CHRIS WICKHAM

The Roman empire tends to be seen as a whole whereas the early middle ages tends to be seen as a collection of regional histories, roughly corresponding to the land-areas of modern nation states. This book combines documentary and archaeological evidence to create a comparative history of the period 400-800.

A unique and enlightening look at Europe's so-called Dark Ages Defying the conventional Dark...

Provides a discussion in English of the history of a region of Europe, a genre common in other countries but undeveloped in Britain. This book deals with two mountain valleys in Tuscany from the eight to the 12th century, with some examination of their future progress into the 16th. It also charts their internal social and economic development.

Draws on new material to explain how the decline of the Roman Empire led to the Dark Ages in Europe, and how its influence led to the formation of a new Europe.