Medieval Frontier Societies - Hardcover

Bartlett, Robert

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198228813 ISBN 13: 9780198228813

Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1989

Synopsis

This study of the nature of frontiers and frontier society in the middle ages focuses on the frontiers between England and Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, between Castile and Grenada and on the Elbe, examining the consequences for frontier societies of being located in areas of cross-cultural contact, and often confrontation. Hostile frontiers responded to endemic warfare with a high level of militarization. Institutions, expectations and even local family structures are shown to have been products of an environment of long-term and ubiquitous fighting. But, devices also developed in frontier societies for mediation, arbitration and negotiation. Frontiers constituted areas of cultural contact and cultural clash. Interaction between different religions, laws, languages and mores was often hostile, but could sometimes be flexible and these responses are reflected, for example, in the literature and poetry of the areas involved.

About this title

Review

`provides many fascinating insights and nuggets of information which will be of value both to professional historians and to the non-specialist student ... This volume is highly to be commended.' History

`The contributions are excellent ... The range of the material, from economic to military and literary history, is impressive.' Journal of Medieval History

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198228813
• ISBN 13: 9780198228813
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 400