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Zusatztext “Judiciously avoids scholarly arcana and long-winded digressions into source-criticism and historiographical debates. . . . and effectively communicates to a wider audience the essentials of these debates! both within the text and in the discursive bibliography! with elegance! wit! and attitude.” Informationen zum Autor Alessandro Barbero is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Piemonte Orientale! Italy. In addition to writing about medieval society and culture! he is the author of the historical novel Bella vita e guerre altrui di Mr. Pyle! gentiluomo! which won the Strega Prize in 1996. Over a period of twelve years! Allan Cameron has translated some twenty books on history! philosophy! and other academic disciplines! including works by leading Italian philosopher Norberto Bobbio and President of the European Commission Romano Prodi. Klappentext "Barbero's lively and entertaining study provides a superb overview of the latest scholarship on the Carolingian age and constructs a compelling argument for Charlemagne's pivotal role as the father of Europe. We gain a sense of the look and feel of peasant villages, the dynamic interplay of monastic economies and long-distance trade, and the manipulation of justice by local notables. This is histoire totale at its best."—Sharon Farmer, author of Surviving Poverty in Medieval Paris "This up-to-date account focuses on the man and his times while clearly and judiciously dealing with key historio-graphical issues. Barbero explores and explodes the myths that have grown up around the emperor."—Barbara H. Rosenwein, Loyola University Zusammenfassung The most important study of Charlemagne in a generation! this biography by distinguished medievalist Alessandro Barbero illuminates both the man and the world in which he lived. Charles the Great-Charlemagne-reigned from a.d. 768 to a.d. 814. At the time if his death! his empire stretched across Europe to include Bavaria! Saxony! parts of Spain! and Italy. With a remarkable grasp of detail and a sweeping knowledge of Carolingian institutions and economy! Barbero not only brings Charlemagne to life with accounts of his physical appearance! tastes and habits! family life! and ideas and actions but also conveys what it meant to be king of the Franks and! later! emperor. He recounts how Charlemagne ruled his empire! kept justice! and waged wars. He vividly describes the nature of everyday life at that time! how the economy functioned! and how Christians perceived their religion. Barbero's absorbing analysis of how concepts of slavery and freedom were subtly altered as feudal relations began to grow underscores the dramatic changes that the emperor's wars brought to the political landscape. Engaging and informed by deep scholarship! this latest account provides a new and richer context for considering one of history's most fascinating personalities. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction: Paderborn! Summer of 799 1. The Frankish Tradition 2. The War against the Lombards 3. Wars against the Pagans 4. The Rebirth of Empire 5. Charlemagne and Europe 6. The Man and His Family 7. Government of the Empire: The Institutions 8. Government of the Empire: The Resources 9. Government of the Empire: The Justice System 10. An Intellectual Project 11. The Frankish Military Machine 12. A New Economy 13. Patronage and Servitude 14. Old Age and Death Notes Bibliography Index ...
