History of Medieval Europe From Constantine to Saint Louis

Back cover copy - Davis - A History of Medieval Europe

Back cover

R H C Davis¿s well-known and well-loved A History of Medieval Europe was originally written to introduce students to the study of early medieval history. It explains to them why something so seemingly distant remains important to an understanding of our modern world. Most importantly, the book shares with them, and the general reader, the author¿s own fascination and excitement with the subject.

The breadth and authority of the book is to be expected in the work of such a major scholar, but the acute selection of vivid detail and the vigour of his writing are those of a born communicator. Published in its First Edition in 1957, and in its Second Edition in 1988, the book rapidly established itself as the standard introductory survey of the period and is a bestseller to this day.

Front flap

A History of Medieval Europe is in two parts. The first, The Dark Ages, examines the impact of the Barbarian invasions on Constantine¿s Christianized empire, and the gradual emergence, by the end of the ninth century, of a new social, economic and political order. There are important chapters on the Church and the Papacy, the coming of Islam, and the rise and fall of the Frankish Empire.

The second part, The High Middle Ages, takes the reader from the Saxon Empire through to an examination of the European economy in the mid-thirteenth century. Important topics covered in this period include the spread of monasticism, the reform of the Papacy, the crusades, and feudal monarchy.

The author

The late R H C Davis was Professor of Medieval History at the University of Birmingham, from 1970 to 1984, and Emeritus Professor until his death in 1991. He was also Emeritus Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the British Academy. He wrote many successful and scholarly works, and in 1985 was honoured by the publication, ¿Studies in Medieval History presented to R H C Davis¿, edited by Henry Mayr-Harting and R I Moore, and published by Hambledon Press.

Back flap

(275 years of publishing history logo - from Louise Corless)

As part of Longman¿s 275th Anniversary - a landmark in publishing history - we are launching an exciting collection of classic books.

The Silver Library celebrates the very best in history writing published by Longman. This selection of seminal and best-selling works by world renowned authorities will become the essential collection.

Titles in the Silver Library are:

John Tosh

The Pursuit of History, Third Edition

Bernard W Anderson

The Living World of the Old Testament, Fourth Edition

R H C Davis

A History of Medieval Europe, Second Edition

H G Koenigsberger, George L Mosse, G Q Bowler

Europe in the Sixteenth Century, Second Edition

Barry Coward

The Stuart Age 1603 - 1714, Second Edition

H G Koenigsberger

Early Modern Europe 1500 - 1789

Asa Briggs

The Age of Improvement 1783 - 1867, Second Edition

M S Anderson

The Ascendancy of Europe 1815 - 1914, Second Edition

James Joll

The Origins of the First World War, Second Edition

J M Roberts

Europe 1880 - 1945, Second Edition

Martin Kitchen

Europe Between the Wars

Peter Calvocoressi

World Politics Since 1945, Seventh Edition

R. H. C. Davis was one of the finest historians of his generation, and his A History of Medieval Europe: From Constantine to Saint Louis has been recognized for fifty years as the clearest, most authoritative and most approachable introduction to medieval history.

 

Davis’s exploration of the Dark Ages examines the impact of the Barbarian invasions on Constantine’s Christianized empire, and the gradual emergence of a new social, economic and political order. He discusses the Church and the Papacy, the coming of Islam, and the rise and fall of the Frankish Empire. In his consideration of the High Middle Ages, Davis takes the reader from the Saxon Empire through to an examination of the European economy in the mid-thirteenth century, addressing the spread of monasticism, the papal reform, the crusades, and feudal monarchy.

 

The third edition, revised by R. I. Moore, leaves the text unaltered, but reflects the considerable growth in our knowledge of the period. New features include:

·         A new Preface, outlining Davis's view of the importance and relevance of medieval history

·         Postscripts to each part, introducing the most important new interpretations of the period to have emerged since the book was written, and showing how Davis's views relate to them

·         New maps and illustrations

·         Updated reading lists

 

Combining a strong narrative history of the period with an introduction to diverse historical perspectives, this book is essential reading for all students of medieval history.

 

The late R. H. C. Davis was Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the Universityof Birmingham. He was also Emeritus Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, the Royal Historical Society, and the BritishAcademy. As one of the leading medievalists of his generation, his research made fundamental contributions to many aspects of English history.

 

R. I. Moore is Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the Universityof Newcastle upon Tyneand Corresponding Fellow of the Medieval Academy of America. He was a pupil and friend of R. H. C. Davis. He is co-editor (with H. Mayr-Harting) of Studies in Medieval History presented to R. H. C. Davis (1985), and author of The First European Revolution (2001).

This classic account of the medieval world, from end of the Roman Empire, through the Barbarian Invasions, has been updated. Packed full of new research this is a vital resource for anyone new to medieval history.

• Best Introductory book in medieval history for 50 years
• Packed full with new rserach and intepretations
• Contains moe maps, tables adn illustrations

R H C Davis's well-known and well-loved A History of Medieval Europe rapidly established itself as the standard introductory survey of the period and is a bestseller to this day. The breadth and authority of the book is to be expected in the work of such a major scholar, but the acute selection of vivid detail and the vigour of his writing are those of a born communicator.

A History of Medieval Europe is in two parts. The first, The Dark Ages, examines the impact of the Barbarian invasions on Constantine's Christianized empire, and the gradual emergence, by the end of the ninth century, of a new social, economic and political order. There are important chapters on the Church and the Papacy, the coming of Islam, and the rise and fall of the Frankish Empire.

The second part, The High Middle Ages, takes the reader from the Saxon Empire through to an examination of the European economy in the mid-thirteenth century. Important topics covered in this period include the spread of monasticism, the reform of the Papacy, the crusades, and feudal monarchy.

The late R H C Davis was Professor of Medieval History at the Universityof Birmingham, from 1970 to 1984, and Emeritus Professor until his death in 1991. He was also Emeritus Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the BritishAcademy. He wrote many successful and scholarly works, and in 1985 was honoured by the publication, ‘Studies in Medieval History presented to R H C Davis’, edited by Henry Mayr-Harting and R I Moore, and published by Hambledon Press.

PART ONE. THE DARK AGES.

Introduction.

1. Constantine the Great: The New Rome and Christianity. Further reading.

2. The barbarian invasions. Further reading.

3. Three reactions to the barbarian invasions.

4. The Church and the Papacy.

5. Islam.

6. The Franks.

7.  The Break-up of the Carolingian Empire.

8. Europe at the end of the ninth century: economic survey.

PART TWO THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES (900-1250)

Introduction.

1. The Saxon Empire.

2. The Reform of the Papacy.

3. Monasticism in the 11th and 12th centuries.

4. Jerusalem regained and lost: the first three Crusades.

5. Feudal monarchy and the French Kingdom (1066-1223).

6. The Emperor Frederrick I Barbarossa (1152-1190).

7. The Crisis of the Church.

8. The new era in monarchy.

9. Europe in the middle of the 13th century: an economic survey.

Epilogue: the Mongols.