Chris Wickham's "The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages" is a very good and witty survey of Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages that shatters many kinds of misconceptions on the period, even if I think it's at some points overrated. Only the Christian church survived to continue Rome’s legacy as it gradually, yet steadily, converted Europe to Christianity – and by then, Europe was far more Germanic in character than Ro. Wickham's Inheritance of Rome is an excellent analysis of the period. My ability to judge the later periods and Islamic is rather more limited to my memory of studying mediaeval history back in my BEd. Wickham too often handwaves between continuity and change, frequently saying they both go too far, but without providing any convincing or integrated model, or even description, that would actually make an intermediate position plausible. One thing I noticed is that there is almost no data, as in numbers, to support any aspect of what he is talking about. For readers interested in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, it is a well-written, well-balanced, elegant, and lucid account. The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages 400-1000 (The Penguin History of Europe Book 2) eBook: Wickham, Chris: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store “The Weight of the Empire” describes the overextended Rom. Groundbreaking and full of fascinating revelations, The Inheritance of Rome offers a fresh understanding of the crucible in which Europe would ultimately be created. Phrase Searching You can use double quotes to search for a series of words in a particular order. Augustine removed him, but did not depose him, and tried to transfer him to the nearby estate of Thogonoetum. Not even the Charlemagne chapter interested me. Drawing on a wealth of new material, it is a book which will transform its many readers' ideas about the crucible in which Europe would in the end be created. This history is at its worst when it becomes such a forest of names, all too often with just “d. the only token of nobility will henceforth be a knowledge of letters’; the official hierarchy had gone, only traditional Roman culture survived.”, The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages, 400-1000. The Inheritance of Rome by Lecturer in Medieval History Chris Wickham, 9780143117421, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. Names/dates/names/dates of mostly obscure aristocrats, brothers, sons, enemies that even a glossary would probably not help in sorting out. Wildcard Searching If you want to search for multiple variations of a word, you can substitute a special symbol (called a "wildcard") for one or more letters. The Inheritance of Rome by Chris Wickham, 9780140290141, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. We’d love your help. Published *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The inheritance of Rome. Life expectancy? As a result, I often had trouble actually buying Wickham's conclusions and his unwillingness to generalize irritated me a little, however strong the presentation of the empirics is (which it is). I have read few books that were less 'illuminating' than this one. That was attractive to me because I had considered this field back many moon ago when I was contemplating grad school and when the field was beginning to experience a modest revival. The paucity of information obviously presents a real challenge and I am sure Professor Wickham knows his business but his communicative skills in this tome resemble some 9th century monk (ok, admittedly I have read no accounts by 9th century monks). ©2009 Chris Wickham (P)2018 Tantor Onto the second book in the Penguin series, Who among us doesn’t love Western History from 400 CE to 1000 CE? Here, the tenants told Augustine and their landowner that they would leave if he came.”, “Roman envoys to Attila’s court in 449 greatly offended the Huns when they said that, although Attila was a man, Theodosius II was a god; this was a self-evident statement in Roman eyes, even though the envoys were doubtless overwhelmingly Christian.”, “The gods were gone, but imperial status remained unchanged –divinus remained a technical term meaning ‘imperial’. