Why the Middle Ages matter
Subtitle: medieval light on modern injustice
By: edited by Celia Chazelle ... [et al.].
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2012
Place of publication: London; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 208
ISBN-13: 9780415780643; 9780415780650; 9780203803868
Subjects: Social justice; History; Social problems; Social history
Description: "The word "medieval" is often used in a negative way when talking about contemporary issues; Why the Middle Ages Matter refreshes our thinking about this historical era, and our own, by looking at some pressing concerns from today's world, asking how these issues were really handled in the medieval period, and showing why the past matters now. The contributors here cover topics such as torture, animal rights, marriage, sexuality, imprisonment, refugees, poverty and end of life care. They shed light on relations between Christians and Muslims and on political leadership. This collection challenges many negative stereotypes of medieval people, revealing a world from which, for instance, much could be learned about looking after the spiritual needs of the dying, and about integrating prisoners into the wider community with the emphasis on reconciliation between victim and criminal. It represents a new level of engagement with issues of social justice by medievalists and provides a highly engaging way into studying the middle ages for students"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.