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Roger Collins
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Early Medieval Europe 300-1000 (History of Europe) Paperback – January 1, 1999

by Roger Collins (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 7 ratings
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There is a newer edition of this item:

Early Medieval Europe, 300-1000 (Macmillan History of Europe, 4)
Early Medieval Europe, 300-1000 (Macmillan History of Europe, 4)
$34.40
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This book offers a fascinating account of Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire through to the end of the tenth century. In its wide-ranging coverage of the period, it takes into account social, economic and political changes as well as the important cultural changes, including the rise of Islam and the recreation of a western empire under the Cardingians.
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  1. Print length
    533 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Palgrave Macmillan
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1999
  5. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1.25 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0312218869
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0312218867
  8. See all details
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About the Author

Roger Collins is Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Palgrave Macmillan; 2nd edition (January 1, 1999)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 533 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312218869
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312218867
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.55 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.25 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

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Roger Collins

Roger Collins

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
7 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Julia
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2016
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A+. Prompt delivery. Accurately described. Pleasurable experience.
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M. Lorenzo Warby
4.0 out of 5 stars Strong narrative
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2005
Verified Purchase
A good narrative history of the transition from late antiquity to the medieval. I enjoyed the intelligent scepticism about the available written sources and the way Collins analysed historical actors in terms of the problems actually facing them (rather than some teleological notion of how they "should" have acted or be seen to have acted). Found the lack of consideration of the underlying structures of (changing) societies a bit frustrating, though I realise there are major evidence difficulties. Still, there seemed to be an underlying story just out of reach.

Collins sees the central drama of the period, the "Fall" of the Western Roman Empire, as mainly consisting in the disappearance of the first the Western Roman Army and then the capping Imperial authority as the result of various choices made by said authority under mounting military pressure with most of the underlying structures remaining. There is much to be said for this characterisation. However, the evidence of a long-term demographic and economic decline extending from about 300AD to about 750AD suggests that these processes were themselves the results of deeper underlying causes (which they may, of course, have then aggravated). Similarly, Collins seems a little over-impressed by the survival of the Eastern Roman Empire (p.98). Yes, that state did survive for another 1000 years, but it also lost half its own territory in the period 650-710AD.

Which is not to say it is other than a useful and informative book. The political and military struggles of the period are laid out in a clear narrative, particularly the rise and decline of the Carolingian empire, and there is plenty of information to assist in building a better sense of the period.
27 people found this helpful
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L. Berlin
3.0 out of 5 stars ok but not great
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2008
Roger Collins' book covers a great scope of history both in time and geography. Overall he does admirable job. He manages to bring in a multitude of facts and figures and covers a huge number of historical characters. Still- I found the book less than great. First, and this is the publisher's fault, it desparately needs maps. Where is Norvicum or Pannonia? Where even is Leon in Spain? Second, the beginning of each chapter consists of a discussion of texts and how the material is lacking or not to be believed. His discussion of text gets laughable at times. More important, Mr. Collins misses so much. He misses much social context and rarely delves into the economics or trade. I would point in specific to non-Visigothic Spain which is amazingly complex and interesting. He glances over the spread of Islam and its reasons and other important features in the history of this period. He gives little detail about the Caliphate in Cordoba and other issues around it and other cities, north and south. In short, he often over simplifies and often makes a statement like something changed but never quite shows how and why. Still, this is a good book, but I would not recommend it as a first read on the period.
10 people found this helpful
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F. P. Barbieri
4.0 out of 5 stars Mary, Mary, quite contrary...
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2003
In writing an overall account of history such as this, what matters is the capacity for synthesis and re-interpretation, and Roger Collins certainly has both. But he also has the faults of his virtues. He manages to cover all important features of the enormous period under observation; he is familiar with modern scholarship; he is an excellent writer; and he is constantly questioning his material and searching for new interpretation. On a number of issues, his views are not only interesting but revelatory; take for instance his account of the barbarity and self-serving mendacity of Charles Martel, or of the real role of Aetius in the end of the Western Empire. However, his constant questioning of the issues can take the form of being contrary for its own sake; and some of his preconceptions are unacceptable. In particular, he pushes the issue of Roman influence on the conquering Germanic war bands so far that, in effect, any notion of Teutonic cultural autonomy vanishes into a phantom, and we are left wondering why, if everything of importance from monarchy to law-codes had been borrowed by the Teutons from the Romans, the political structures of the Dark and Middle Ages are so different from the Roman one - not only in scale, but in kind. This is a fine and thoughtful account of a large area of our history, but I would not take it without taking in some contrary views as a balance.
62 people found this helpful
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