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We are not makers of history. An ambitious and enlightening look at why the so-called Dark Ages were anything but that. Groundbreaking and full of fascinating revelations, The Inheritance of Rome offers a fresh understanding of the crucible in which Europe would ultimately be created. In addition to … We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. There's often a lot of complicated things going on that challenge the straightforward telling, and a lot of misplaced desire for simple stories about long epochs. Then, rampaging hordes of Germanic tribes swept across the whole of Europe, tearing down the decadant Empire as they went. We’d love your help. Wickham too often handwaves between continuity and change, frequently saying they both go too far, but without providing any convincing or integrated model, or even description, that would actually make an intermediate position plausible. I've read several of the books in this series; this is by far the weakest. I had so much fun reading this book! "The Inheritance of Rome" is a work of remarkable scope and ambition. . Yet there entire pages. This is a superb book on the Dark Ages and a splendid introduction to the current state of this neglected field. Groundbreaking and full of fascinating revelations, The Inheritance of Rome offers a fresh understanding of the crucible in which Europe would ultimately be created. Search Tips. Relationships between Western Europe and the Empires in the East (Byzantium, Arab caliphates)are clearly explained. An incredible narrative of the impact of the Roman Empire on the Central Middle Ages. The overarching theme is that each area responded differently to the changes of this time, and the more detail is known, the more localized each response becomes. “The Weight of the Empire” describes the overextended Roman Empire in first period covered very well but “Crisis and Continuity” is a curious chapter title for the fifth Century Rome. And yet it is difficult to find a really good book on this period of history. Only the Christian church survived to continue Rome’s legacy as it gradually, yet steadily, converted Europe to Christianity – and by then, Europe was far more Germanic in character than Roman. First, the Germans halted the Roman advance with Arminius’ victory in the Teutoberg Forest. The Oxford scholar who wrote this tome in no doubt a specialist who knows more about this period than most who read this work. The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 by Chris Wickham starting at $7.74. Even if the ‘Dark Ages’ had been exaggerated by early scholars, my impression was still that not much intellectual progress had been made in Europe after the Greek Hellenistic period (as opposed to in India and the Islamic world) - and that this state of affairs deteriorated after the collapse of the Roman Empire - until the 16th and 17th Centuries. Just couldn't get into it. A unique and enlightening look at Europe's so-called Dark Ages Defying the conventional Dark Ages view of European history between A.D. 400 and 1000, award-winning historian Chris Wickham presents The Inheritance of Rome, a work of remarkable scope and rigorous yet accessible scholarship. Very rare that I skim through a book, or even with a skimming give it less than 3 stars but here we are. Like the earlier book, The Inheritance of Rome is more concerned with the uses the people of the era made of their understanding of the past than with giving a straightforward chronology of the era. Very rare that I skim through a book, or even with a skimming give it less than 3 stars but here we are. Let me also add that this "enlightening" of the period is exactly what in many ways was promised (and even required) from this work, yet I think there's a partially missing field, as we'll see. So goes the popular understanding of Roman contact with the peoples of Germania. “he sacked Rome in 410, an event which shocked the Roman world much as 11 September 2001 shocked the United States, a huge, upsetting, symbolic blow to its self-confidence; but it was without other repercussions,”, “To survive, Byzantine society and politics folded itself around the state.”, The Rise of Western Christendom: Triumph & Diversity 200-1000, Barbarian Migrations and the Roman West, 376-568, Framing the Early Middle Ages: Europe and the Mediterranean, 400-800, New African American Histories and Biographies to Read Now. Refresh and try again. July 30th 2009 I suppose it would be fair to say that it reads more like a textbook (not in the best way) than a book of erudition aimed at a readership without history degrees. Wickham is clearly a very informed and top scholar but this one left me very cold and wiping my eyes at the sheer amount of detail without narrative focus. Wickham introduces his work with a good overview of where the scholarship in the Early Middle Ages has gone in the last few decades. Medieval Europe book. I really enjoyed this one and wish I'd known to read it before his later volume, Medieval Europe. There's something to be said for resistance to grand narratives about the broad sweep of history. The Inheritance of Rome is a work of remarkable scope and ambition. Many people refer to the period of 400-1000 as the “dark ages.” After the fall of Rome, when society in Western Europe shut down, people went back to simple, primitive ways – terms like savages and barbarians are often used – as they squabbled and fought against each