Legends have been written about it, films have been made, but what really happened during the Middle Ages? Learn about feudalism, popes, leaders, and wars in this informative book.

This is the second collection of studies by Stephen D. White to be published by Variorum (the first being Feuding and Peace-Making in Eleventh-Century France). The essays in this volume look principally at France and England from Merovingian and Anglo-Saxon times up to the 12th century. They analyze Latin and Old French discourses that medieval nobles used to construct their relationships with kin, lords, men, and friends, and investigate the political dimensions of such relationships with particular reference to patronage/clientage, the use of land as an item of exchange, and feuding. In so doing, the essays call into question the conventional practice of studying kinship and feudalism as independent systems of legal institutions and propose new strategies for studying them.

Legends have been written about it, films have been made, but what really happened during the Middle Ages? Learn about feudalism, popes, leaders, and wars in this informative book.

In Lynn Thorndike's comprehensive work, 'The History of Medieval Europe,' readers are taken on a journey through the intricate and tumultuous era of the Middle Ages. Thorndike's writing style is both informative and engaging, providing a detailed account of the political, social, and cultural developments that shaped medieval Europe. Through meticulous research and analysis, the book offers a well-rounded understanding of the historical context in which key events unfolded, from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of the Renaissance. Thorndike's insightful narrative brings to life the struggles and triumphs of the medieval world, making it a vital resource for scholars and history enthusiasts alike. As a distinguished historian and expert in medieval studies, Lynn Thorndike's passion for the subject shines through in 'The History of Medieval Europe.' His extensive academic background and rigorous scholarly approach to historical research have undoubtedly influenced the depth and accuracy of the book. Thorndike's dedication to uncovering the complexities of medieval Europe is evident in his meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to portraying the era in all its nuanced glory. I highly recommend 'The History of Medieval Europe' to anyone seeking a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the Middle Ages. Lynn Thorndike's expertise and captivating storytelling make this book an essential read for those interested in delving into the rich tapestry of medieval history.

R.C. Davis provided the classic account of the European medieval world; equipping generations of undergraduate and ‘A’ level students with sufficient grasp of the period to debate diverse historical perspectives and reputations. His book has been important grounding for both modernists required to take a course in medieval history, and those who seek to specialise in the medieval period. In updating this classic work to a third edition, the additional author now enables students to see history in action; the diverse viewpoints and important research that has been undertaken since Davis’ second edition, and progressed historical understanding. Each of Davis original chapters now concludes with a ‘new directions and developments’ section by Professor RI Moore, Emeritus of Newcastle University. A key work updated in a method that both enhances subject understanding and sets important research in its wider context. A vital resource, now up-to-date for generations of historians to come.

'With admirable clarity, Mrs Peters sums up what determines competence in spelling and the traditional and new approaches to its teaching.' -Times Literary Supplement

Theodore Evergates has assembled, translated, and annotated some two hundred documents from the country of Champagne into a sourcebook that focuses on the political, economic, and legal workings of a feudal society, uncovering the details of private life and social history that are embedded in the official records.

This volume brings together articles (including two hitherto unpublished pieces) that Susan Reynolds has written since the publication of her Fiefs and Vassals (1994). There she argued that the concepts of the fief and of vassalage, as generally understood by historians of medieval Europe, were constructed by post-medieval historians from the works of medieval academic lawyers and the writers of medieval epics and romances. Six of the essays reprinted here continue her argument that feudalism is unhelpful to understanding medieval society, while eight more discuss other aspects of medieval society, law, and politics which she argues provide a better insight into the history of western Europe in the Middle Ages. Three range outside the Middle Ages and western Europe in considering the idea of the nation, the idea of empire, and the problem of finding a consistent and comprehensible vocabulary for comparative and interdisciplinary history.

This collection is a notable example of how the cultural history of the middle ages can be written in terms that satisfy both the historian and the literary scholar. John Benton's knowledge of the personnel, structure and finance of medieval courts complemented his understanding of the literature they produced.