Description
Since its first publication in 2007, John H. Arnold’s What is Medieval History? has established itself as the leading introduction to the craft of the medieval historian.
What is it that medieval historians do? How – and why – do they do it? Arnold discusses the creation of medieval history as a field, the nature of its sources, the intellectual tools used by medievalists, and some key areas of thematic importance from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Reformation. The fascinating case studies include a magical plot against a medieval pope, a fourteenth-century insurrection, and the importance of a kiss exchanged between two tenth-century noblemen. Throughout the book, readers are shown not only what medieval history is, but the cultural and political contexts in which it has been written.
This anticipated second edition includes further exploration of the interdisciplinary techniques that can aid medieval historians, such as dialogue with scientists and archaeologists, and addresses some of the challenges – both medieval and modern – of the idea of a ‘global middle ages’.
What is Medieval History? continues to demonstrate why the pursuit of medieval history is important not only to the present, but to the future. It is an invaluable guide for students, teachers, researchers and interested general readers.
Table of Contents
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface and Acknowledgements
1 Framing the Middle Ages
A Medieval Tale
Medievalisms and Historiographies
The Politics of Framing
Notes
2 Tracing the Middle Ages
Polyphony or Cacophony?
Editions and Archives
Using Documents
Chronicles
Charters
Images
Legal Records
Notes
3 Reading the Middle Ages
Anthropology
Numbers and Statistics
Archaeology, Science and Material Culture
Texts and Cultural Theory
Notes
4 Debating the Middle Ages
Ritual
Social Structures
Globalisms
Cultural Identities
Power
Notes
5 Making and Remaking the Middle Ages
Notes
Further Reading
Index
