Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Slocum presents the reader with quite a varied selection of passages from original European medieval writings. Granted, these have often been translated from other languages. But still the student can experience as first hand as possible many now vanished viewpoints.
Some of these are religious. Unsurprising, given the dominance and importance of the Christian church in that era. One example is the granting of land to a monastery. Another excerpt looks at pilgrimages and monastic reform. The latter can be read as early stirrings of what would blossom into the Reformation. The role and influence of the pope can also be appreciated, as a major worldly power in his own right.
On more secular grounds, another passage describes how the system of vassalage operated. No Bill of Rights here! The divine right of a king to rule is clearly taken as self evident.
Given that most students are unlikely to ever read the full texts from which this book is derived, the book is useful in at least exposing students to key historical ideas.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Sources in Medieval Culture and History
This reader is appropriate as a main text or a supplementary text for courses on medieval history, medieval literature, art history, and humanities.The wide range of primary sources featured in this book trace the development of medieval civilization from the era of the Roman Emperor Diocletian to the late fourteenth century. The events of these years are viewed from various perspectives, including selections from legal documents, annals, letters, contemporaneous biographies, paintings, theological and philosophical treatises, historical writings, architecture, and literary extracts. Author Kay Slocum has chosen the sources to integrate social and cultural history with more traditional material and, as a result, selections that inform the student about women and marginal groups in the medieval world are included alongside works that treat topics that are more common in the field.
Get 42% OFF
Click here for more information about Sources in Medieval Culture and History
