<i>The evolution of the medieval world: society, government and thought in Europe, 312-1500</i> (review)
Constant J. Mews
214 Reviews the advice contained in lady Dhuoda's Handbook for William: a Carolingian woman's counselfor her son may have been responsible his death. The ermegence of understated themes such as this remind one usefulness narrative history and continuing appropriateness books about great figures. This is substantial work revisionist by major scholar which cannot be recommended too highly. John Moorhead Department History University Queensland Nicholas, David, evolution medieval world: society, government thought Europe, 312-1500, London N.Y., Longman, 1992; paper; pp. xiv, 544; 13 maps; R.R.P. AUS$47.99 Good general textbooks that can confidentiy recommend to students are hard come by. offering David Nicholas seeks provide global survey European civilization i t evolved between two dates traditionally established defining Middle Ages: accession Constantine end thefifteenthcentury. To attempt cover wide span tall order. key challenge facing author any textbook istofindan organizing principle capable embracing what seen salient features period under review. approach adopted traditional one, emphasising continuities within Taking nothing granted terms prior knowledge readers, he begins with swift overviews Roman civilization, origins Christianity, three cultural groupings around tbe Mediterranean eighth century: tribal Byzantium, Arab world. then followed concise account emergence summarizing complex phenomena rise feudalism grwoth trade brevity wUl undoubtedly satisfy undergraduate looking summary difficult subject. Whether matter fact conciseness encouraged is, however, another matter. presentation more world central high Ages little confusing. priority political history, summarizes developments individual regions Europe rather piecemeal fashion. from top 215 down. W e introduced German emperors twelfth thirteenth centuries before going back time given potted summaries turn English French eleventh century on. assumption seems write simply cobbling together succession different national histories. Thematic chapters on nobles Crusaders, social economic changes, intellectual spiritual satisfying, although they inevitably so brief worries whether might rely them get through an exam. author's emphasis giving facts than raising questions methodology. last section book, Late Ages, least satisfactory, perhaps because it tries much ground short space. picture presented conventional dissolution Litde nave understanding those forces shaping new kind culture infifteenth-centuryEurope, above all urban context. In sense consequence adopting very antiquated notion 1500 'the Ages'. continue myth betwen 312 single phase civUization invite unsatisfactory conclusion. book still takes five hundred pages has chosen. For courses offered tofirstyear students, some light complete novice. One would hope, soon advance sophisticated reflections historical processes. Constant M w s Monash Owen, D. R., Eleanor Aquitaine: queen legend, Oxford Cambridge Mass., Blackwell, 1993; cloth; x, 256; 15 plates, 1 map...
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