Synopses & Reviews
Roger Collins provides a comprehensive account of the centuries during which Europe became a new culturally coherent, if politically divided, entity. This third edition of a classic textbook history of early medieval Europe is fully updated, rewritten and revised to take account of the latest scholarship and to improve its literary style. This volume:
• examines how the social, economic and cultural structures of Antiquity were replaced by their medieval equivalents
• defines the European context by looking at the external forces which helped to shape it through conflict
• explores key topics such as the fall of the Roman Empire, the rise of both Christianity and Islam, the Vikings, and the expansion of Latin Christian culture into eastern Europe
Featuring maps, genealogies, a chronology and bibliography to aid understanding, this third edition provides an essential reference work for those studying early medieval Europe.
Synopsis
This third edition of a classic textbook history of early medieval Europe is fully updated, rebalanced and revised to take account of the latest scholarship. Collins provides even greater treatment of the period 500-1000 and expands the geographical coverage of the book. Maps also feature in this new edition.
Synopsis
In this classic textbook history of early medieval Europe, Roger Collins provides a comprehensive account of the centuries during which Europe changed from being an abstract geographical expression to a new culturally coherent, if politically divided, entity. This essential volume:
- examines how the social, economic and cultural structures of Antiquity were replaced by their medieval equivalents
- defines the European context by looking at the external forces which helped to shape it through conflict
- explores key topics such as the fall of the Roman Empire, the rise of both Christianity and Islam, the Vikings, and the expansion of Latin Christian culture into eastern Europe
- features maps, genealogies, a chronology and bibliography to aid understanding and further study.
About the Author
ROGER COLLINS is Honorary Fellow in History at the University of Edinburgh, UK.
Table of Contents
Chronology of Main Events
Maps
Preface to the First Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the Third Edition
Introduction
Crisis and Change in the Roman Empire, 235-305
The Age of Constantine, 305-350
Protecting the Empire, 350-395
From the Battle of Adrianople to the Sack of Rome, 378-410
A Divided City: the Christian Church, 300-460
The Warlords
The New Kingdoms
The Twilight of the West, 518-568
Constantinople, Persia and the Arabs
Decadent and Do-Nothing Kings, 511-711
From Britain to the Kingdoms of the Angles, 410-874
The Lombards in Italy, c.540-712
The Parting of East and West
Monks and Missionaries
Francia Revived, 714-768
Charlemagne, 768-814
The Carolingian Regime
'The Dissension of Kings', 814-911
'The Desolation of the Pagans'
The Empire Revived, 875-1002
The New Constantine: Otto III, 983-1002
The Western Frontiers of Christendom: Spain, 711-1037
Abbreviations
Notes
Bibliography
Index