Carolingian Culture
Emulation and Innovation

A collection of essays on the remarkable cultural and intellectual creativity of the Carolingians in eight- and ninth-century Europe. No such comprehensive survey of this kind exists in any language.

Rosamond McKitterick (Edited by)

9780521405867, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 11 November 1993

372 pages, 22 b/w illus.
24.8 x 18.7 x 2.1 cm, 0.66 kg

This volume of specially commissioned essays takes as its theme the legacy of Rome in Carolingian culture in eighth- and ninth-century Europe. No such comprehensive survey of this kind exists in any language. The book is made the more unusual by departing from the customary stress on the concept of renewal to emphasise the enormous creativity and inventiveness of the Franks in every aspect of their intellectual and cultural life. Carolingian culture provided the bedrock for the subsequent development of medieval European culture, and this is demonstrated amply by essays which are planned as introductions to the study of each subject and which also incorporate the author's specialist new research, on the 'Carolingian Renaissance', political theory, the teaching of grammar, Latin and German literature, thought, the writing of history, script and book production, art, and music.

1. The Carolingian Renaissance: an introduction Giles Brown
2. Kingship and empire: Carolingian political though, Janet L. Nelson
3. The study of grammar Vivien Law
4. Carolingian thought John Marenbon
5. The writing of history Rosamond McKitterick
6. Carolingian latin literature Mary Garrison
7. Saints and relics in the Carolingian Renaissance Giles Brown
8. Carolingian music Susan Rankin
9. Script and book production Rosamond McKitterick
10. Emulation and invention in Carolingian art George D. S. Henderson
11. The legacy of the Carolingians Rosamond McKitterick
12. German literature in the Frankish Kingdoms: a survey Cyril Edwards.

Subject Areas: Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], European history [HBJD]