Scholastic Humanism and the Unification of Europe, Vol. I: Foundations by R. W. Southern
William J. Courtenay
BOOK REVIEWS307 refusing to renounce their Christianity and embrace Islam.Virtually eveiything that we know about the victims ofthese executions comes from apologetic treatises andpassiones were written on behaU of martyrs by Eulogius Paul Alvarus, who Uved in Cordoba at time. Both wrote response lack enthusiasm martyrs' actions eUcited more assimilated Christians Cordoba. Coope's book is no means first treat subject.The earUest most complete overview—in anglophonic scholarly world, anyway—was Edward P. Colbert's pubUshed dissertation, The Martyrs (850859 ):A Study ofthe Sources (CathoUc University ofAmerica Press, 1962). More modern takes subject—which have insisted scrutinizing motives Alvarus before assessing meaning movement itseU— began with JamesWaltz's article ("The Significance theVoluntary Ninth-Century Cordoba," Muslim World, 60 [1970]) continued my own (Christian Spain [Cambridge, 1988]).Though Coope does not review historiography subject any detaU, it clear her work she has,for part, read benefited predecessors.The end result a balanced treatment avaUable evidence which attempts, foremost, reconstruct tensions -within Andalusian society could account only for radical but virulence theU apologists' attacks both Islam harmony it.As such, weU-written very readable provides useful overview an important episode history Christian-Muslim interaction. It not, however, offer new data nor break ground terms its approach. Kenneth Baxter Wolf Pomona College Scholastic Humanism Unification ofEurope,\o\. I: Foundations. By R. W Southern. (Cambridge, Massachusetts: BlackweU. 1995. Pp. xxi, 330. $44.95.) This projected three volumes may weU prove be finest achievement productive perceptive ofmedievaUsts England. Just as St. Anselm:A Portrait Landscape revised completed Southern's Anselm late eleventh century, so these further documents synthesizes themes familiar readers his earUer books, namely, understanding emergence schools northern France place Chartres Paris, seminal notion scholastic humanism links Platonism early twelfth century development analysis, recovery assimUation Aristotle , birth Paris. There also much here, detaU persuasive argument teaching law 308BOOK REVIEWS Bologna (as distinct practice oflaw) around 1 150, generation later than explosive expansion ofphüosophy theology reinterpretation Irnerius Gratian legal practitioners, commentators, compUers whose led rather grew out wiU probably become controversial insight this book. main thesis educational revolution took haU buUt method textual analysis quaestiones, influenced almost every level European helped effect unity culture had previously existed. If, vision Henri Pirenne, Carolingian empire marked First Europe, unification geographical area (thus second part title) was forged through "international " students masters, common arts, theology, law. In view—and here observations paraUel those Jacques LeGoff medieval inteUectuals—scholastic allied elite court Italian humanism, penetrated down aU levels society, created one unified Europe Italy...
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