Early Medieval Europe 300-1000 (Palgrave History of Europe S)

This second edition of Roger Collins' classic textbook history of early medieval Europe is fully updated and revised to take account of the latest scholarship. Collins provides a synoptic, yet detailed, account of the centuries during which Europe changed from being an abstract geographical expression into a new, culturally coherent, if politically divided, entity. He examines how the social, economic and cultural structures of Antiquity were replaced by their medieval equivalents and also seeks to define the European context, by looking at those external forces, such as the nomadic confederacies of Central Asia and the Islamic empire of the Arabs, which helped to shape it through conflict. Front Matter....Pages i-xxvi Problem-solving emperors....Pages 1-15 The age of Constantine....Pages 16-30 Frontier wars and civil wars, 350–395....Pages 31-46 The battle of Adrianople and the sack of Rome....Pages 47-60 A divided city: the Christian Church, 300–460....Pages 61-79 The disappearance of an army....Pages 80-99 The new kingdoms....Pages 100-115 The twilight of the West, 518–568?....Pages 116-134 Constantinople, Persia and the Arabs....Pages 135-152 Decadent and do-nothing kings....Pages 153-172 The re-creating of Britain....Pages 173-195 The Lombard achievement, c. 540–712....Pages 196-217 The sundering of East and West....Pages 218-233 Monks and missionaries....Pages 234-261 Towards a new western Empire, 714–800....Pages 262-290 The new Constantine....Pages 291-308 Frontier societies: Christian Spain, 711–1037....Pages 309-332 ‘The dissension of kings’....Pages 333-363 ‘The desolation of the pagans’....Pages 364-389 The Ottonian Age....Pages 390-422 Back Matter....Pages 423-533 Problem-solving Emperors -- The Age Of Constantine -- Frontier Wars And Civil Wars, 350-395 -- The Battle Of Adrianople And The Sack Of Rome -- A Divided City: The Christian Church, 300-460 -- The Disappearance Of An Army -- The New Kingdoms -- The Twilight Of The West, 518-568 -- Constantinople, Persia And The Arabs -- Decadent And Do-nothing Kings -- The Re-creating Of Britain -- The Lombard Achievement, C. 540-712 -- The Sundering Of East And West -- Monks And Missionaries -- Towards A New Western Empire, 714-800 -- The New Constantine -- Frontier Societies: Christian Spain, 711-1037 -- 'the Dissension Of Kings' -- 'the Desolation Of The Pagans' -- The Ottonian Age. Roger Collins. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 501-513) And Index. "This new edition of Roger Collins's classic textbook history of early medieval Europe is fully updated and revised to take account of the latest scholarship. The author provides a synoptic, yet detailed, account of the centuries during which Europe changed from being an abstract geographical expression into a new, culturally coherent, if politically divided, entity. It examines how the social, economic and cultural structures of Antiquity were replaced by their medieval equivalents, and it also seeks to define the European context by looking at those external forces - such as the nomadic confederacies of Central Asia and the Islamic empire of the Arabs - which helped to shape it through conflict."--Jacket In this text the author provides an account of the centuries during which Europe changed from being an abstract geographical expression into a new, culturally coherent, if politically divided, entity. It examines how the social, economic and cultural structures of Antiquity were replaced by their medieval equivalents and also seeks to define the European context, by looking at those external forces, such as the nomadic confederacies of Central Asia and the Islamic empire of the Arabs, which helped to shape it through conflict This book offers a fascinating account of Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire -- through to the end of the tenth century. In its wide ranging coverage of the period it takes into account social, economic and political changes as well as the important cultural changes, including the rites of Islam and the recreation of a western empire under the Cardingians. This book offers a fascinating account of Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire through to the end of the tenth century. In its wide-ranging coverage of the period, it takes into account social, economic and political changes as well as the important cultural changes, including the rise of Islam and the recreation of a western empire under the Cardingians.