Early Medieval Europe, 300-1000 (Macmillan History of Europe)

In this classic textbook history of early medieval Europe, Roger Collins provides a succinct account of the centuries during which Europe changed from being an abstract geographical expression to a new culturally coherent, if politically divided, entity. This comprehensive new edition 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. Clear and insightful, this is an invaluable guide to an important era in the history of both Europe and the wider world. This is an ideal companion for students of History or European Studies taking modules on Early Medieval Europe or Europe in Late Antiquity. In addition, this is a useful reference work for postgraduate students, scholars and teachers of early medieval Europe. New to this Edition: - Fully updated, augmented and revised to take account of the latest scholarship and research on all aspects of the period it covers - Greater emphasis given to social and economic considerations, the peripheries of Europe, the rise and impact of Islam, art, architecture, books and the spread of learning - Extensively rewritten to make it more accessible for students Cover Titlepage Copyright page Dedication Contents List of maps and genealogical tables Chronology of main events, 238–1000 Preface to the first edition Preface to the second edition Preface to the third edition Introduction 1 Crisis and change in the Roman Empire, 235–305 Turbulent times, 235–85 The reforms of Diocletian, 285–305 2 The age of Constantine, 305–50 The emperor and his rivals, 305–12 Constantine and Christianity Conflict and succession, 324–50 3 Protecting the Empire, 350–95 Frontier defence, 350–61 Julian the Reactionary, 361–3 Civil wars, 363–95 4 From the battle of Adrianople to the sack of Rome, 378–410 ‘The coming of the Huns’ The Goths and the Empire, 376–95 Stilicho or Honorius? Alternative strategies, 395–410 5 A divided city: the Christian Church, 300–460 Conflicts in Church and state Authority is given to Peter Monasticism 6 The warlords Gaul or Africa? 410–54 The end of the western Empire, 455–80 The fall of Rome? 7 The new kingdoms Roman generals and barbarian kings The Gothic kingdom in Italy Clovis and the Franks 8 The twilight of the West, 518–68? Prelude in Constantinople and Rome Justinian I and Africa, 527–33 The Italian reconquest, 535–53 9 Constantinople, Persia and the Arabs Rome’s eastern neighbours Islam and the Arab conquests 10 Decadent and do-nothing kings, 511–711 The Gothic kingdom in Spain, c. 589–711 Gaul and the Merovingians c. 511–687 11 From Britain to the kingdoms of the Angles, 410–874 A ‘dark age’, 410–597 New Christian kingdoms, 598–685 The Mercian hegemony, 633–874 12 The Lombards in Italy, c. 540–712 Conquering Italy, 540–72 Dukes and kings, 572–84 The kingdom of the Lombards, 584–712 13 The parting of East and West An end to cultural unity The role of Iconoclasm Rome between Constantinople and Francia 14 Monks and missionaries The growth of western monasticism The Irish Church Spreading the word 15 Francia revived, 714–68 Charles ‘the Hammer’ and the recovery of Francia, 714–41 Regaining the periphery: Pippin ‘the Short’, 741–68 16 Charlemagne, 768–814 The route to the imperial throne, 768–800 The meaning of Empire, 800–14 17 The Carolingian regime The apparatus of government The ideological programme Chroniclers of a warlike society 18 ‘ The dissension of kings’, 814–911 Louis the Pious, 814–40 Kings and emperors in the West, 840–911 19 ‘The desolation of the pagans’ Raiders and traders The Vikings and Francia The Vikings and the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms Conversion and expansion 20 The western frontiers of Christendom: Spain, 711–1037 The Christians of al-Andalus The kingdoms of northern Spain, c. 718–910 The kingdom of León and the county of Castille, 910–1037 21 The Empire revived, 875–1002 Italy, 875–961 Germany: the kingdom and the duchies, 911–62 Germany, Rome and Constantinople, 962–83 The eastwards expansion of Europe Emperor and pope Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index 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. 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 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"-- Provided by publisher "This second edition includes two entirely new chapters - on Europe and the wider world, and on the Revolutionary crisis - and is extensively revised throughout. It offers a wide-ranging thematic account that explores social, cultural and economic topics, as well as giving a clear analysis of the political events."--BOOK JACKET