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The Birth of the Middle Ages, 395-814
First published in 1935.
291 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1935
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January 20, 2021
The "Dark Ages" - roughly from the decline of the Roman Empire in the fifth century to Charlemagne - is a misnomer.
Yes, the barbarians dismembered the Western Roman Empire and learning and culture declined. Except for the Papacy and the Catholic Church, the universal institutions withered away. But Roman culture never entirely disappeared. Rather, it merged harmoniously (and often violently) with the Teutonic culture of the ruling barbarian tribes. For three centuries, Europe experienced not so much a collapse as a transformation, which culminated in the person and empire of Charlemagne.
British historian H. St. L. B. Moss (a very British byline, I might add), although writing from a secular and materialistic point of view, wrote an excellent summary of this important period of European history, which he dates from the death of Emperor Theodosius the Great in 395 A.D. to the death of Charlemagne in 814 A.D.
Part I of his book begins with a description of the culture and social structures of the Roman Empire and the barbarians. In Part II he describes the Byzantines and especially Justinian II's influence on Italy and the West. In Part III he treats Islam, its faith, conquest, and culture. Part IV is about the age of Charlemagne, the Franks, their relations with the Papacy, the beginning of the Papal States, and the person and character of Charlemagne himself.
Moss touches upon every important aspect of this transformation: law, politics, religion, learning, language, literature, ethnic changes, social institutions, although he focuses more on cultural changes than political or religious ones. An exception to this is Byzantium, or the Eastern Roman Empire, which looms large in his narrative.
His book is well-written, well-researched, and fairly balanced for a 20th-century historian.
Of course, everyone has their biases. As he is English and a modern historian, he does recognize the importance of Catholicism and the Papacy in this crucial phase of European history but tends to understate or minimize them. He considers Christianity as more an observer than an active agent in these great cultural changes. He also tends to minimize the destruction wrought by the Islamic conquest of the Levant and North Africa, while understating Christian victories over Islam, such as the Battle of Poitiers in 732: "This battle has become a symbol of the salvation of Western Christendom from the infidel terror, and its legendary fame is not unjustified. But in fact the force of the invasion was spent, and it is doubtful whether any permanent conquest of southern France would have been possible." (p. 156) Try telling that to an 8th century Christian in Syria or Spain.
Overall, "The Birth of the Middle Ages, 395-814" is an excellent summary of early Medieval European history. It helps to dispel the popular myth, invented by Petrarch in the Renaissance, that the era after the fall of the Roman Empire was nothing but an "age of darkness."
Yes, the barbarians dismembered the Western Roman Empire and learning and culture declined. Except for the Papacy and the Catholic Church, the universal institutions withered away. But Roman culture never entirely disappeared. Rather, it merged harmoniously (and often violently) with the Teutonic culture of the ruling barbarian tribes. For three centuries, Europe experienced not so much a collapse as a transformation, which culminated in the person and empire of Charlemagne.
British historian H. St. L. B. Moss (a very British byline, I might add), although writing from a secular and materialistic point of view, wrote an excellent summary of this important period of European history, which he dates from the death of Emperor Theodosius the Great in 395 A.D. to the death of Charlemagne in 814 A.D.
Part I of his book begins with a description of the culture and social structures of the Roman Empire and the barbarians. In Part II he describes the Byzantines and especially Justinian II's influence on Italy and the West. In Part III he treats Islam, its faith, conquest, and culture. Part IV is about the age of Charlemagne, the Franks, their relations with the Papacy, the beginning of the Papal States, and the person and character of Charlemagne himself.
Moss touches upon every important aspect of this transformation: law, politics, religion, learning, language, literature, ethnic changes, social institutions, although he focuses more on cultural changes than political or religious ones. An exception to this is Byzantium, or the Eastern Roman Empire, which looms large in his narrative.
His book is well-written, well-researched, and fairly balanced for a 20th-century historian.
Of course, everyone has their biases. As he is English and a modern historian, he does recognize the importance of Catholicism and the Papacy in this crucial phase of European history but tends to understate or minimize them. He considers Christianity as more an observer than an active agent in these great cultural changes. He also tends to minimize the destruction wrought by the Islamic conquest of the Levant and North Africa, while understating Christian victories over Islam, such as the Battle of Poitiers in 732: "This battle has become a symbol of the salvation of Western Christendom from the infidel terror, and its legendary fame is not unjustified. But in fact the force of the invasion was spent, and it is doubtful whether any permanent conquest of southern France would have been possible." (p. 156) Try telling that to an 8th century Christian in Syria or Spain.
