&lt;i&gt;The Crisis of the Twelfth Century: Power, Lordship, and the Origins of European Government&lt;/i&gt; (review)
Anne E. Lester
Reviewed by: The Crisis of the Twelfth Century: Power, Lordship, and Origins European Government Anne E. Lester Government. By Thomas N. Bisson. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2008. 720 pp. $39.50 (cloth). In Century Bisson, one most distinguished prolific medievalists in United States, has set out to rewrite twelfth century by asking us question widely accepted paradigm renaissance renewal that captivated historians for generations. That years between 1090 [End Page 136] 1215 were a period staggering transformation is certain; it nature changes experience living through them Bisson strives convey anew. As much his other work, Bisson's main focus power. " Power was order (p. 5), "power felt 3), took concrete form domination, violence, capital, hierarchy, intimidation, hegemony. not just political; all-encompassing. While many have written about emergence state, bureaucracy, royal ritual, power its complex registers seeks illuminate. For an age crisis, evident violent impositions, new customs coercive lordship, possession castles, elusive benefit justice masses, normalized suffering peasants townsfolk 574). And yet, as argues, from viewing crisis all articulated gore brutality we can better see redress law into government peace. frames study very broadly, this both book's greatest strength weakness. His overall assessment time "strain crisis" viii) built upon multitude examples culled across Europe. final product impressive masterful, but at times overwhelming. Part challenge text comes style. he states start, book "an essay on history human during long when medieval lordship—the domination people or few, extremely variable forms—came maturity" ix). analysis profound, writing sympathetic elegant, always easy follow perambulations Europe conceptualize totality evoke. "essay" (in pages, no less) unfolds over five substantive chapters move chronologically 875 1225, illuminating crucible which grew analyze effects resolution. introduction (chapter 1) addresses method: "holding concept power" 15) search exercise know institutions their beginnings office, accountability, justice, restraint, rather than scholastic renderings Cicero, find government. goal straightforward: "to address how why became Europe" 17). Medieval notions public moral power, however, grounded earlier definitions order, peace, authority, drew vocabulary inheritance Roman Carolingian. Yet far those two realities, 137] knew such ideas practices lordship nobility, subject chapter 2, "The Age Lordship (875-1150)." It felt. physical geography found articulation which, recounts 3, "Lord-Rulership (1050-1150): Experience Power," blanketed Castles strong points coercion, occasionally protection wrought. When claims clashed, violence followed, charts these eruptions countryside longest chapter, 4, "Crises (1060-1150)," looking closely dynastic anxieties; contest Papacy and...
Journal of World History