Encyclopedia of Barbarian Europe: Society in Transformation

Michael Frassetto

ABC-CLIO, 2003 - History - 419 pages

The first comprehensive reference work devoted exclusively to this dark, but critical, period in the history of Western civilization.

In the Encyclopedia of Barbarian Europe, medieval expert Michael Frassetto amasses the evidence for the defense--and prosecution--of this little-understood transition era in the history of Western civilization. Covering nearly 1,000 years of history--from the late ancient period through the first centuries of the Middle Ages--this concise but thorough reference work examines the key figures, places, events, and ideas of barbarian Europe.

This title chronicles the ancient Visigoths, the rule of Benedict, and the sacking of Rome. The easy-to-access alphabetical entries and essays offer more than a mere chronicling of kings and battles and explore the social and cultural history of the era, with special attention played to the role of women.

* Accessible A-Z format for nearly 200 entries covering the people, places, and events during the fall of the Roman Empire and the birth of early medieval Europe

* Detailed chronology of the nearly 1,000 years of the European barbarian era

* Maps and photographs covering key events and places

* Articles on art, culture, religion, and day-to-day issues such as agriculture, farm animals, diet, marriage, and burial

Contents

• A: 1
• B: 57
• C: 85
• D: 139
• E: 151
• F: 161
• G: 173
• H: 197
• I: 211
• J: 219
• K: 229
• L: 231
• M: 261
• N: 271
• O: 275
• P: 287
• R: 301
• S: 313
• T: 327
• U: 347
• V: 349
• W: 365
• Z: 375
• Rulers of Barbarian Europe: 379
• Subject Index to Entries: 383
• Subject Bibliography: 387
• Index: 399
• About the Author: 421

Popular passages

Page xi - If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the accession of Commodus.

Page xiv - Christian writer at the end of the third century and the beginning of the fourth, says that the number was quadrupled.

About the author

Michael Frassetto is the religion editor of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Encyclopedia of Barbarian Europe: Society in Transformation
• Author: Michael Frassetto
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: ABC-CLIO, 2003
• ISBN: 1576072630, 9781576072639
• Length: 419 pages
• Subjects: History / Europe / General; History / Reference; Reference / General