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Klappentext John H. Arnold, ein Wissenschaftler mit internationalem Ruf, macht das Mittelalter für Studienanfänger lebendig und erläutert anhand thematischer Schwerpunkte die akademische Herangehensweise bei der Beschäftigung mit dieser Epoche. Zusammenfassung What is Medieval History? provides an accessible! far-ranging and passionate guide to the study of medieval history. The book discusses the creation of the academic field! the nature of the sources! the intellectual tools used by medievalists! and key areas of thematic importance from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Reformation.
List of contents
List of Illustrations vii
Preface and Acknowledgements viii
1 Framing the Middle Ages 1
A Medieval Tale 1
Medievalisms and Historiographies 8
The Politics of Framing 16
2 Tracing the Middle Ages 23
Polyphony or Cacophony? 23
Editions and Archives 26
Using Documents 30
Chronicles 36
Charters 40
Images 46
Legal Records 51
3 Reading the Middle Ages 57
Anthropology 58
Numbers and Statistics 65
Archaeology and Material Culture 72
Texts and Cultural Theory 79
4 Debating the Middle Ages 86
Ritual 88
Social Structures 95
Cultural Identities 104
Power 109
5 Making and Remaking the Middle Ages 119
Notes 128
Further Reading 143
Index 148
Report
"This stimulating and nuanced book should be required reading for, at the very least, all of those taking Master and Doctoral degrees in the period and it will give those already in the field at schools and universities much to reflect upon."
BBC History Magazine
"An excellent addition to the Polity What is History? series ... Arnold introduces a huge topic in a way that will capture the attention of those who are new to medieval studies, while also engaging the interest of those who are more expert in the field."
English Historical Review
"One of the great joys of What is Medieval History? is its consistently optimistic treatment of the challenges of practising, and indeed, justifying, medieval history. If you need to be reminded why you do what you do, why you love it and why it matters, look no further."
Parergon, Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies
"A stimulating and very readable little book."
Medieval Archaeology
"As Arnold argues in this very readable little book, the subject/ period is one of vitality and movement. Like many of us, he appears optimistic about its future."
History
"A lively and thorough introduction for students embarking on the study of the period."
Year s Work in English Studies
"Acute and wide-ranging, engaging and up-to-the-minute. It will be essential reading for students of medieval history at all levels, and a stimulating challenge to their teachers, medievalist and non-medievalist alike."
Chris Wickham, University of Oxford
"Explains what every would-be medievalist needs to know and is seldom told. With matter-of-fact prose and a bundle of good stories, John Arnold gently walks his readers through the basics of the field--development, sources, methods, debates, and relevance. For both students and their teachers, every page of this book will enlighten, inform, and amuse."
Judith Bennett, University of Southern California
"Strong on content and structure, and both original and challenging, while remaining accessible to its readership. The main points, about concepts and debates, are all very well illustrated."
Dame Janet Nelson, King s College London
