C. Reading Lists

This section of the site provides a list of some of the books that are available in the library which are useful for the study of the Frankish Kingdoms. It represents only a tiny proportion of what has been written in English about early medieval Europe! Obviously you do not have to read everything: the list is extensive so that everyone will have the opportunity to read around their particular interests. The comments are intended to help you to pick out the more useful items. Books marked with an asterisk* have been placed on 24-hour short loan. There are six pages within this section:

1. Core Reading

2. Books of General Relevance

• Useful Reference Works
• Useful Collections of Primary Sources

3. Narrative Histories

• Histories of Christendom / Europe
• Rome and the Barbarians (with particular reference to Gaul in the fifth century)
• Histories of the Franks, c.500-1000
• Histories of the Eastern Franks, c.900-1050
• Scandinavia, the Vikings and the Frankish Response
• Histories of Other Adjoining Regions

4. Studies of Political Practice

• Kingship, Queenship and Political Practice in General
• Studies of Particular Rulers
• Military Organisation

5. Social / Economic History

• Rural Society
• The 'Feudal Revolution' - the Debate
• Histories of Towns and Trade
• Women and Gender Politics

6. Religious / Intellectual History

• Church Histories / Histories of the Papacy
• Christianisation (which means much more than just 'evangelisation' or 'conversion to Christianity')
• Books about the Religion of the People / the Cult of Saints
• The Secular Clergy and Regular Canons
• Early Medieval Monasticism
• Tenth-Century Monasticism
• Histories of Learning and Cultural Life

Note that specific directions for reading on topics related to the lectures is given on the handouts that accompany the lectures.

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