Contesting The Middle Ages: Debates That Are Changing Our Narrative Of Medieval History

Description

Contesting the Middle Ages is a thorough exploration of recent arguments surrounding nine hotly debated topics: the decline and fall of Rome, the Viking invasions, the Crusades, the persecution of minorities, sexuality in the Middle Ages, women within medieval society, intellectual and environmental history, the Black Death, and, lastly, the waning of the Middle Ages. The historiography of the Middle Ages, a term in itself controversial amongst medieval historians, has been continuously debated and rewritten for centuries. In each chapter, John Aberth sets out key historiographical debates in an engaging and informative way, encouraging students to consider the process of writing about history and prompting them to ask questions even of already thoroughly debated subjects, such as why the Roman Empire fell, or what significance the Black Death had both in the late Middle Ages and beyond. Sparking discussion and inspiring examination of the past and its ongoing significance in modern life, Contesting the Middle Ages is essential reading for students of medieval history and historiography. Cover......Page 1 Half Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 CONTENTS......Page 6 List of figures......Page 8 List of maps......Page 10 Foreword......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 1 If a German migrates into your empire, do not be alarmed: The decline and fall of Rome......Page 20 2 From the obscurantism of the Northmen, O Lord, deliver us!: The Viking invasions......Page 54 3 God wills it! (or at least the Pope does): The crusades......Page 72 4 I’m a Jewish, heretic, leper, but don’t hold that against me: Persecution of minorities......Page 120 5 No sex please, we’re medieval: Sexuality in the Middle Ages......Page 160 6 Hail Mary and Eve: Women in medieval society......Page 198 7 The man who tore his eyes out over unity of form: Intellectual and environmental history......Page 244 8 Ashes to ashes, we all fall down: The Black Death......Page 262 9 Always look on the bright side of death: A waning of the Middle Ages?......Page 336 Conclusion......Page 354 Index......Page 356