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  1. Home
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  3. The New Cambridge Medieval History
  • Cited by 11
  • Volume 1: c.500-c.700
  • Edited by Paul Fouracre, University of Manchester
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
March 2008
Print publication year:
2005
Online ISBN:
9781139053938
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521362917
Subjects:
Area Studies, European History 1000-1450, British History: General Interest, European History: General Interest, History, European Studies, European History 450-1000
Collection:
Cambridge Histories - British & European History
Series:
The New Cambridge Medieval History (1)
Information

Book description

The first volume of The New Cambridge Medieval History covers the transitional period between the later Roman world and the early middle ages, c.500 to c.700. This was an era of developing consciousness and profound change in Europe, Byzantium and the Arab world, an era in which the foundations of medieval society were laid and to which many of our modern myths of national and religious identity can be traced. This book offers a comprehensive regional survey of the sixth and seventh centuries, from Ireland in the west to the rise of Islam in the Middle East, and from Scandinavia in the north to the Mediterranean south. It explores the key themes pinning together the history of this period, from kingship, trade and the church, to art, architecture and education. It represents both an invaluable conspectus of current scholarship and an expert introduction to the period.

Reviews

'The New Cambridge Medieval History is complete. … Paul Fouracre has provided a worthy addition to this prestigious series. … the volume includes excellent surveys of Scandinavian history by Lotte Hedeager, Slavic history by Zbigniew Kobylinski and numerous essays on the British Isles. … coverage of early medieval European history is thorough and balanced. … especial praise must be given to the excellent summary of 'The barbarian invasions' by Guy Halsall - sure to become indispensable to a new generation of undergraduates - to Simon Loseby's stimulating account of 'The Mediterranean economy' and, perhaps most strikingly, to Michael Toch's discussion of 'The Jews in Europe, 500–1050', which takes the reader beyond the chronological confines of the volume as a whole, but with richly rewarding results. … the contributions are all fluidly written, stimulating and a pleasure to read. The comprehensive index and useful thematic bibliographies further ensure that this volume will be an essential reference tool for years to come.'

Source: Journal of Ecclesiastical History

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Contents

Page 2 of 2

Contents
  • 26 - Christianisation and the dissemination of Christian teaching
    pp 710-734
  • View abstract

    Summary

    By the early fifth century Western Roman Empire was theoretically Christian. There were still pagan intellectuals among the upper classes, especially among the lower classes of the countryside, but also among those who lived in the cities, including Rome itself, who continued to perform rituals which were condemned as idolatrous by the church. Nor are the Burgundians and the Franks the only peoples for whom Christianisation entailed hesitation between Arianism and Catholicism. Politics would play a major role in the ensuing Christianisation of the English, with powerful rulers putting pressure on their weaker neighbours, sponsoring them in baptism, and supporting missions to their kingdoms. The chief example of the use of force in evangelisation during the early Middle Ages is the Christianisation of the Saxons, which came to be intimately related to their conquest during the reign of Charlemagne.
  • 27 - Education and learning
    pp 735-759
  • View abstract

    Summary

    During the sixth and seventh centuries, the political break-up affected the economic and social structures of the Roman world only partially, and even of its education and culture. Whilst amongst the Roman nobility of the towns and the provinces family education was retaining its ancient place, the bishoprics and the monasteries were gradually taking over the public schools of the late Empire. All cultural activity, writing or reading, heard or read exegesis, the spiritual discourse of the confabulatio, right up to the conceptual systematisation of a theological discussion on God, is integrated into a specifically religious activity. The ideal of clerical life and of clerical training, and the practice of a language intelligently appropriate to the new conditions of the exercise of preaching, were to exert a lasting influence on the culture of the clergy, and on the oral teaching dispensed to Christian people by sermons and by the private reading of the Bible.
  • 28A - Art and architecture of western Europe
    pp 760-775
  • View abstract

    Summary

    The emergence of Germanic, and the development of Celtic kingdoms introduced or gave greater prominence to non-Roman artistic traditions, especially in metalwork and subsequently in manuscript illumination. The most influential piece of Roman architecture to be erected in medieval period was, not a complete church, the new annular crypt created by Gregory the Great, built, like the shrines of Laurence and Agnes, to cope with the crowds of pilgrims: in this case for those visiting the chief shrine of Rome, that of St Peter. The identified remains of architectural sculpture are perhaps more extensive in England than in Spain or France. What Italy lacks in terms of architectural stone sculpture from the period, it makes up for in terms of its mosaic decoration. Running parallel to this history of mosaic is a history of fresco painting, though here the evidence comes largely from a single Roman site, S. Maria Antiqua.
  • 28B - Art and architecture: the East
    pp 776-784
  • View abstract

    Summary

    The people we call Byzantines called themselves as Romans, and the art and architecture of Byzantium between c.500 and c.700 developed from traditions established under the Roman Empire, with regional variations. In Constantinople alone, four major churches stand at least in part. Churches in the Holy Land were also rebuilt in this period. The role of holy portraits (icons) in Orthodox theology developed over the course of the sixth and seventh centuries. Over thirty icons, mostly preserved at the monastery on Mount Sinai, have been attributed to the sixth or seventh century. Little silver coinage was minted between 395 and 615, leaving the silver supply available for plate. A high proportion of preserved Byzantine silver dates from the fourth to the seventh century. Greek religious manuscripts with figural imagery are limited to the fragmentary Cotton Genesis, the Vienna Genesis, with large purple-stained pages each containing a condensed version of Genesis written in gold and silver script, and two Gospel-books.

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