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Golden Middle Ages in Europe: New Research Into Early-Medieval Communities and Identities by
dustyduck's review against another edition
4.0
This book is an admirable effort and reconciling breadth and depth- something very tricky with a period as broad as this. Beginning with a few identities: geographical, Roman continuity, Latin Christendom, McKitterick and four other specialists use few broad lenses to give an impression of Europe. This is done through some very uncontroversial angles: Politics, Society, Economics, Religion, Culture, and interaction with the wider world. In the space of about 30 pages per chapter, there's a good mix of examples from the 6 centuries this book encompasses, as well as fair attempts by the author to give some caveats and exceptions.
To me, some chapters are better than others: Politics and Economics are quite well-written, but other portions (e.g culture) tend to cover more narrow areas, in my opinion. It's both a limitation of the source material, but there's not much explanation in these weaker chapters as to why the author has focused on such areas.
In any case, a good overview and introductory text. This is my first foray into medieval history for my upcoming undergraduate studies, and I'm intending to do so chronologically. This has given me a good starting point to research more into areas that interest me, and Oxford University Press once again delivers with a well-researched primer.
To me, some chapters are better than others: Politics and Economics are quite well-written, but other portions (e.g culture) tend to cover more narrow areas, in my opinion. It's both a limitation of the source material, but there's not much explanation in these weaker chapters as to why the author has focused on such areas.
In any case, a good overview and introductory text. This is my first foray into medieval history for my upcoming undergraduate studies, and I'm intending to do so chronologically. This has given me a good starting point to research more into areas that interest me, and Oxford University Press once again delivers with a well-researched primer.
pedropagliero's review against another edition
4.0
En una obra poblada por medievalistas del peso de Wickham, McKitterick y Wood, es interesante destacar cómo, a pesar de lo limitado de la consigna editorial (alrededor de 100.000 palabras), los seis autores se entregaron al esfuerzo de construir una narrativa coherente y acorde a las expectativas.
Parafraseando lo dicho por McKitterick en la introducción, los autores han destacado los elementos más importantes dentro del período, procurando hacer generalizaciones lo suficientemente válidas con relación a las pruebas documentales que se han conservado y sobre las que, en mayor o en menor medida, están de acuerdo. Al no poder ofrecer un panorama homogéneo de este período crucial para la historia de Europa, han pretendido al menos ofrecer uno coherente.
El resultado es más que satisfactorio. Este es un título que cumple su objetivo de ofrecer una mirada general de un periodo que puede extenderse en alrededor de 600 años, tarea que no es nada sencilla.
Parafraseando lo dicho por McKitterick en la introducción, los autores han destacado los elementos más importantes dentro del período, procurando hacer generalizaciones lo suficientemente válidas con relación a las pruebas documentales que se han conservado y sobre las que, en mayor o en menor medida, están de acuerdo. Al no poder ofrecer un panorama homogéneo de este período crucial para la historia de Europa, han pretendido al menos ofrecer uno coherente.
El resultado es más que satisfactorio. Este es un título que cumple su objetivo de ofrecer una mirada general de un periodo que puede extenderse en alrededor de 600 años, tarea que no es nada sencilla.
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