The Carolingians and the Written Word
Rosamond McKitterick
This pioneering book studies the function and status of written word in Carolingian society France Germany eighth- ninth-centuries. It demonstrates that literacy was by no means confined to a clerical élite, but dispersed lay used for government administration, ordinary legal transactions among peoples Frankish kingdom. While exploiting huge range primary material, Professor McKitterick does not confine herself functional analysis northern Europe goes on assess consequences implications Franks themselves subsequent development European after 1000. Key topics discussed include law use word, conduct record transactions, economic social society, methods evolved organize define knowledge, whole question literacy.