Miri Rubin is a medieval historian whose work delves into the social and religious history of Europe between 1100 and 1500. Her scholarship intricately explores the relationships between public rituals, power, and the fabric of community life. Rubin offers profound insights into the shaping and influence of European societies during the late medieval period. Her analyses provide readers with a compelling look at the dynamics of the past.
Exploring the diverse landscape of religious conversion, this collection examines historical contexts from early Christian pilgrims to Reformation Germany and fifteenth-century Ethiopia. It delves into the complexities of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian experiences, highlighting both continuity and change across different cultures. The essays investigate various causes and characteristics of conversion, providing a nuanced understanding of how faith and identity intersect throughout history.
Examining how 'strangers' - settling newcomers as well as settled ethnic and religious minorities - were treated in urban communities between 1000 and 1500, Cities of Strangers explores pathways to citizenship and arrangements for those unlikely to become citizens during a period of formative urban growth and its aftermath in medieval Europe.
The Middle Ages (c.500-1500) includes a thousand years of European history. In this Very Short Introduction Miri Rubin tells the story of the times through the people and their lifestyles. Including stories of kingship and Christian salvation, agriculture and trade, Rubin demonstrates the remarkable nature and legacy of the Middle Ages.
The book explores the evolution of the figure of Mary, tracing her representation from the early days of Christianity through to 1600. It delves into the ideas, practices, and imagery associated with Mary, highlighting her significance in medieval history and culture. The author, a leading historian, offers insights into how perceptions of Mary have transformed over centuries, reflecting broader religious and societal changes.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the most powerful, influential and complex of all religious figures. Mary is so entangled in our world that it is impossible to conceive of the history of Western culture and religion without her. This title presents the story of that presence and raises profound questions about the human experience.
Focusing on the medieval figure of the Virgin Mary, this book delves into the emotional and devotional aspects of religious cultures through various sources, including hymns, miracle tales, altarpieces, and sermons. Miri Rubin examines how these elements fostered creativity and enriched the lives of diverse medieval individuals, from the clergy to the laity, regardless of their social status. The work highlights the profound impact of religious expression on both men and women during this period.
There is no more haunting, compelling period in Britain's history than the later middle ages. This account brings the reader a long lost world, a strange, Catholic, rural country of monks, peasants, knights and merchants, almost perpetually at war, but continues to define so much of England's national myth.
Exploring the significance of the eucharist between 1150 and 1500, this study by Miri Rubin delves into its theological, cultural, and social implications during a transformative period in history. The book examines how the ritual shaped religious practices and community life, offering insights into medieval spirituality and the evolving understanding of communion. Rubin's analysis provides a comprehensive look at the eucharist's role in society, making it a valuable resource for those interested in medieval studies and religious history.
Beginning in Paris in the year 1290, Jews were accused of abusing Christ by desecrating the eucharist—the manifestation of Christ's body in the communion service. Over the next two centuries this tale of desecration spread throughout Europe and led to violent anti-Jewish activity in areas from Catalonia to Bohemia, particularly in some German-speaking regions, where at times it produced regionwide massacres and "cleansings."Drawing on sources ranging from religious tales and poems to Jews' confessions made under torture, Miri Rubin explores the frightening power of one of the most persistent anti-Jewish stories of the Middle Ages and the violence that it bred. She looks not just at the occasions on which massacres occurred but also at those times when the story failed to set off violence. She investigates as well the ways these tales were commemorated in rituals, altarpieces, and legends and were enshrined in local traditions. In exploring the character, nature, development, and eventual decay of this fantasy of host desecration, Rubin presents a vivid picture of the mental world of late medieval Europe and of the culture of anti-Judaism.
The examination of charitable activities in medieval society reveals insights into social structures, community values, and the role of charity in daily life. By analyzing various forms of giving and support, the study highlights how these practices shaped relationships among individuals and institutions, reflecting broader themes of compassion, morality, and social responsibility during that era.