Empire and Order: The Concept of Empire, 800–1800 (Studies in Modern History)

Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. Empire is one of the most evocative, yet least examined, words in the political vocabulary. To the ancients it meant the Persian realm, or universal Roman rule, or the series of great powers marking the stages of God's plan for mankind. To medieval men, empire meant a universal Christian empire or rule over several kingdoms. Subsequently, European overseas conquests were labelled empires. In addition to being a territorial concept, empire also had a moral connotation. Critics often identified it with moral decay, while nineteenth-century imperialists saw expansion as creating virtuous empires that would elevate subjugated peoples. Historians of political thought often relegate the concept of empire to the pre-modern world while identifying the state as the characteristic political form of the modern world. This book examines the wide range of meanings attributed to the concept of empire in the medieval and early modern world, demonstrating that the concepts of empire and state developed in parallel, not sequentially Empire Is An Evocative, Yet Little Examined, Word. It Can Mean The Domination Of Vast Territories, A Christian World Order, A Corrupt Form Of Government, Or A Humanitarian Endeavour. Historians Relegate The Concept Of Empire To The Pre-modern World, Identifying The State As The Characteristic Political Form Of The Modern World. This Book Examines The Range Of Meanings Attributed To The Concept Of Empire In The Medieval And Early Modern World, Demonstrating How The Concepts Of Empire And State Developed In Parallel, Not Sequentially.-- 1. From The Carolingian Empire To The Holy Roman Empire Of The German Nation -- 2. Other Medieval Empires -- 3. The Papal Conception Of Empire -- 4. The Emperor As Dominus Mundi -- 5. Empires -- Metaphysical And Moral -- 6. The Golden Age Of Empire -- Conclusion: Empire And State. James Muldoon. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 186-199) And Index. "Empire is an evocative, yet little examined, word. It can mean the domination of vast territories, a Christian world order, a corrupt form of government, or a humanitarian endeavour. Historians relegate the concept of empire to the pre-modern world, identifying the state as the characteristic political form of the modern world. This book examines the range of meanings attributed to the concept of empire in the medieval and early modern world, demonstrating how the concepts of empire and state developed in parallel, not sequentially."-- Publisher's website Annotation Empire is an evocative, yet little examined, word. It can mean the domination of vast territories, a Christian world order, a corrupt form of government, or a humanitarian endeavour. Historians relegate the concept of empire to the pre-modern world, identifying the state as the characteristic political form of the modern world. This book examines the range of meanings attributed to the concept of empire in the medieval and early modern world, demonstrating how the concepts of empire and state developed in parallel, not sequentially Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction....Pages 1-20 From the Carolingian Empire to the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation....Pages 21-45 Other Medieval Empires....Pages 46-63 The Papal Conception of Empire....Pages 64-86 The Emperor as Dominus Mundi....Pages 87-100 Empires — Metaphysical and Moral....Pages 101-113 The Golden Age of Empire....Pages 114-138 Conclusion: Empire and State....Pages 139-149 Back Matter....Pages 150-209 Cover 1 Contents 6 Preface 7 Introduction 10 1 From the Carolingian Empire to the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation 30 2 Other Medieval Empires 55 3 The Papal Conception of Empire 73 4 The Emperor as Dominus Mundi 96 5 Empires – Metaphysical and Moral 110 6 The Golden Age of Empire 123 Conclusion: Empire and State 148 Notes 159 Bibliography 195 Index 209 "Empire is one of the most evocative, yet least examined, words in the political vocabulary. This book examines the wide range of meanings attributed to the concept of empire in the medieval and early modern world, demonstrating that the concepts of empire and state developed in parallel, not sequentially."--Jacket