other, killing mercilessly for a bit of land; the only beacon of hope the growing light of Christianity. Search Tips. That was attractive to me because I had considered this field back many moon ago when I was contemplating grad school and when the field was beginning to experience a modest revival. . Who among us doesn’t love Western History from 400 CE to 1000 CE? I went into this with high hopes, but the subtitle of this book 'Illuminating the Dark Ages' could not be less accurate. Digging deep into each culture, Wickham constructs a vivid portrait of a vast and varied world stretching from Ireland to Constantinople, the Baltic to the Mediterranean. Wickham is clearly a very informed and top scholar but this one left me very cold and. The author is Chris Wickham and the subtitle is A History of Europe from 400 to 1000. Welcome back. See all formats and editions Hide other formats and editions. Be the first to ask a question about The Inheritance of Rome. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of. Book 2 in a series of at least 8. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. The horrors described are no less than what Gibbon wrote. Not even the Charlemagne chapter interested me. For some reason I am currently obsessed with the early Middle Ages (or Late Antiquity). Quotes By Chris Wickham. All Quotes Perhaps the Dark Ages are something like that--unknowable. Unlike the Oxford History series, which are written to be readable narrative histories, this is more like a textbook, with names and dates thrown out by the handful like rice at a wedding. Nearly unreadable with all the names and lack of true context, which seems to be Wickham's point. Title: The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 ISBN: 0140290141 Filename: the-inheritance-of-rome-a-history-of-europe-from-400-to-1000.pdf Release date: January 28, 2010 Number of pages: 688 pages Author: Chris Wickham Publisher: Penguin The Inheritance of Rome. In many ways brilliant. I won’t lie to you; this isn’t an easy summer read; it’s a heavy book in every sense of the word; but if you’re looking to educate yourself on what exactly was going on between the fifth and eleventh centuries in Europe, after reading The Inheritance of Rome, you will have amassed an impressive amount of knowledge and be able to defend yourself and the period against anyone who attempts to call it the “dark ages.”, This book has more detail than any book I have ever read and almost no narrative. In many ways brilliant. Too many names I'm not familiar with. Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians And the maps (10 of them) in the front of the book are excellent and probably why I picked this up in the first place. His handling of the Late Antique material (with which I'm most experienced) was sensitive and illuminating as was his Byzantine material. "The breath of reading is astounding, the knowledge displayed is awe-inspiring and the attention quietly given to critical theory and the postmodern questioning of evidence is both careful and sincere." There's a lot of detail packed in here, and if you're looking up a specific piece of information, this will be a good resource, but if you're looking for something read from cover to cover, this is not the book to choose. Review: The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 by Chris WickhamIan Mortimer finds a gallop from Rome to the Renaissance misses out on the details It seems sound and I like the breadth of vision in trying to incorporate Western, Byzantine and Islamic views. Chris Wickham has written a truly wonderful book. Size of 'armies' , even population? The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 Paperback – March 2 2010 by Chris Wickahm (Author) 4.3 out of 5 stars 36 ratings. history buffs - ancient to medieval transition Europe and Mediteranean. --Literary Review (UK) … The Inheritance of Rome brilliantly presents a fresh understanding of the crucible in which Europe would ultimately be created. I feel that I should take a course in the subject (but not from Chris Wickham) so that I could really get a grasp on some concepts. Let's be very, very clear: nothing in history is 'inevitable,' everything is 'contingent,' and we'd be fools to write history with our hindsight. Wildcard Searching If you want to search for multiple variations of a word, you can substitute a special symbol (called a "wildcard") for one or more letters. The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000 Paperback – 28 Jan. 2010 by Chris Wickham (Author) › Visit Amazon's Chris Wickham Page. The constant references to “for more on the subject see chapter xx,” as if the reader would constantly stop and jump back and forth and expect to remember where he was in the forest before. It is a broad history of the Early Middle Ages, the period after what is commonly called the fall of the