History and Memory in the Carolingian World

Rosamond McKitterick

Cambridge University Press, Jul 29, 2004 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 337 pages

This study reveals the remarkable quantity of varied forms and new types of history written in the Frankish realms of Western Europe during the eighth and ninth centuries. The Franks also preserved the classical and Judaeo-Christian histories from earlier centuries. Their books reflect a highly sophisticated and many-layered understanding of the past as well as a very creative use of history. Rosamond McKitterick illuminates the extraordinarily influential role of these history texts in the formation of political ideologies and senses of identity within Europe.

Contents

• Introduction History and memory in the Carolingian world: 1
• Carolingian history books: 28
• Paul the Deacons Historia langobardorum and the Franks: 60
• The Carolingians on their past: 84
• Politics and History: 120
• Kingship and the writing of history: 133
• Social memory commemoration and the book: 156
• History and memory in early medieval Bavaria: 174
• The reading of history at Lorsch and St Amand: 186
• Texts authority and the history of the church: 218
• Christianity as history: 245
• Conclusion History and its audiences in the Carolingian world: 265
• Bibliography: 284
• Index of manuscripts: 323
• General index: 327

About the author

Rosamond McKitterick is Professor of Medieval History in the University of Cambridge. Her previous publications include The Carolingians and the Written Word (Cambridge University Press,1989), The Frankish Kings and Culture in the Early Middle Ages (1995) and The New Cambridge Medieval History Vol II c.700-c.900 (ed. 1995). She has presented many conference papers and lectured extensively at universities throughout Britain, continental Europe, North America and Australia. She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Bibliographic information

• Title: History and Memory in the Carolingian World
• Author: Rosamond McKitterick
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2004
• ISBN: 0521534364, 9780521534369
• Length: 337 pages
• Subjects: History / Europe / General; History / Europe / Western; History / Historiography; History / Medieval; Language Arts & Disciplines / Alphabets & Writing Systems