Books in the Past Imperfect series

Looks at the early medieval origins and development of canon law using a social history framework, with a view to making sense of a rich and complex legal system and culture which influenced and controlled the medieval Church and society.

The Kingdom of Rus' challenges the perception of Rus' as an eastern "other" - advancing the idea of the Rus' as a kingdom deeply integrated with medieval Europe.

Alfred the Great is a rare historical figure from the early Middle Ages, in that he retains a popular image. This image increasingly suffers from the dead white male syndrome, exacerbated by Alfred's association with British imperialism and colonialism, so this book provides an accessible reassessment of the famous ruler of Wessex, informed by current scholarship, both on the king as a man in history, and the king as a subsequent legendary construct.Daniel Anlezark presents Alfred in his historical context, seen through Asser's Life, the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, and other texts associated with the king. The book engages with current discussions about the authenticity of attributions to Alfred of works such as the Old English Boethius and Soliloquies, and explores how this ninth-century king of Wessex came to be considered the Great king of legend.

In a world where princesses found themselves enslaved, kidnapped boys became army generals, and biblical Joseph was a role model, this book narrates the formation of the Middle Ages from the point of view of slavery, and outlines a new approach to enhance our understanding of modern forms of enslavement. Offering an analysis of recent scholarship and an array of sources, never before studied together, from distinct societies and cultures of the first millennium, it challenges the traditional dichotomy between ancient and medieval slaveries. Revealing the dynamic, versatile, and adaptable character of slavery it presents an innovative definition of slavery as a historical process.

This book discusses medieval Rome, adorned as it was by "Byzantine" art, monuments, and culture, as a city that defined both East and West.

An exploration of how ideas regarding the source and character of supreme political authority--sovereignty--experienced a crucial period of formative development during the thirteenth century.

Medieval Cityscapes Today walks you through medieval urban landscapes, drawing upon diverse historical and archaeological sources and the latest digital technologies.

This short book uses the available evidence to present facts and debates around Jews in late antiquity and to provide a first step toward the understanding of this little-known period in Jewish history.

This is a somewhat polemical, and very passionate, consideration of the house that scholasticism built, and those who were excluded from it.

Richard Utz's manifesto calls on the academy to reconnect with the general public in order to build a sustainable future for medievalism.

From their medieval beginnings, universities have remained surprisingly resilient. What can be learnt from the medieval as we face today's challenges?