Encyclopedia of barbarian Europe

The first comprehensive reference work devoted exclusively to this dark, but critical, period in the history of western civilization. Annotation. Frassetto (history, Benedictine U.-University College) presents articles of people, literary works, industries and occupations, dynasties, art forms, and other aspects of Europe from the fourth to the tenth centuries, a period that used to be called The Dark Ages, and that historians consider a bridge between classical and medieval civilizations. He writes for high school and undergraduate students and general readers, citing mostly secondary sources in the topic- specific bibliographies, though an extensive section of the general bibliography cites primary sources in translation. A chronology, maps, a few monochrome illustrations, and cross-references support the text.