What is Medieval History?

by Arnold, John H.

• ISBN13: 9780745639321
• ISBN10: 0745639321
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-02-26
• Publisher: Polity

Summary

What is it that medieval historians do? And how - and why - do they do it? What is Medieval History? provides an accessible, far-ranging and passionate guide to the study of medieval history. The book discusses the creation of the academic field, the nature of the sources, the intellectual tools used by medievalists, and some key areas of thematic importance from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Reformation. Students, teachers, researchers and interested general readers will find the book an invaluable guide. The author explores his field through numerous fascinating case studies, including a magical plot against a medieval pope, a fourteenth-century insurrection, and the importance of a kiss exchanged between two tenth-century noblemen. Throughout the book, readers are shown not only what medieval history is, but the cultural and political contexts in which medieval history has been written. And, above all, What is Medieval History? demonstrates why the pursuit of medieval history continues to be important to the present and future world.

Author Biography

John H. Arnold is Professor of Medieval History at Birkbeck College, University of London.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. vii
Preface and Acknowledgements	p. viii
Framing the Middle Ages	p. 1
A Medieval Tale	p. 1
Medievalisms and Historiographies	p. 8
The Politics of Framing	p. 16
Tracing the Middle Ages	p. 23
Polyphony or Cacophony?	p. 23
Editions and Archives	p. 26
Using Documents	p. 30
Chronicles	p. 36
Charters	p. 40
Images	p. 46
Legal Records	p. 51
Reading the Middle Ages	p. 57
Anthropology	p. 58
Numbers and Statistics	p. 65
Archaeology and Material Culture	p. 72
Texts and Cultural Theory	p. 79
Debating the Middle Ages	p. 86
Ritual	p. 88
Social Structures	p. 95
Cultural Identities	p. 104
Power	p. 109
Making and Remaking the Middle Ages	p. 119
Notes	p. 128
Further Reading	p. 143
Index	p. 148
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.