Marc Bloch was a pivotal figure in the Annales School, renowned for his profound explorations of medieval history. His scholarship delves deeply into the social fabric of rural life and feudal structures, offering a distinctive lens on the past. Bloch fundamentally reshaped historical inquiry by emphasizing long-term societal and cultural currents. His influential work also critically examined the very nature of historical writing, leaving a lasting legacy.
Focusing on the countryside surrounding Paris, the narrative offers a unique historical perspective through the lens of Marc Bloch. It explores the region's origins, geographical characteristics, archaeological significance, and local histories, providing an in-depth study of the Ile-de-France. Through Bloch's insights, readers gain a deeper understanding of the area's rich past and its impact on the present.
Sacred Monarchy and Scrofula in England and France
The exploration of royal power's supernatural aspects reveals the historical belief in the healing abilities of kings in France and England. This book delves into the legends surrounding monarchs who were thought to cure ailments through their touch, highlighting the societal impact and significance of these claims throughout history.
Focusing on medieval Germany, the book explores the intricate relationship between land and labor during the medieval period. It delves into technical challenges faced by the economy and society, providing insights into the class structure of the time. Through its detailed analysis, it sheds light on the dynamics of work and land ownership, offering a comprehensive understanding of medieval life and its economic frameworks.
In this outstanding and magisterial work, which has introduced generations of readers to the feudal period, Marc Bloch treats feudalism as living, breathing force in Western Europe from the ninth to the thirteenth century. Bloch said that his goal in writing Feudal Society was to go beyond the technical study a medievalist would typically write and 'dismantle a social structure.' For Bloch, history is a process of constant evolution and he brilliantly describes the slow process by which feudal societies turned into what would become nation states. A tour de force of historical writing, Feudal Society is essential reading for anyone interested in both Western Europe's past and present. With a new foreword by Geoffrey Koziol
A renowned historian and Resistance fighter-later executed by the Nazis-gives his firsthand perspective on why France fell in 1940.
This work, by the co-founder of the Annales School deals with the uses and methods of history. It is useful for students of history, teachers of historiography and all those interested in the writings of the Annales school.