Early Medieval Italy, 600-1216

An authoritative but accessible book that does justice to the complex and critical history of the Italian peninsula from the end of the classical period through to the age of the medieval city states.

Tom Brown shows how the bewildering influx of foreign invaders xxx; Franks and Lombards in the North, Byzantines and Normans in the south xxx; were absorbed into a distinctively Italian society and culture (for all its regional and local variations) in which the classical, urban tradition survived remarkably unscathed.

His study xxx; the only text of this period and historical range xxx;explores political, economic and social developments within a strong chronological framework and gives equal space to the neglected history of southern Italy as well as the more familiar north.

This is a big book on a big theme and a formidable achievement.