Table Of Content

Cover page Page: i Halftitle page Page: i Series page Page: ii Title page Page: viii Copyright page Page: x Contents Page: xi Acknowledgements Page: xii List of illustrations Page: xiv List of maps Page: xvi Introduction Page: 1 Chapter 1: The ‘Middle’ Ages? Page: 4 The ‘Middle’ Ages: what’s in a name? Page: 4 Medievalism Page: 6 Rome and its afterlife Page: 9 Even further north Page: 20 Europe c.1000 Page: 23 Chapter 2: People and their life-styles Page: 29 Free, unfree, or only partly free Page: 30 Being a man and being a woman Page: 32 Family and marriage Page: 33 Households Page: 38 Rural settlements Page: 43 Cities Page: 49 Association, guilds, and ‘republics’ Page: 54 Chapter 3 The big idea:Christian salvation Page: 59 Christian salvation Page: 60 Monastic ideas and practices Page: 64 The Church in search of liberty Page: 71 Parish Christianity Page: 75 Beyond the parish Page: 80 Chapter 4: Kingship, lordship, and government Page: 88 Sacred kingship Page: 88 Lordship Page: 92 Chapter 5: Exchange, environments, and resources Page: 99 Arable and pasture Page: 100 Woodland Page: 104 Water and waterways Page: 107 Chapter 6: The ‘Middle Ages’ of ‘others’ Page: 110 Chapter 7: The ‘Middle Ages’ in our daily lives Page: 116 Universities Page: 116 Printed books Page: 121 Song Page: 123 References Page: 126 Chapter 2: People and their life-styles Page: 127 Chapter 3: The big idea: Christian salvation Page: 128 Chapter 4: Kingship, lordship, and government Page: 129 Chapter 5: Exchange, environments, and resources Page: 129 Chapter 6: The ‘Middle Ages’ of ‘others’ Page: 129 Chapter 7: The ‘Middle Ages’ in our daily lives Page: 129 Further reading Page: 130 Index Page: 133 Very Short Introductions Page: 140

Description:

The Middle Ages is a term coined around 1450 to describe a thousand years of European History. In this Very Short Introduction, Miri Rubin provides an exploration of the variety, change, dynamism, and sheer complexity that the period covers. From the provinces of the Roman Empire, which became Barbarian kingdoms after c.450-650, to the northern and eastern regions that became increasingly integrated into Europe, Rubin explores the emergence of a truly global system of communication, conquest, and trade by the end of the era. Presenting an insight into the challenges of life in Europe between 500-1500 — at all levels of society — Rubin looks at kingship and family, agriculture and trade, groups and individuals. Conveying the variety of European experiences, while providing a sense of the communication, cooperation, and shared values of the pervasive Christian culture, Rubin looks at the legacies they left behind. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.