Medieval Europe

by Henry William Carless Davis

[...]hearth-fire of medieval culture was kindled on the ruins of the Empire. How far the victorious Teuton borrowed from the conquered provincial is a question still debated; the degree and the nature of Rome's influence on the new rulers varied in every province, indeed in different parts of the same province. The fact of the debt remains, suggesting a doubt whether in this case it was indeed the fittest who survived. The flaws in a social order which has collapsed under the stress of adverse fortunes are painfully apparent. It is natural to speak of the final overthrow as the judgment of heaven or the verdict of events. But it has still to be proved that war is an unfailing test[...].

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Medieval History, European History, Historical, Reference

Kindle Edition

First published December 31, 1993

About the author

Henry William Carless Davis, CBE, FBA was a British historian, editor of the Dictionary of National Biography, and Oxford Regius Professor of Modern History.

Davis was born at Ebley, near Stroud, Gloucestershire, the eldest of five children of Henry Frederick Alexander Davis, a solicitor, and his wife, Jessie Anna. The children were brought up by their mother, who moved to Weymouth in 1884 to open a school for young children including her own, and was successful enough to be appointed first headmistress of Weymouth College preparatory school in 1903. Davis attended Weymouth College from 1886 and went up to Balliol College, Oxford on a Brackenbury history scholarship, where he attained first classes in classical moderations in 1893 and literae humaniores in 1895 as well as the Jenkiyns exhibition. He was elected to a fellowship at All Souls College, Oxford, maintaining residence there from 1895 until 1902, and spending time teaching at University College, Bangor between 1896 and 1897. Davis won the Lothian prize in 1897 and was appointed to a lectureship at New College, Oxford and in 1899 exchanged lectureships and moved to Balliol, where on the expiry of his All Souls fellowship in 1902 he was appointed a fellow of Balliol.
In 1899 Davis published Balliol College, a work in the College Histories series, and in 1900, Charlemagne, in the Heroes of the Nations series, as well as articles in the English Historical Review in 1901. In 1903 he published the article The Anarchy of Stephen's Reign in the same journal, which presented the idea that the use of the term 'waste' in the Pipe Rolls indicated a much wider devastation resulting from the Anarchy than previously was thought, fuelling the belief that a great anarchy occurred during Stephen's reign, although the 'waste' theory was later discredited. His first widely regarded book was England under the Normans and Angevins, published in 1905, it became a standard authority and reached a tenth print edition in 1930. It was, however, his only substantial contribution to narrative medieval history. In 1911 he wrote the summary Medieval Europe, in the Home University Library series, but from 1905 was more focused on editorial work, preparing an edition of Benjamin Jowett's translation of Aristotle's Politics, a revision of William Stubbs' Select Charters and starting the calendar of royal charters, Regesta regum Anglo-Normannorum.
His academic presence inspired genuine respect and regard, and his lectures were well attended. Davis was junior dean of Balliol from 1906 until 1910, and an examiner in the final school of modern history between 1907 and 1909, and again from 1919 to 1921 In 1912 Davis married Jennie Rosa, the daughter of Walter Lindup, of Bampton Grange in Oxfordshire. In 1913 he took the Chichele lectureship in foreign history and became a curator of the Bodleian Library in 1914.

Reviews

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting, short and lay-friendly overview the development of Europe during the Middle Ages. Davis sketches in broad strokes the development of the kingdoms of western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire, the ascendancy of the Papacy, the development of feudalism and the contentious growth of cities. While there are many aspects that are mentioned without further elaboration, such as the monastic and scholastic movements, these do not undermine the clarity of the broader trends and are excellent jumping off points for the interested reader. Definitively would recommend for anyone looking to get a quick overview of the Middle Ages.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too fussy to succeed as popular history, too shallow to give a good understanding of such a broad period.

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a public domain ebook of a work originally published in 1911. It’s a brief summary of the European Middle Ages aiming to dispel the “dark ages” view still prevalent at the time. Rather than just enumerating kings and battles, the author attempts to summarise the social movements and beliefs that shaped the epoch. Particularly, he shows the continuity between the Roman Empire and the medieval State, finding the roots of feudalism in the latifunda of Rome as well as barbarian vassalage, and those of the Church’s power in Roman bureaucracy and custom. It’s an interesting approach even though it is only a high level summary of what was going on. However, this approach makes many events of the times fit in a logical pragmatic progression rather than seem like isolated and unexplained happenings. This is a book to consult again.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for a MOOC on Coursera called Unlocking the Manuscripts of Medieval Spain.

This book was published in 1911. The author is quite fond of big words. And he jumps around a lot. I read a version from gutenburg.org that does not include maps, which made it even more confusing. If you are familiar with Medieval Europe, you might get something out of this book. For me it jumped around a lot.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read, but given the era it was written the book is surprisingly conversational. A "mile-high" overview of the high points in medieval history, with a focus on the rise and fall of feudalism.

[Nick B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough read due to the time period it was written in, but contained a good amount of information and detail.

[Sensei Sage · Rating 2 out of 5]

definitely has a lot of spin, but i'm learning a lot reading it