The Medieval World (Routledge Worlds)
To help reconstruct the medieval period for the contemporary reader, Linehan (History and the Historians of Medieval Spain) and Nelson (The Frankish World, 750-900) have enlisted contributions from 38 scholars, who come from Europe and Japan as well as the United States. Underrepresented, according to the editors themselves, are economic and German history, the latter owing to the lack of German historians among the contributors. The contributions are grouped thematically into four sections. The first section examines the coexistence of various identities as it tracks the differences and interactions between Orthodox East and Catholic West and among Christians, Muslims, Jews, and pagans. The second section's theme is the symbolic universe that existed for these peoples the beliefs and societal values, the role of ritual, and the relations between the sexes. The third part looks at power relationships and the organizational structure that generated power, while the fourth considers the roles played by distinct groups, both elite and nonelite. These range from an examination of an English parish and its clergy to the role of Roman lawyers in easing the transition from a pre-Christian to a Christian world. This compilation of essays will be of interest to both scholars and students of the Middle Ages and is recommended for academic libraries. Robert J. Andrews, Duluth P.L., MNCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.