Law and Authority in the Early Middle Ages
Thomas C. Faulkner
The barbarian law codes, compiled between the sixth and eighth centuries, were copied remarkably frequently in Carolingian ninth century. They provide crucial evidence for early medieval society, including settlement of disputes, nature political authority, literacy, construction ethnic identities. Yet it has proved extremely difficult to establish why codes century, how they read, their rich should be used. Thomas Faulkner tackles these questions more systematically than ever before, proposing new understandings relationship making royal power, reading maintenance suggests major reinterpretations central texts, capitularies adding laws, revisions earlier Roman laws. He also provides detailed analysis legal manuscripts, especially those associated with leges-scriptorium.