Product Description

'Probably the best "buy" among recent works for one who comes to medieval history for the first time.'

History (about the second edition)

Consisting of two parts, this book successfully conveys the importance of the distant past in understanding our modern world. The first part; The Dark Ages, examines the impact of the Barbarian invasions on Constantine's Christianized empire, and the gradual emergence, by the end of the ninth century, of a new social, economic and political order. There are important chapters on the on the Church and the Papacy, the coming of Islam, and the rise and fall of the Frankish Empire.

The second part; The High Middle Ages, takes the reader from the Saxon Empire through to an examination of the European economy in the mid-thirteenth century. Important topics covered in this period include the spread of monasticism, the reform of the Papacy, the crusades, and feudal monarchy.

This has been the best introductory book in medieval history for fifty years, and still is.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36505 in Books
• Published on: 2005-12-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

From the Back Cover

R. H. C. Davis was one of the finest historians of his generation, and his A History of Medieval Europe: From Constantine to Saint Louis has been recognized for fifty years as the clearest, most authoritative and most approachable introduction to medieval history.

Davis’s exploration of the Dark Ages examines the impact of the Barbarian invasions on Constantine’s Christianized empire, and the gradual emergence of a new social, economic and political order. He discusses the Church and the Papacy, the coming of Islam, and the rise and fall of the Frankish Empire. In his consideration of the High Middle Ages, Davis takes the reader from the Saxon Empire through to an examination of the European economy in the mid-thirteenth century, addressing the spread of monasticism, the papal reform, the crusades, and feudal monarchy.

The third edition, revised by R. I. Moore, leaves the text unaltered, but reflects the considerable growth in our knowledge of the period. New features include:

·         A new Preface, outlining Davis's view of the importance and relevance of medieval history

·         Postscripts to each part, introducing the most important new interpretations of the period to have emerged since the book was written, and showing how Davis's views relate to them

·         New maps and illustrations

·         Updated reading lists

Combining a strong narrative history of the period with an introduction to diverse historical perspectives, this book is essential reading for all students of medieval history.

The late R. H. C. Davis was Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the Universityof Birmingham. He was also Emeritus Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, the Royal Historical Society, and the BritishAcademy. As one of the leading medievalists of his generation, his research made fundamental contributions to many aspects of English history.

R. I. Moore is Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the Universityof Newcastle upon Tyneand Corresponding Fellow of the Medieval Academy of America. He was a pupil and friend of R. H. C. Davis. He is co-editor (with H. Mayr-Harting) of Studies in Medieval History presented to R. H. C. Davis (1985), and author of The First European Revolution (2001).

About the Author
The late R H C Davis was Professor of Medieval History at the Universityof Birmingham, from 1970 to 1984, and Emeritus Professor until his death in 1991. He was also Emeritus Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a Fellow of the BritishAcademy. He wrote many successful and scholarly works, and in 1985 was honoured by the publication, ‘Studies in Medieval History presented to R H C Davis’, edited by Henry Mayr-Harting and R I Moore, and published by Hambledon Press.

Customer Reviews

An almost accidental purchase - but a treasure
If you've ever wondered how we got the Europe that we have then this book will go a long way to help you understand.

Anyone that has marvelled at the richness of Roman society is left wondering: "so where did it go so wrong?". This book provides the answers and gives some quiet insights to the world of today.

The book is no dry academic text either. The author is clearly enthused by his topic and he is constantly introducing anecdotes to keep the reader interested and, often, amused.

A great book.

Clear, readable, accurate and enjoyable
If you're looking for a clear and readable book on medieval Europe, I would highly recommend this book.

Davis approaches the subject not though the dull listing of facts and dates without end that renders so many texts unreadable. Instead by outlining the motivations and characters of the key players and in following the trail of events stemming from their actions, he gives the subject life. His style of writing and the fact that the material was originally presented as lectures lend itself well to a highly readable and easily followed narrative.

Overall a clear, enjoyable and accurate overview of medieval history, I would happy recommend to any friend.

Outstanding introduction to the period
This is a truly outstanding introduction to the early and high middle ages. I was a little hesitant at buying it due to the fact that it was first published in 1957, thinking it might be a bit dated. But I was delightfully surprised to find the author's excellent writing style both immensely readable and very informative. He manages to find the balance perfectly between depth and understandability, including enough pertinent detail to give the reader a good grip on the major themes of each chapter without letting the details hold back the flow of the book. Very impressive.