Empires and Barbarians
Empires and Barbarians by Peter Heather, published by Macmillan in 2009, is a comprehensive exploration of the significant transformations that shaped western Eurasia at the dawn of the first millennium AD. This first edition, spanning 734 pages, delves into the contrast between the Mediterranean-based Roman Empire and the subsistence farming communities of central, northern, and eastern Europe. Heather examines how the decline of the Roman Empire led to the emergence of a diverse landscape of Christian states, fundamentally altering the trajectory of European history.
In this detailed account, readers will find an analysis of the cultural and political shifts that marked the transition from a singular empire to a complex commonwealth of states. The narrative highlights the evolution of societies from small, loosely organized groups to more structured political entities, setting the stage for the Europe we recognize today. Through this examination of ancient civilizations, the book provides insights into the historical forces that shaped the continent, making it a valuable resource for those interested in history and the development of early European societies.
Official synopsis Publisher
At the start of the first millennium AD, southern and western Europe formed part of the Mediterranean-based Roman Empire, the largest state western Eurasia has ever known, and was set firmly on a trajectory towards towns, writing, mosaics, and central heating. Central, northern and eastern Europe was home to subsistence farmers, living in wooden houses with mud floors, whose largest political units weighed in at no more than a few thousand people. By the year 1000, Mediterranean domination of the European landscape had been destroyed. Instead of one huge Empire facing loosely organised subsistence farmers, Europe – from the Atlantic almost to the Urals – was home to an interacting commonwealth of Christian states, many of which are still with us today . This book tells the story of the transformations which changed western Eurasia forever: of the birth of Europe itself.
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