731726

The Early Middle Ages (400-1000) was one of the most dynamic and crucial periods in the formation of Europe. It covers the transition from the relatively diverse world of Roman Empire in late antiquity to the disparate world of early medieval Europe--where local differences assumed far greater significance, but where the institution of Latin Christianity lent coherence to the successor states. In this book, McKitterick and five other leading historians have collaborated closely to produce a set of thematic interpretations covering politics, society, economy, culture, religion, and Europe and the wider world. Military matters and warfare are treated within these chapters, reflecting their entrenchment in social, economic, and political structures. The definition of 'Europe' is ambiguous in this period, but for the most part 'Europe' coincides with the ever-expanding horizons of Latin Christendom. It also looks at crucial interactions with other areas, such as Scandinavia, eastern Europe, the Islamic Middle East and North Africa, and Byzantium. Providing a coherent view of the most important elements within the period, this book gives a sense of the complexities and excitements of six hundred years of transition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rosamond McKitterick is at Newnham College, Cambridge.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 14, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198731728
• ISBN-13: 978-0198731726
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #835,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine and insightful survey, July 1, 2006

By 

W. D ONEIL "Will O'Neil" (Falls Church, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Early Middle Ages: Europe 400-1000 (Short Oxford History of Europe) (Paperback)

The _Short Oxford History of Europe_, under the general editorship of T.C.W. Blanning, is an especially well-edited series of 11 brief but meaty topical surveys covering the region's entire recorded history, from Ancient Greece to the latter part of the 20th century. The reader is assumed already to know the broad outlines of European history and to want look below the surface of events to the underlying forces and trends. While each volume is composed of a series of articles by experts who bring unique understanding and insights the result is much more integrated and consistent than that of the usual collective work. The transitions between volumes are well managed so that the series can be read as a seamless history from start to finish if desired, but the reader who is looking only for insight into a particular period can read just one or two volumes without feeling that he is missing the secret key.

The overall impression, in fact, is a good deal like a far shorter (and much more affordable) version of the _Cambridge History_ series.

The chief lack is of good references to sources. At the end of each volume is a "further reading" section which is generally pretty thorough and helpful, but there is no way to tell where a particular fact or insight comes from except in those cases where the chapter author has mentioned the origin in his or her text.

It should be understood that these are not narrative histories of the events of their periods. A timeline of major events is provided at the back, but the chapters cover topics rather than sub-periods, and generally are not themselves organized chronologically.

The period of this volume, the Early Middle Ages, was proverbially the "Dark Ages." It's a term historians dislike, but it is appropriate to the extent that the documentary evidence from this period is quite slim. People had other things to do, such as struggling to survive. The volume covers six centuries at one gulp not because little happened but because our knowledge of what did happen is so sketchy. In general the authors do a good job of teasing out from this dearth of material the story of how Europe began to become European rather than Roman and Barbarian.