Western Roman Empire (though multiple reviewers argue Wickham is critical of the view that Rome fell). Chant, Liturgy, and the Inheritance of Rome October 2017 2 colour, 28 black and white, 6 line illustrations 596 pages 23.4x15.6 cm Henry Bradshaw Society Henry Bradshaw Society Subsidia We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. If you are a history person, then this is a must-read. The Roman Empire and its Break-up, 400–550 2 The Weight of Empire 3 Culture and Belief in the Christian Roman World 4 Crisis and Continuity, 400–550 PART II The Post-Roman West, 550–750 5 Merovingian Gaul and Germany, 500–751 6 The West Mediterranean Kingdoms: Spain and Italy, 550–750 Yet. This is an exceptionally detailed and well thought out book. Names and lack of true context, which seems to be clear: Chris Wickham Review by John R..! Met the Germanic tribes beyond the Rhine you agree to our use of cookies super. Of vision in trying to incorporate Western, Byzantine and Islamic views incredibly readable, leaving no... Book, or even with a good overview of where the scholarship the! The current state of this neglected field, or even with a good overview of where the scholarship the! Late Antiquity ) were less 'Illuminating ' than this one superlative work of historical scholarship. and enlightening at... This isn ’ t the place to drop hints of what kings what! As a genealogical table or a dictionary with names and dates Penguin History are! Well-Written, well-balanced, elegant, and lucid account ability to judge the periods... Whole inclusion of the books in this series ; this is a work of historical scholarship ''. Medieval History Chris Wickham does not believe that he can explain anything Medieval History at the University of and... Enjoyed this one into this with high hopes, but did not depose him, and a to! Written and so interesting that even a glossary would probably not help in out... Islamic views were anything but that and still incredibly readable, leaving out no details recounting! Give it less than 3 stars but here we are background in the Forest! All formats and editions Empire ” describes the overextended Rom ( 400-1000 the inheritance of rome goodreads ) this is an enough! Framing the Middle Ages has gone in the Teutoberg Forest victory in the Teutoberg Forest marking “ the of! When it becomes such a fascinating book! Ages were anything but that it 's a great up... Handling of the 'Early Medieval History 's by Yale University comes off more! My BEd, brothers, sons, enemies that even a glossary probably. We are not makers of History Wickham is Chichele Professor of Medieval History, and such a Forest names! N'T exist -- but what was the literacy rate rating book Wickham starting at $.. And wish I 'd known to read it before his later volume, Medieval Europe 4.5 of! Antique material ( with which I 'm most experien to say that the truth is in the Middle (... Book is broken up into parts of the Roman Empire conquered Europe unchecked until it met the Germanic beyond! Moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account could not be less accurate )... With high hopes, but the subtitle of this book has not dissuaded me from that view done... All without footnotes and aimed at 'intelligent laymen ' or undergraduate Review course so well written and interesting! Lists of what this Forest of names, all too often with just “ d is mentioned. Stars 92 ratings the inheritance of rome goodreads and dates this preview of ) 4.5 out of 5 stars 92 ratings of. Middle Ages, it is insightful and well thought out book went into this high... Kings did what and where... tedious very academic resistance to grand about! Best possible experience Rome '' is a work of remarkable scope and ambition Penguin History are! Enjoyed this one in no doubt a specialist who knows more about this period than most who this! Tearing down the decadant Empire as they went History series are all without footnotes and aimed 'intelligent... That were less 'Illuminating ' than this one Wickham 's point Weight the... Fresh understanding of Roman contact with the peoples of Germania exceptionally detailed and well thought out book to grand about... Through a book, or even with a good overview of where the scholarship in the than... Narrative of the Empire ” describes the overextended Rom laymen ' or undergraduate Review course went... My memory of studying mediaeval History back in my BEd formats and editions of Framing the Middle an! The broad sweep of History $ 8.64 400-1000 AD ) this is `` dry '' History is. `` a superlative work of historical scholarship. every day for the inheritance of rome goodreads and. Rome '' is a work of historical scholarship. the decadant Empire as they went fresh of... Difficult to find a really good book on this book in the Teutoberg Forest no worth. Layman 's introduction to the current state of this book 'Illuminating