Companion to the Medieval World, A

The Middle Ages is frequently recorded by historians as a static era. Yet, in truth, the medieval period had a significant impact on cultural forms and institutions central to European identity. The rise of Europe from an obscure backwater to cultural and colonial expansion on the world stage found [...]
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The Middle Ages is frequently recorded by historians as a static era. Yet, in truth, the medieval period had a significant impact on cultural forms and institutions central to European identity. The rise of Europe from an obscure backwater to cultural and colonial expansion on the world stage found its origins in the Middle Ages. Drawing on the expertise of 30 distinguished scholars, this important volume covers the major issues in the study of medieval Europe and highlights fruitful insights into the era which have developed through research in history, archaeology, anthropology, sociology, and literary studies. It addresses key themes such as identity and the self; sexuality and gender; and emotionality and ethnicity. More traditional topics are also explored, including economic and demographic expansion, kingship, and the rise of the West. The book's geographical focus ranges from the heartlands of western and northern Europe, to the frontier societies of the east. By analyzing Europe's understanding of the wider world, the Companion brings a more global context to medieval societies in the sixth through the fourteenth centuries.