Publisher's Synopsis
The 11th century stands as the watershed between the »early&« and »high&« Middle Ages. Exactly what this means is hotly debated by historians, but at some point between the 10th and 12th centuries, the Carolingian World had changed into a political, social, and economic order distinctly different from earlier centuries, a world of knights, castles, and cities. Historians have discussed the nature of these transformations under the label of a medieval »revolution&« that led to feudal society. Heavily challenged over the last decades, the »feudal revolution&« has recently regained explanatory appeal. This volume opens a new perspective on the debate of the transformations of the 10th to 12th centuries, highlighting the role of the »Gregorian Reform&« and the 11th century as a transformative period. The contributions offer case studies on France, Germany, Italy, and northern Spain.