Overall, "The Birth of the Middle Ages, 395-814" is an excellent summary of early Medieval European history. It helps to dispel the popular myth, invented by Petrarch in the Renaissance, that the era after the fall of the Roman Empire was nothing but an "age of darkness."
March 16, 2014
An excellent overview of the ending of the Roman empire, the beginning of Islamic expansion, and the European migrations that birthed the Middle Ages. Pretty easy to read writing for the subject matter.
The forward notes, to my agreement, that the Dark Ages are a misnomer and further studies of this time reveal a different picture than was believed for a long time. This book supports a better understanding of the middle ages and their beginnings.
The forward notes, to my agreement, that the Dark Ages are a misnomer and further studies of this time reveal a different picture than was believed for a long time. This book supports a better understanding of the middle ages and their beginnings.
June 10, 2020
This book covers what has previously been called 'The Dark Ages': the history of Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire to the death of Charlemagne. Although, as the book shows, the Roman Empire didn't so much 'fall' as it was massively undermined until it existed only as an idea. Explores the rise of the Mediaeval world, and it's fascinating to watch things like feudalism, the institutional power of the church, Islam, and recognisable cultural identities rise up out of the wreckage of one of the world's most powerful civilisations.
Goes into interesting detail about some of the bigger personalities, like Charlemagne, Justinian, Theoderic, Attila the Hun and Mohammed, but I could have done without hundreds of passing mentions of people with whom I'm not familiar. I'm a bit confused about who the ideal audience for this book is - I felt like I was missing masses of assumed knowledge, but why would specialists who already have that knowledge be reading such a general overview? That and the many-claused sentences made it really hard work to read. I've learned a lot (although I wouldn't have if I hadn't read "The Shortest History of Europe" first) and it's given me some things to think about, but it's moments of gold hidden in hours of lead.
Goes into interesting detail about some of the bigger personalities, like Charlemagne, Justinian, Theoderic, Attila the Hun and Mohammed, but I could have done without hundreds of passing mentions of people with whom I'm not familiar. I'm a bit confused about who the ideal audience for this book is - I felt like I was missing masses of assumed knowledge, but why would specialists who already have that knowledge be reading such a general overview? That and the many-claused sentences made it really hard work to read. I've learned a lot (although I wouldn't have if I hadn't read "The Shortest History of Europe" first) and it's given me some things to think about, but it's moments of gold hidden in hours of lead.
October 14, 2025
This cleared up a lot of fog in my ideas of the Middle Ages and the transition from the Roman Empire to the Feudal system of the Middle Ages.
It begins right before the after Constantine, where he moved the capital to Constantinople. The Empire was split into Western and eastern administrative districts, but never considered 2 Empires. The leaders were co-regents.
The invasion of the barbarians was not so much a one time deal, it happened over hundreds of years. Even then, the so called barbarians were integrated into the Roman Empire rather than replacing it. For the most part, they continued the Roman administrative system and self consciously thought of themselves as the Roman Empire. Romans themselves continued to play a bit part in governing as they had the necessary expertise in the areas of governing and culture.
Also this book cleared up some fog around the Goth, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Huns and some of the other influential peopel groups of the age. It is a bit hard to conceive, but rather that being countries per se, they were roaming tribes of people. No confined to one geographic areas, but roaming and conquering all over Europe and taking up residence in various regions.
Most or many of the barbarian groups were Arian Christians before they even overwhelmed Rome, being converted by Nestorian missionaries. This becuase a source of conflict as they were integrated into the Empire. Eventually, they gave up thier heretical views and joined the Catholic Church.
The wax and wane of the bishop of Rome is also quite a story. The skill and character of the officeholder played a large part in the development of the office.
This book ends in the 800s, by which time the Islamic Empire had taken over vast tracts of the Roman Empire. Insightful is that just before the rise of the Arab Empire, Rome was finally able to defeat the Persian Empire. The Roman and Persian empire were the two powerhouses of the world. They could never overpower each other and stood in detente. Until Rome (Constantinople) finally overpowered and conquered the Persian Empire. In the process, both Empires were so weakened that the Arabs easily conquered large areas.
The Book also covers the Frankish rules of Clovis and Charlemagne. Thier successes and their mistakes. Charlemagne of course self consciously thought of himself in continuity with the Roman Empire. It was only a matter of requonqering lost territories.
