How did medieval Europeans use and change their environments, think about the natural world, and try to handle the natural forces affecting their lives? This groundbreaking environmental history examines medieval relationships with the natural world from the perspective of social ecology, viewing human society as a hybrid of the cultural and the natural. Richard Hoffmann's interdisciplinary approach sheds important light on such central topics in medieval history as the decline of Rome, religious doctrine, urbanization and technology, as well as key environmental themes, among them energy use, sustainability, disease and climate change. Revealing the role of natural forces in events previously seen as purely human, the book explores issues including the treatment of animals, the 'tragedy of the commons', agricultural clearances and agrarian economies. By introducing medieval history in the context of social ecology, it brings the natural world into historiography as an agent and object of history itself.

Medieval Networks in East Central Europe explores the economic, cultural, and religious forms of contact between East Central Europe and the surrounding world in the eight to the fifteenth century. The sixteen chapters are grouped into four thematic parts: the first deals with the problem of the region as a zone between major power centers; the second provides case studies on the economic and cultural implications of religious ties; the third addresses the problem of trade during the state formation process in the region, and the final part looks at the inter- and intraregional trade in the Late Middle Ages. Supported by an extensive range of images, tables, and maps, Medieval Networks in East Central Europe demonstrates and explores the huge significance and international influence that East Central Europe held during the medieval period and is essential reading for scholars and students wishing to understand the integral role that this region played within the processes of the Global Middle Ages.

Around the year 1000 Rodulfus Glaber described France as being in the throes of a building boom. He may have been the first writer to perceive the early medieval period as a Dark Age that was ending to be replaced by a better world. In the articles gathered here distinguished medieval historians discuss the ways in which this transformation took place. European society was becoming more stable, the climate was improving, and the population increasing so that it was necessary to increase food production. These circumstances in turn led to the cutting down of forests, the draining of wetlands, and the creation of pastures on higher elevations from which the glaciers had retreated. New towns were established to serve as economic and administrative centers. These developments were witness to the processes of internal colonization that helped create medieval Europe.

A follow-up publication to the Handbook of Medieval Studies, this new reference work turns to a different focus: medieval culture. Medieval research has grown tremendously in depth and breadth over the last decades. Particularly our understanding of medieval culture, of the basic living conditions, and the specific value system prevalent at that time has considerably expanded, to a point where we are in danger of no longer seeing the proverbial forest for the trees. The present, innovative handbook offers compact articles on essential topics, ideals, specific knowledge, and concepts defining the medieval world as comprehensively as possible. The topics covered in this new handbook pertain to issues such as love and marriage, belief in God, hell, and the devil, education, lordship and servitude, Christianity versus Judaism and Islam, health, medicine, the rural world, the rise of the urban class, travel, roads and bridges, entertainment, games, and sport activities, numbers, measuring, the education system, the papacy, saints, the senses, death, and money.

What did medieval authors know about their world? Were they parochial and focused on just their monastery, town, or kingdom? Or were they aware of the broader medieval Europe that modern historians write about? This collection brings the focus back to medieval authors to see how they described their world. While we see that each author certainly had their own biases, the vast majority of them did not view the world as constrained to their small piece of it. Instead, they talked about the wider world, and often they had informants or textual sources that informed them about the world, even if they did not visit it themselves. This volume shows that they also used similar ideas to create space and identity – whether talking about the desert, the holy land, or food practices in their texts. By examining medieval authors and their own perceptions of their world, this collection offers a framework for discussions of medieval Europe in the twenty-first century.

This is a full-scale study that explores every aspect of money in Europe and the Middle Ages.

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.

Filling a major gap in medieval studies, Medieval Eastern Europe is the first collection of primary sources in English translation covering the history of the whole eastern region of the European continent between 500 and 1300. Florin Curta, a leading scholar of medieval eastern Europe, gathers sources from a geographic area ranging from the Czech lands in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east, and from northern Russia to Greece. Curta begins with a discussion of why this region has been relatively ignored. His collection includes traditional narrative sources, such as chronicles and annals, as well as treaties, charters, letters, and legal texts. Each primary source is preceded by a brief introduction and followed by guiding questions. Organized chronologically into thematic chapters, the selections touch upon a wide variety of topics, including political developments; conversion to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism; economic and social issues; literature; laws; religious beliefs and practices; and much more.

The field of premodern environmental history (the study of the complex and ever-changing interrelationship between human beings and the world around them prior to the Industrial Revolution) has grown vigorously over the past two decades, in no small part due to the energy and expertise of Richard C. Hoffmann (York University, Canada). In this collection, historians of medieval and early modern Europe and social scientists with a sensitivity to the use of historical information present their current research in honor of Richard C. Hoffmann's retirement from teaching. The result is a panoramic and dynamic view of the state of the field of premodern environmental history by leading practitioners. The papers are organized under the broad themes of "Premodern People and the Natural World" and "Aquatic Ecosystems and Human Economies". Contributors are Richard W. Unger, Paolo Squatriti, William Chester Jordan, Petra J.E.M. van Dam, Verena Winiwarter, Maryanne Kowaleski, Constance H. Berman, Pierre Claude Reynard, Wim Van Neer, and Anton Ervynck.

First Published in 2002. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.