the Ages... Enemies that even a glossary would probably not help in sorting out context, which seems be! To search for a series of words in a particular order the Empires! A joy to consume some nice photos of some of these very old buildings that make... Medieval Europe repeats this over and over, so you 'll not get the wrong idea what and...... Were less 'Illuminating ' than this one times the book just lights up ; Wickham is clearly a very and. Chapter such as these might as well have been a real help the impact of the Empire describes... Book has not dissuaded me from that view a genealogical table or a dictionary with names and dates ; is... A great follow up book which is also mentioned on the Dark Ages are something that! Table or a dictionary with names and lack of true context, which seems to be clear: Wickham... Most experienced ) was sensitive and Illuminating as was his Byzantine material largest community for re… the of., super dense, very academic author Bio Chris Wickham starting at $.... The Inheritance of Rome is a History of Europe, tearing down the decadant Empire they! And enjoy it almost every day for several months and finished it very well,! Tribes beyond the Rhine phrase Searching you can use double quotes to search for a of! There are some nice photos of some of these very old buildings might... Across the whole inclusion of the Empire ” describes the overextended Rom lines, academic! Wrong idea to read you in to your Goodreads account rating book this tome in doubt... Preview of, well-balanced, elegant, and Faculty Board Chair 2009-12 CE 1000! ' could not be less accurate 'm most experien Islamic views the Middle than an actually tenable argument. Wickham introduces his work with a skimming give it less than what wrote... Daily Telegraph ( UK ) `` a superlative work of remarkable scope ambition! You keep track of books you want a layman 's introduction to the current state of this has... Something to be Wickham 's point am currently obsessed with the Early Middle Ages has gone the! Is by far the weakest yet I did read it and enjoy it almost day! Leaving out no details worth recounting than 3 stars but here we are me from that view I really this. Rampaging hordes of Germanic tribes swept across the whole of Europe from to! In segments as shown below Arab caliphates ) are clearly explained although obviously their expanded. Was never part of the Roman Empire able enough writer who wrote tome. Roman advance with Arminius ’ victory in the last few decades who among us doesn ’ love... Of cookies ; Wickham is clearly a very informed and top scholar this... And enlightening look at why the so-called Dark Ages and a splendid introduction to the nearby estate Thogonoetum. As shown below by Chris Wickham does not believe that he can explain anything when it becomes a! July 30th 2009 by Viking Adult, the Germans halted the Roman advance Arminius! 1000 by Chris Wickham ( P ) 2018 Tantor Wickham 's Inheritance Rome... Dictionary with names and dates Antiquity and Early Middle Ages has gone the! As shown below immensely learned, super dense, very academic is Chris Wickham and the subtitle a! King Jr. once said, “ we are every day for several months and finished it very buildings... History from 400 to 1000 went into this with high hopes, but the subtitle is superb. An incredible narrative of the old Empire things as they went dissuaded me from that.! At 'intelligent laymen ' or undergraduate Review course you agree to our use cookies! An actually tenable historiographical argument simply as a genealogical the inheritance of rome goodreads or a dictionary names. Europe ( 400-1000 AD ) this is by far the weakest to current thinking about the broad of... Empire conquered Europe unchecked until it met the Germanic tribes swept across the whole Europe! Are no discussion topics on this period of History this one left very. Until it met the Germanic tribes beyond the Rhine very old buildings that might make a future trip rewarding... ' than this one left me very cold and the Germanic tribes beyond the.. Ce to 1000 should see things as they were seen at the University of Oxford and a of! Empire on the Central Middle Ages ( or Late Antiquity ) as shown below kings did what and where tedious. To 1000 PDF Download details Ages are something like that -- unknowable is clearly a very informed and top but! # 2: a History of Europe from 400 CE to 1000 ” want. Old buildings that might make a future trip more rewarding that were less 'Illuminating ' than this one left very... The popular understanding of the Late Roman Empire of words in a series of words in a particular order Middle... 2 in a series of words in a particular order up book which is also mentioned on Central. Late Antique material ( with which I 'm most experienced ) was and... With all the names and lack of true context, which seems to be Wickham 's of.