Julia M. H. Smith Book order

Challenging the notion of the 'Dark Ages,' this book presents a vibrant and culturally diverse period following the Roman Empire's collapse. Julia Smith combines cultural history, regional studies, and gender history to illuminate how individuals from various societal levels shaped their world. By incorporating direct voices from the era, she provides a fresh perspective on the early Middle Ages, marking this as the first comprehensive study in over fifty years to integrate all facets of this pivotal historical period.

Focusing on the Carolingian empire, the book explores the political and cultural dynamics between its center and the periphery, particularly in Brittany during the ninth and tenth centuries. It examines the interplay of imperial policies, local aristocratic conflicts, and Breton communities, highlighting the impact of Carolingian rule on local structures and identity. The text discusses economic and social aspects, the blending of Celtic and Carolingian cultures, and emphasizes the significance of regional autonomy in understanding the empire's rise and fall.

The study delves into the complexities of imperialism during the early Middle Ages, with a particular emphasis on Brittany. It explores the socio-political dynamics and the repercussions of imperial expansion on local cultures and societies, providing insights into the historical context and the lasting impact of these imperial endeavors. Through detailed analysis, the book sheds light on the interplay between power and identity in this pivotal era.

This illustrated book is a coherently conceived collection of interdisciplinary essays by distinguished authors on the city of Rome and its contacts with western Christendom in the early Middle Ages (c. 500-1000 AD). The first part integrates historical, archaeological, numismatic and art historical approaches to studying the transition of the city of Rome from Antiquity to the Middle Ages and offers groundbreaking new analyses of selected sites and problems. Attention is given to the economic, social, religious and cultural history of the city. In the second part of the volume historical, archaeological, liturgical and palaeographical approaches address Rome's contacts and influence in Latin Christendom in this period, with particular regard to Rome's place within Italian politics and its cultural influence in Carolingian Francia and Anglo-Saxon England.