Empires and Barbarians
The Fall of Rome and the Birth of Europe
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press Inc
Published:5th Mar '09
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This insightful book examines the forces that shaped Europe by the end of the first millennium, highlighting migration's significant role in the transformation of societies. Empires and Barbarians presents a fresh perspective.
In Empires and Barbarians, Peter Heather takes readers on a compelling journey through the transformation of Europe during the first millennium AD. This thought-provoking work delves into the powerful forces that reshaped the continent, focusing on the dynamics of migration and the interactions between two distinct worlds: the sophisticated Roman Empire and the largely undeveloped barbarian territories. Heather's sharp analytical insight reveals how these vastly different societies evolved into remarkably similar states over the course of a thousand years.
The narrative begins in the time of Christ, when the Mediterranean region, united under Roman rule, was a hub of political sophistication and cultural advancement. The Romans boasted a thriving civilization characterized by philosophy, banking, professional armies, and impressive architecture. In stark contrast, the rest of Europe was primarily inhabited by subsistence farmers, mostly Germanic speakers, who relied on rudimentary iron tools and lived in small, isolated groups. As Heather illustrates, the complexities of these societies were not just geographical but also deeply rooted in their social and economic structures.
By the end of the first millennium, significant changes had taken place. Slavic speakers emerged as dominant forces in central and Eastern Europe, literacy began to spread, and Christianity took root. Most importantly, the once-unassailable Mediterranean supremacy began to crumble. Empires and Barbarians challenges prevailing notions about the role of migration in this historical narrative, drawing parallels to modern patterns of migration and globalization, ultimately offering a fresh perspective on the emergence of a recognizable European identity.
An amiable and learned companion through the centuries of migrations."-Library Journal
An awesomely ambitious work: an attempt, in the heroic tradition of Pirenne, to make sense of nothing less than the reshaping of antiquity, and the origins of modern Europe.... Heather is a wonderfully fluent writer, with a consistent ability to grab hold of his reader's attention.... The result is a book which richly merits reading by those interested in the future of Europe as well as its past. * Tom Holland, BBC History Magazine *
Most immediately impressive is Heather's easy command of detail. A jaunty, man of the people prose style masks a sure and scholarly grip on the history and archaeology of the first millenniem A.D. One of Heather's most attractive strengths is his eye for comparision. He neatly sets his thinking about first-millennium migration against modern experiences of the lure of the New World or the desperate flight of Kosovar or Rwandan refugees. * Christopher Kelly, Literary Review *
Peter Heather's book is an important contribution to the field -- the first up-to-date book that compares the Germanic and the Slav migrations of the early middle ages. It is lucid and it has a complex argument, but it is grippingly written. * Chris Wickham, author of The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages, 400-1000 *
This is a major work on the political and ethnic shaping of Europe during the first millennium A.D., embracing not just the Germanic and sub-Roman peoples, but also the Slavs and the Vikings. No one interested in the formation of European states and identities will be able to ignore this book. * Bryan Ward-Perkins, author of The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization *
Impressive in its ambition and its scope."-The New Yorker
Heather manages to robustly balance the need for both breadth and depth. A superior piece of scholarship."-DiscoverMagazine.com
While ambitious in scope, one of the delightful aspects of this hefty volume is its eminent readability. Heather's writing is often playful in style. This conversational and sometimes humorous tone, combined with a knack for explaining complex ideas clearly, belies the complexity of his argument and the sheer amount of information conveyed." -Laura Wangerin, World History Bulletin
In addition to offering a new way of looking at the broad trends of European history, Heather also makes a major contribution to a long-standing debate about the role of migration in the first millennium…[Empire and Barbarians'] range, its highly important themes, and the boldness and clarity of its writing should stimulate argument and advance debate for years to come." -Edward James, American Historical Review
Empires and Barbarians is a significant accomplishment and a welcome gateway for the curious as well as the deeply informed." * HNN.com *
ISBN: 9780199735600
Dimensions: 163mm x 236mm x 46mm
Weight: 1179g
752 pages