<i>Money and its use in medieval Europe</i> (review)
John H. Pryor
180 Reviews evident and there is little scope here for adding theory to stylistic insights. The most interesting point has potentially do with gender, but arrives by way of Bernstein so bound up class that its impact somewhat obscured. Overall, the eclecticism Spearing's book raises a major methodological issue. H o w are medievalists behave if we wish keep without adopting theoretical position our own? There narrow line between good will dilettantism. Spearing treads it relative success. What matters here, however, less specific applications than his resolve discuss Chaucer Langland, dliterative poetry early romances, in same opens traditional skills current concerns. Some readers feel he goes too far, others nowhere near far enough. But lot endangered liberal everywhere. If Criticism Medieval Poetry was definitive 1960s, given us sequel late 1980s: confident, unified, more open. David Lawton Department English University Sydney Spufford, P., Money use medieval Europe, Cambridge, C.U.P., 1988; pp. xiv, 467; 35 maps, 9 tables, 4 graphs; R.R.P. A U S $ 180.00. This very important which brings together work numismatists economic historians. In past, historians have made vice versa never been an attempt recount history money place evolution European economy. For this reason, Spufford's remain standard reference many years lo come. Its price prohibitive be necessary addition shelves students economy certainly required acquisition libraries. some respects story Spufford relates familiar one: gradual disappearance gold, silver, bronze coinages West end sixth century; revivd silver coinage under Carolingians linked exploitation mines at Melle, Poitiers; huge payments Danegeld denuding Western Europe coin; enormous expansion minting accompanying from eleventh thirteenth centuries, tied distant Tashkent Goslar tenth Freiburg Friesach twelfth century, Jihlava, Brskovo Kutna Hora thirteenth; gold Kremnica Senegal, Bosnia Serbia alleviating problems insufficiency Late Middle Ages 181 before opening new Erzgebirge influx African via Portugd fifteenth century. Interwoven mining precious metd flows coin types: pennies Carolingian beyond, grossi appearance florins ducats mid proliferation types later Ages. dso makes great efforts deal uses aU forms, ranging away as such barter, credit, paper transfers, bullion ingots particular. what is, any reckoning, exceptiondly difficult task, performed weU. narrative comprehensible digestible insights fresh incisive. However, all wiU their doubts about, criticisms of, book. Here three. First, reflects previous interests primarily about northern western Europe. Mediterranean world, particularly Spdn southern France, lesser degree Italy (especially South Italy) Byzantine Empire, receives adequate treatment. Secondly, reliance on secondary sources uncritical. example, when read 'the Abbot Ferrieres...
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