medieval worlds ‒ comparative and interdisciplinary studies, No. 2/2015

MEDIEVAL WORLDS provides a new forum for interdisciplinary and transcultural studies of the Middle Ages. Specifically it encourages and links comparative research between different regions and fields and promotes methodological innovation in transdisciplinary studies. Focusing on the Middle Ages (c. 400-1500 CE, but can be extended whenever thematically fruitful or appropriate), MEDIEVAL WORLDS takes a global approach to studying history in a comparative setting.
MEDIEVAL WORLDS is open to regular submissions on comparative topics, but also offers the possibility to propose or advertise subjects that lend themselves to comparison. With a view to connecting people working on related topics in different academic environments, we publish calls for matching articles and for contributions on particular issues.

Table of Contents

– Walter Pohl: Editor’s Introduction: Empires – Elements of Cohesion and Signs of Decay

– Mayke de Jong: The Empire that was always Decaying: The Carolingians (800-888)

– Simon MacLean: Cross-Channel Marriage and Royal Succession in the Age of Charles the Simple and Athelstan (c. 916-936)

– Andrew J. Newman: ›Great Men‹, ›Decline‹ and Empire: Safavid Studies and a Way Forward?

– Jeroen Duindam: Dynasties

– Susan Reynolds: Nations, Tribes, Peoples, and States

– Glenn Bowman: Lieux Saints Partagés: An Analytical Review

– Johannes Preiser-Kapeller: Calculating the Middle Ages? The Project »Complexities and Networks in the Medieval Mediterranean and Near East« (COMMED)