When the Roman Empire collapsed in the fifth century, central political authority in Europe disintegrated. An absence of public authority and strict land tenure to local lords, how we have come to define feudalism, would dominate western Europe until the twelfth century. Author John Davenport engages readers in a deep discussion of the time between the anarchy of the fall of Rome and the rise of the merchant class and capitalism. Chapters delve into relevant topics including the barbarian kingdoms, Charlemagne, the militant ...
Read More
When the Roman Empire collapsed in the fifth century, central political authority in Europe disintegrated. An absence of public authority and strict land tenure to local lords, how we have come to define feudalism, would dominate western Europe until the twelfth century. Author John Davenport engages readers in a deep discussion of the time between the anarchy of the fall of Rome and the rise of the merchant class and capitalism. Chapters delve into relevant topics including the barbarian kingdoms, Charlemagne, the militant church and the Crusades, the Black Death, and the rise of the nation-state.
Read Less
