Europa in costruzione. La forza delle identità, la ricerca di unità (secoli IX–XIII) (review)
Gianluca Raccagni
Reviewed by: Europa in costruzione. La forza delle identità, la ricerca di unità (secoli IX-XIII) Gianluca Raccagni IX-XIII). Edited by Giorgio Cracco, Jacques Le Goff, Hagen Keller and Gherardo Ortalli. [Istituto trentino cultura. Annali dell'Istituto storico italo-german-ico Trento, Quaderni 69: Atti della XLVI settimana studio, Trento 15-19 settembre 2003.] (Bologna: Società editrice il Mulino. 2006. Pp. 484. €32,00.) This volume includes most of the papers given at a conference held 2003 Istituto italo-germanico Trento. A brief summary others can be found chronicle Medievali, 57/1 (2004), pp. 155–67. Giuseppe Albertoni also wrote dossier same title, but subtitled "Fatti, documenti, interpretazioni," which was published is available mainly online from Reti Medievali: http://www.storia.unive.it/_ RM/didattica/strumenti/Albertoni.html, p. 145. Overall this information not included book, and, as there little to describe its structure, it might useful turn for guidance original conference. For instance, thematically, contributions reflect strands they had belonged. After introductory paper historiographical one [End Page 138] Herwig Wolfram, Walther Pohl discussed theme "Europa meticcia" (Mixed Europe?). Tilman Struve Ovidio Capitani examined "Unities sought," respectively Renovatio Imperii Reformatio Ecclesie. The Joachim Ehlers, Sergi, Xosé Luis Barreiro Rivas pertained "Rising political identities," first examining comparison between what became France Germany, other two Italy Spain. Hubert Houben, Nora Berend, Sverre Bagge "Advent new peoples," Normans, Hungarians, Scandinavians. Ralph-Johannes Lilie, Michael Toch, Nagel looked "External influences," Byzantine, Jewish, Muslim ones. Gert Melville Thomas Zotz "Loca identity unity,"with former looking monasteries, convents, churches, while latter princely courts. contribution Michel Pauly on markets fairs rightly moved section book (at sought"). Franco Cardini "Singular plural," "La scrittura e le scritture" (literacy?) "religion-religions." Unfortunately lacks conclusion that brings numerous various together, even if round table end conference, attended, apart speakers, Peter Brown, who second edition related work entitled Rise Western Christendom: Triumph Adversity, A.D. 200–1000. Indeed, Christendom dominates these proceedings well, above all concerns drive toward unity (it interesting note took place height debate proposed European Constitution inclusion references Christianity, which, however, mentioned book). In effect, brought together group diverse populations coming dominate continent Scandinavian Hungarian cases show, necessarily military conquest. Christianity introduced population common social practices adoption Latin intellectual governmental language, made corpus literature, especially religious beginning. Yet such bridges could then serve lay ideas well (however, very or no reference canon law Ius Commune). Religious institutions provided backbone coordination. particularly case with Roman Church, after Gregorian Reform, network monasteries convents. legacy Carolingian Empire fundamental many ways (with Caroline script among others), fragmentation never succeeded escaping inconsistency universal (Western Christian) and...
Catholic Historical Review