In the end, the Roman Empire was not conquered, but rather is dissolved. Lack of funds, waning legions, loss of administrative control. The loss of centralized administrative control naturally led to the strengthening of local leaders and at some point, the centralized authority vanished althgether, or at least the political central authority. The replacement of national loyalty to the personal loyalty of the local lord created the feudal system that dominated the Middle Ages.
There is a lot more in this work. It is a helpful look at European and Mediterranean history from 300 to 800. The writing is fluid, but as would be expected, includes a lot of specialty vocabulary. In general, the writing is aimed high, with even a high level of non-specialized vocabulary. And being nearly 90 years old, the text has certain opinions. It is not the bland so-called value-neutral history of modern historiography. It takes a point of view of what were good developments and which were not.
A good place to get an overview of the early Middle Ages.
Reading the Folio edition was a joy. The bindings are astonishing. The pages lay open easily from beginning to end. The print is crisp and dark on heavy stock paper. The pages turn like a door on a hinge. The fabric covers are beautiful. Wonderful.
It begins right before the after Constantine, where he moved the capital to Constantinople. The Empire was split into Western and eastern administrative districts, but never considered 2 Empires. The leaders were co-regents.
The invasion of the barbarians was not so much a one time deal, it happened over hundreds of years. Even then, the so called barbarians were integrated into the Roman Empire rather than replacing it. For the most part, they continued the Roman administrative system and self consciously thought of themselves as the Roman Empire. Romans themselves continued to play a bit part in governing as they had the necessary expertise in the areas of governing and culture.
Also this book cleared up some fog around the Goth, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals, Huns and some of the other influential peopel groups of the age. It is a bit hard to conceive, but rather that being countries per se, they were roaming tribes of people. No confined to one geographic areas, but roaming and conquering all over Europe and taking up residence in various regions.
Most or many of the barbarian groups were Arian Christians before they even overwhelmed Rome, being converted by Nestorian missionaries. This becuase a source of conflict as they were integrated into the Empire. Eventually, they gave up thier heretical views and joined the Catholic Church.
The wax and wane of the bishop of Rome is also quite a story. The skill and character of the officeholder played a large part in the development of the office.
This book ends in the 800s, by which time the Islamic Empire had taken over vast tracts of the Roman Empire. Insightful is that just before the rise of the Arab Empire, Rome was finally able to defeat the Persian Empire. The Roman and Persian empire were the two powerhouses of the world. They could never overpower each other and stood in detente. Until Rome (Constantinople) finally overpowered and conquered the Persian Empire. In the process, both Empires were so weakened that the Arabs easily conquered large areas.
The Book also covers the Frankish rules of Clovis and Charlemagne. Thier successes and their mistakes. Charlemagne of course self consciously thought of himself in continuity with the Roman Empire. It was only a matter of requonqering lost territories.
In the end, the Roman Empire was not conquered, but rather is dissolved. Lack of funds, waning legions, loss of administrative control. The loss of centralized administrative control naturally led to the strengthening of local leaders and at some point, the centralized authority vanished althgether, or at least the political central authority. The replacement of national loyalty to the personal loyalty of the local lord created the feudal system that dominated the Middle Ages.
There is a lot more in this work. It is a helpful look at European and Mediterranean history from 300 to 800. The writing is fluid, but as would be expected, includes a lot of specialty vocabulary. In general, the writing is aimed high, with even a high level of non-specialized vocabulary. And being nearly 90 years old, the text has certain opinions. It is not the bland so-called value-neutral history of modern historiography. It takes a point of view of what were good developments and which were not.
A good place to get an overview of the early Middle Ages.
Reading the Folio edition was a joy. The bindings are astonishing. The pages lay open easily from beginning to end. The print is crisp and dark on heavy stock paper. The pages turn like a door on a hinge. The fabric covers are beautiful. Wonderful.
