The Other Europe in the Middle Ages - Avars, Bulgars, Khazars and Cumans
For most students in medieval studies, Eastern Europe is marginal and East European topics simply exotica. A peculiar form of Orientalism may thus be responsible for the exclusion of the Avars, Bulgars, Khazars, and Cumans from the medieval history of the European continent. This collection of studies is an attempt to stimulate research in a comparative mode and to open up a broader discussion about such key themes as material culture, ethnicity, historical memory, or conversion in the context of social and political developments in early medieval Europe. Another goal of this volume is to introduce a number of new approaches to the study of what is known as “medieval nomads.”
Katie Normington's work examines how the "public" image of women during the fifteenth century (her time frame is 1376-1576) shaped--as well as was shaped by--religious and civic plays, parades, and processions.
Medieval England - A Social History and Archaeology from the Conquest to 1600 AD
"Medieval England" provides a vital and fascinating historical context for medieval archaeology. Colin Platt's archaeological expertise and use of historical sources combine to form a rich cross-disciplinary study. His resulting vision of England medieval society is challenging and often unexpected. The book is divided into seven periods, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the aftermath of the Black Death and finally up to 1600 and the reorientation of English society under the Tudors.
Although religious life in medieval Durham was ruled by its prince bishop and priory, the laity flourished and played a major role in the affairs of the parish, as Margaret Harvey demonstrates. Using a variety of sources, she provides a complete account of its history from the Conquest to the Dissolution of the priory, with a particular emphasis on the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. She shows how the laity interacted vigorously with both bishop and priory, and the relations between them, with the priory providing schools, hospitals, chantries and regular sermons, but also acting as a disciplinary force.
