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This is the long-awaited second volume of
one of the finest general introductions to the medieval
world of recent times, first published in French by Armand
Colin. Extensively illustrated, with many accompanying maps,
each volume presents a synthesis of scholarly research and
interpretation, carefully checked, translated, and revised
for an English-speaking readership.
Volume II begins at the turn of the millennium
and covers the extraordinary rebirth of Europe, in terms
of demographic expansion, agrarian settlement and organisation,
the establishment of towns and villages, the ascendancy
of the feudal system, the appearance of formal states and
kingdoms, and the dramatic controlling ascendancy of the
western Church. In the East, despite the external appearances
of grandeur, the Islamic countries were being torn apart
by mutual rivalry, while the Byzantine Empire lost massive
border territories through political and economic incompetence.
As in Volumes I (350-950) and III (1250-1520) full coverage
is given to both East and West, and their artistic heritage
is displayed lavishly in many of the colour plates. A well-researched
select bibliography is also included as an aid to further
investigation, whether by general readers or by students
of the period.
The editor and principal contributor,
Robert Fossier, is Professor of Medieval History at the
Universite de Paris I.
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