April 27, 2024
مراجعة كتاب ميلاد العصور الوسطى⚜️
شرح الكتاب:يعد كتاب ميلاد العصور الوسطى كتاب مهم بسبب تأريخه حقبة مهمة-ندرت المصادر الموثوقة التي تحدثت عن هذي الحقبة-فالكتاب تناول تاريخ أكثر امبراطورية جدلًا على مدار فترة تزيد عن أربع قرون مع تناوله للأعراق والأديان والمجتمعات والصراعات والمصالح المتبادلة،تحدث موس عن قبائل البرابرة في موجاتهم المتدفقة وحملاتهم التي لا تنقطع،وتحدث كذلك عن كل الأعراق الأخرى التي بدأت بها القارة الأوروبية وكانت لها دورًا فاعلا في تاريخ الإمبراطورية الرومانية،فحدثنا عن القوط والآفار والجرمان واللومبارد والفرنجة وآخرين،وقد تناول المؤلف موضوع الفتوحات الإسلامية بموضوعية في أغلب ما كتب،ووصف تعامل المسلمين مع البلاد التي فتحوها بأنه يتسم بالتسامح والعدل،على أن أهم ما لفت نظري في الكتاب هو اهتمام المؤلف بتاريخ قيام الدولة الإسلامية وعلاقتها المباشرة مع الدول الكبرى،وكذلك تاريخ الفتوحات الإسلامية التي وصلت في أوروبا إلى اسبانيا؛كما وصلت إلى مناطق بعيدة في آسيا،وذلك لأن تاريخ الدولة الإسلامية متشابك مع ما يتناوله الكتاب من تاريخ الإمبراطورية الرومانية في العصور الوسطى
رأيي في الكتاب:الكتاب لاأنصح به للمبتدئين في التاريخ-رغم تبسيط موس العديد من الأشياء-الكتاب وضحلي أشياء -وأفادني كثيرًا-كنت اجهلها وهذا شيء طبيعي بسبب تأريخه لحقبة مهمة،عجبني تركيزه على التصادم الحضاري للمسلمين في أوروبا،الترجمة ممتازة لكن توجد العديد من الأخطاء الأملائية
أقتباسات📎
◽️-إن تخيلنا روما الإمبراطورية سرعان ما يخطر ببالنا صور لحروب وفتوحات وجيوش زاحفة تحت راية النسر المنتصر للسيطرة على شعوب بعيدة،لكن الحقيقة الواضحة التي تبدو جلية في أول قرنين من العهد المسيحي هي ذلك السلام الواضح الذي عم منطقة البحر المتوسط والجزء الأكبر من أوروبا الوسطى والغربية
◾️-وما من شك في أن المصدر الأساسي للفن المسيحي هو الشرق
◽️-من المعروف أن جستنيان استخدم سياسة هجومية في الغرب؛بينما حرص على أن تكون سياسته في الشرق دفاعية فقط
◾️- وهي ثقافة تجمع بين الحضارتين الهلنستية والسامية وهو اتحاد شمل الشرق الأدنى بالكامل وأنا أرى أن ذلك الأساس المشترك إنما هو السبب الرئيسي لما حققه الإسلام من أثر قوي في ثقافة الحضارة الأوروبية في العصور الوسطى لكن الاختلاف الديني أسدل كثيرا من الغموض على ذلك المصدر المشترك للحضارتين
◽️- لكن هناك وحدة من نوع آخر سيطرت على جميع أنحاء تلك الدول،إنها وحدة الدين
◾️-وهناك رباط آخر جمع بين كل تلك الشعوب وهـو اللغة العربية؛فهي لغة الدين ووسيلة تلقي العلوم الصحيحة
شرح الكتاب:يعد كتاب ميلاد العصور الوسطى كتاب مهم بسبب تأريخه حقبة مهمة-ندرت المصادر الموثوقة التي تحدثت عن هذي الحقبة-فالكتاب تناول تاريخ أكثر امبراطورية جدلًا على مدار فترة تزيد عن أربع قرون مع تناوله للأعراق والأديان والمجتمعات والصراعات والمصالح المتبادلة،تحدث موس عن قبائل البرابرة في موجاتهم المتدفقة وحملاتهم التي لا تنقطع،وتحدث كذلك عن كل الأعراق الأخرى التي بدأت بها القارة الأوروبية وكانت لها دورًا فاعلا في تاريخ الإمبراطورية الرومانية،فحدثنا عن القوط والآفار والجرمان واللومبارد والفرنجة وآخرين،وقد تناول المؤلف موضوع الفتوحات الإسلامية بموضوعية في أغلب ما كتب،ووصف تعامل المسلمين مع البلاد التي فتحوها بأنه يتسم بالتسامح والعدل،على أن أهم ما لفت نظري في الكتاب هو اهتمام المؤلف بتاريخ قيام الدولة الإسلامية وعلاقتها المباشرة مع الدول الكبرى،وكذلك تاريخ الفتوحات الإسلامية التي وصلت في أوروبا إلى اسبانيا؛كما وصلت إلى مناطق بعيدة في آسيا،وذلك لأن تاريخ الدولة الإسلامية متشابك مع ما يتناوله الكتاب من تاريخ الإمبراطورية الرومانية في العصور الوسطى
