Conclusions
C. Wickham
The articles in this book reflect Rodney Hilton's work remarkably well. They show us a multi-faceted set of approaches, illuminating medieval England and continental Europe from great variety directions, but at the core them is common assumptions problems: that study peasantry central, one most ways into understanding society through conflict, socio-economic dynamism central later middle ages had very complex roots, it crucially important to tease all out then try how they related each other. himself, indeed, across his working life, increasingly recognized causal elements social economic change were, while never renouncing principle, ‘conflict between landlords peasants, however muted or intense, over appropriation surplus product peasant holding, was prime mover evolution society’.1 I do not think any contributors would disagree with that—indeed, many historians that, whether Marxist not, although non-Marxists put different language. But complexities emerge strongly volume, its have some cases moved away both Rodney's main interests interpretations, always coming back Hilton œuvre order interact it, moving on again. This as should be: Middle Ages closed system, an ongoing debate.
Past & Present