Orta Çağ Avrupa Tarihi

by R.H.C. Davis, Rümeysa Şişman (Translator)

Orta Çağ Avrupa Tarihi, dördüncü yüzyıldan on dördüncü yüzyıla uzanan zaman dilimini tek ciltte anlatabilen bir çalışma olarak hâlen takdir görmektedir. Orta Çağ çalışmaları alanında yürütülen araştırmalarla bu döneme ilişkin bilgiler genişlese de Davis’in sade anlatımı, dengeli hükümleri ve açık savları, emsalsiz bir giriş kitabını meydana getirmektedir. Davis’in bu çalışması, her bölümün sonuna konan okuma önerileriyle yol gösterici bir rol üstlenmektedir.
Modernist bir perspektif ile kaleme alınmış bu çalışma, Avrupa tarihindeki dönüm noktalarına temas eder. Papalığa, manastır sistemine ve kilise ile krallıklar arası ilişkilere dair ufuk açıcı anlatımıyla Avrupa tarihinin geçtiği evreleri gözler önüne serer. Öte yandan Avrupa sadece kilise ve krallıklardan ibaret değildir. Avrupa kavramının şekillenmesinde komşu uygarlıklarla gerçekleşen temaslar da belirleyicidir. Bu tarihsel olgunun farkında olan Davis, Vikinglere ve İslâmiyet’e ayrı bölümlerde yer vermektedir.

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

424 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Ralph Henry Carless Davis, always known publicly as R.H.C. Davis, was an English historian and educator specialising in the European Middle Ages. He was a leading exponent of strict documentary analysis and interpretation, was keenly interested in architecture and art in history, and was successful at communicating to the public and as a teacher.

R.H.C. Davis was the son of historian H.W. Carless Davis

Reviews

[Steve Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an introduction to the period, this book cannot be beaten - even now so many years since it was written. New findings and ideas bookend the chapters. They bring you up to date, provide fascinating context, and leave the chapters surprisingly unscathed. My only regret is that my memory won't retain all this information for long!

[Robert Kleinberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This extraordinary book shines bright rays of vision onto the decline of Rome, the so-called Dark Ages, and the early rise of towns, capitalism and nation-states in Europe up to 1250 AD.

Davis, a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, with seeming effortlessness provides sweeping, clear overviews blended with local close-ups and telling quotations from period sources, punctuated every page or two with insights stated so brilliantly that the reader has to pause to take them in.

Davis enlivens his writing with British understatement, humor, and ironic twists. The life of Pope John XII was “not lacking in the picturesque” – he made his palace into a whorehouse. Not long after, Normans based in Sicily “had the honor” to defeat the Pope’s army. Later, Davis remarks that as soon as St. Francis had been canonized, his wishes about the purity of his monastic order “could at last be ignored.”

The book’s early chapters burst with contemporary relevance. They describe the integration of surrounding peoples into the Roman empire. Most of them, Davis says, Romanized to some degree, while the empire became “barbarianized”, until the Roman world “simply faded away.”

Equally relevant is Davis’s acute chapter on the origins of Islam, from its idealistic foundation through its subsequent incorporation of violent jihad. Islam “embraced the whole of life in all its aspects” and did not recognize a distinction between Church and State.

Davis reveals the origins of modern France, Germany, and Italy; explains why the latter two remained disunified for centuries; and shows how parts of Europe progressed from the relative isolation of the Dark Ages to early capitalism, when trade surpassed the land as source of wealth and communal towns began to insist on their freedom from princes and the Church.

A beautiful piece of work, this book reflects prodigious learning and deep understanding.

This review is based on the first edition, originally published in 1957.

[Türkî Beğ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eseri beğenerek okudum ancak dört yıldız vermemin sebebi, çeviride gözüme batan hatalar oldu; eserin orijinalindeki Naples'in, Türkçe çeviride Nepal oluvermesi gibi. Veya mütercim iki hükümdarı karıştırdığı için, IV. Heinrich'in ölümünden 90 yıl sonra 1197'de tekrar ölmesi gibi. O bakımdan dikkatli okumakta fayda var. Sonraki baskılarda bu gibi hataların düzeltileceğini umuyorum.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a book of two parts; I really enjoyed the sections on the papacy but found the sections on economic matters and descriptions of the differing ways on dividing feudal property a little dry. It was good that additional comments and material on more recent developments in scholarship were included. Overall, a solid 3 star rating (would have been 3.5 if they allowed halves on the site).

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good general history although I think the coverage of the development of the Holy Roman Empire is a bit confusing--both Charlemagne and Otto are referred to as the founder. I may have more to say as I type up my notes but I do think this is a good starting place for someone new to the subject.

[Christopher Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Davis' work is a classic of its field and a stalwart for the reading list of any undergraduate module on the topic, even revisions and additions by Davis' student R I Moore cannot fully update this book which is now, unfortunately, really showing its age. The style is engaging and lively, with Davis' passion for his subject evident in every line. Particularly notable is Chapter 8 of Part 2, and its coverage of the remarkable history of Frederick II and of Sicily in this period, of which I was previously largely unaware and has proved fertile ground for the adding of a number of works to my reading list. Davis' handling if the complexity if the Investitures crisis shoukd also be recognised for its acuity and clarity. However, the book has some significant methodological drawbacks which, to his credit, Moore demonstrates his cognizance of in his Postscript to Part 2. The lack of attention paid to more 'peripheral' areas of Europe (Iberia, England, Poland, Russia etc.) as well as the overwhelming emphasis on 'great men', the behaviours of the elites, and religious culture over secular culture are the most significant, for this reader, of these limitations. Nevertheless, this book still has a place on my shelf as an engaging introduction and survey of a long and complex period whose author handles a great breadth of both primary and secondary material with aplomb and it should still be considered a great jumping-off point for students of this period both as a resource for knowledge and an exercise in historiographical criticism.

[Samuel Eastlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of Medieval Europe, covering Constantine until the late 13th century and the split between the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire. The major political developments are covered with the relevant people and dates covered. The book is structured clearly into two halves corresponding to late antiquity and the middle ages. Each half ends with an economic overview.

Time is given to the migration of peoples, political changes, religious enthusiasm and decline, the growth of monasticism, the conflict between the Emperor and the Pope (Ghibellines and Guelfs), and the development of feudalism. There is little on the history of England and Spain, mostly focusing on Central Europe and Italy.

I wish I had read this years ago, it is really good and worth the time.

[Iain M Rodgers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heavy going but interesting.

I have no qualifications or knowledge which I can offer to justify my rating or this review.
It's by far the best book on medieval history I have ever read (you've guessed it - it's the only one).

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my daughter who was reading it for school. It is a good delve into Medieval Europe including different perspectives and lots of information about different people and events. Great for high school students and adults.

[Matt Digel]

“If you could only read one book on medieval history, R. H. C. Davis's History of Medieval Europe might be the best choice. Used copies are much cheaper, and probably better printed too, so I recommend buying it used.” ― Paul

[Olivia Winchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a great introduction to the middle ages but can be a bit difficult to dip into as a beginner but I did enjoy it.

[Pachara Angkharuengrattana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's full of details, but the language and writing style is hard to read. It offers some alternative view to the historical facts.

[Jim D'Ambrosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit on the older side (1957), but quite clearly written, and an enjoyable read if you like the subject.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable macro-level history of Europe from the end of the Roman empire until the 14th century.

[Chels S · Rating 1 out of 5]

Deliberate lies about the Church and then, what did you know, shifts from objectivity to actually stating that Mohammed's batshit insane ravings were genuine divine inspiration. English cucks.

[Alexander Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid overview

[Emily Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just read the Viking related parts from this book for my historical enquiry. The book is good, yet has many outdated theories as it from 1957, yet shows a good alternative view compared with many modern scholars.

[James Bunyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it is decades old, needs updating and seems to be fairly narrow in surveying predominantly the medieval historical development of the Papacy, France and the Empire, there are still few better places to find a balanced, enjoyable and thorough treatment of the subject.

[Paul Pryce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this book out at random from a family collection of 1st year Undergraduate books - I wanted to read something/ anything of the post Roman era and this book ticked all the boxes. It’s not History for Dummies but I could keep up with it. I really recommend this book.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book since purchasing it for a university class in 1981. I've still got it and still drag it out occasionally to re-read sections. Not for someone looking for an easy weekend read.

[unevendesk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.