رأيي في الكتاب:الكتاب لاأنصح به للمبتدئين في التاريخ-رغم تبسيط موس العديد من الأشياء-الكتاب وضحلي أشياء -وأفادني كثيرًا-كنت اجهلها وهذا شيء طبيعي بسبب تأريخه لحقبة مهمة،عجبني تركيزه على التصادم الحضاري للمسلمين في أوروبا،الترجمة ممتازة لكن توجد العديد من الأخطاء الأملائية
أقتباسات📎
◽️-إن تخيلنا روما الإمبراطورية سرعان ما يخطر ببالنا صور لحروب وفتوحات وجيوش زاحفة تحت راية النسر المنتصر للسيطرة على شعوب بعيدة،لكن الحقيقة الواضحة التي تبدو جلية في أول قرنين من العهد المسيحي هي ذلك السلام الواضح الذي عم منطقة البحر المتوسط والجزء الأكبر من أوروبا الوسطى والغربية
◾️-وما من شك في أن المصدر الأساسي للفن المسيحي هو الشرق
◽️-من المعروف أن جستنيان استخدم سياسة هجومية في الغرب؛بينما حرص على أن تكون سياسته في الشرق دفاعية فقط
◾️- وهي ثقافة تجمع بين الحضارتين الهلنستية والسامية وهو اتحاد شمل الشرق الأدنى بالكامل وأنا أرى أن ذلك الأساس المشترك إنما هو السبب الرئيسي لما حققه الإسلام من أثر قوي في ثقافة الحضارة الأوروبية في العصور الوسطى لكن الاختلاف الديني أسدل كثيرا من الغموض على ذلك المصدر المشترك للحضارتين
◽️- لكن هناك وحدة من نوع آخر سيطرت على جميع أنحاء تلك الدول،إنها وحدة الدين
◾️-وهناك رباط آخر جمع بين كل تلك الشعوب وهـو اللغة العربية؛فهي لغة الدين ووسيلة تلقي العلوم الصحيحة
October 10, 2023
الباب الخامس الخاص بالمسلمين مفيد جدا في معرفة الفرق بين الخلافة و الملك وما طرأ على الاسلام من تغيير سياسي
gone-gave-away
March 25, 2024Pg 185 interesting map about expansion of Slavs.
Donating green pb.
Donating green pb.
August 9, 2021
هذا ليس كتاب تاريخ بالمعني التقليدي حيث تنتظم فيه الحوادث التفصيلية في سياق الحدث الرئيس، وينتفخ الكتاب بأسماء القادة والمعارك وأعداد المتقاتلين، ولكنه كتاب يبحث فيما بين هذه الحوادث من اتجاهات وتيارات قادت إلى تكون هذه الحقبة المسماة بالعصور الوسطى الأوروبية، فتجد المؤلف يهتم برصد انحصار الدولة الرومانية في الغرب، وعلاقة الدولة الرومانية بالمسيحية، ونشأة دول البرابرة التي مهدت للدول الأوروبية الحديثة، وما صاحب ذلك من ظهور الإقطاع وتغير الأنماط الاقتصادية.
على الرغم أن المؤلف قد زود الكتاب بالعديد من الخرائط والصور – والتي ظهرت في الطبعة العربية غير واضحة في الأبيض والأسود – وكذلك الملحق الذي شرح فيه هيكل الدول الرومانية وعدد من المصطلحات الرئيسة التي استخدمها من الاقتصاد النقدي والعيني، والثبت الكرونولوجي للأحداث وأثبات سلاسل الملوك والحكام والبابوات؛ إلا أن الكتاب لا يزال صعبًا على من لم يلم بهذه الفترة التاريخية من الكتاب التاريخية التقليدية.
على الرغم أن المؤلف قد زود الكتاب بالعديد من الخرائط والصور – والتي ظهرت في الطبعة العربية غير واضحة في الأبيض والأسود – وكذلك الملحق الذي شرح فيه هيكل الدول الرومانية وعدد من المصطلحات الرئيسة التي استخدمها من الاقتصاد النقدي والعيني، والثبت الكرونولوجي للأحداث وأثبات سلاسل الملوك والحكام والبابوات؛ إلا أن الكتاب لا يزال صعبًا على من لم يلم بهذه الفترة التاريخية من الكتاب التاريخية التقليدية.
May 16, 2008
a < 300 page overview from 1935.
The chapters on Justinian's Byzantium are vivid, lyrical.
The chapters on Justinian's Byzantium are vivid, lyrical.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews