Western Europe in the Middle Ages
- 258 pages
- 10 hours of reading
Joseph R. Strayer Book order
Joseph Strayer was a leading medievalist whose scholarship focused on the development of early state institutions and their relevance to modern governance. His influential works often drew upon decades of archival research, offering profound insights into medieval history. Strayer also played a pivotal role in shaping generations of medievalists, many of whom continue his academic legacy. His editorship of a comprehensive dictionary of the Middle Ages remains a significant contribution to the field.
- 2022
- 2016
On the Medieval Origins of the Modern State
- 144 pages
- 6 hours of reading
The modern state, however we conceive of it today, is based on a pattern that emerged in Europe in the period from 1100 to 1600. Inspired by a lifetime of teaching and research, On the Medieval Origins of the Modern State is a classic work on what is known about the early history of the European state. This short, clear book book explores the European state in its infancy, especially in institutional developments in the administration of justice and finance. Forewords from Charles Tilly and William Chester Jordan demonstrate the perennial importance of Joseph Strayer's book, and situate it within a contemporary context. Tilly demonstrates how Strayer's work has set the agenda for a whole generation of historical analysts, not only in medieval history but also in the comparative study of state formation. William Chester Jordan's foreword examines the scholarly and pedagogical setting within which Strayer produced his book, and how this both enhanced its accessibility and informed its focus on peculiarly English and French accomplishments in early state formation.
- 2015
Focusing on the political, constitutional, and institutional history of France and England during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, this collection of essays by historian Joseph Strayer compiles his significant shorter studies. It offers insights into the complexities of medieval governance and the evolution of political structures in these two influential nations.