...a gem of a book...a maserful demonstration of the art of reading medieval chapters...an important contribution to a transregional study of early medieval Christian Iberia; and an object lesson in the rewards to br gained when an accomplished scholar of one region sets out to explore another.

Early Medieval Europe

...it is most encouraging to find that an experienced and thoughtful expert such as Wendy Davies has devoted great care to understanding these documents...This is what archival research ought to be...an object lesson in how to read awkward archival data and draw undistracted conclusions from them, with a result that will be of use to future historians of many perspectives.

Roger Wright The Journal of the British Records Association

Acts of Giving examines the issues surrounding donation - the giving of property, usually landed property - in northern 'Christian' Spain in the tenth century, when written texts became very plentiful, allowing us to glimpse the working of local society. Wendy Davies explores who gives and who receives; what is given; reasons for giving; and the place of giving within the complex of social and economic relationships in society as a whole. People gave land for all kinds of reasons - because they were forced to do so, to meet debts or pay fines; because they wanted to gain material benefits in life, or to secure support in the short term or in old age. Giving pro anima, for the sake of the soul, was relatively limited; and gifts were made to lay persons as well as to the church. Family interests were strongly sustained across the tenth century and did not dwindle; family land was split and re-assembled, not fragmented. The gender and status of donors are key themes, along with commemoration: more men than women took steps to memorialize, in contrast to some parts of western Europe, and more aristocrats than peasants, which is less of a contrast. Donation as a type of transaction is also examined, as well as the insights into status afforded by the language and form of the records. Buying and selling, giving and receiving continued in the tenth-century as it had for centuries. However this period saw the volume of peasant donation to the church increasing enormously. It was this which set the conditions for substantial social and economic change.
Les mer
Acts of Giving examines issues surrounding donation-the giving of property, particularly landed property-in northern Spain during the tenth century. Exploring the place of giving within a broad complex of social and economic concerns, Wendy Davies highlights the centrality of Spain to some of the core themes of medieval European history.
Les mer
1. Setting the Scene ; i Land and People ; ii History ; 2. San Pedro and Santa Comba: churches and their proprietors ; 3. Dividing and sharing property ; 4. The language of donation ; 5. Donation to churches: purpose and expectations ; 6. Gesmira, Recosinda, and Nuno Sarraciniz: donation to lay persons ; 7. Men and women ; 8. Peasant society ; 9. Rhetoric and action ; Bibliography
Les mer
...a gem of a book...a maserful demonstration of the art of reading medieval chapters...an important contribution to a transregional study of early medieval Christian Iberia; and an object lesson in the rewards to br gained when an accomplished scholar of one region sets out to explore another.
Les mer
Looks at tenth-century Spain in a European context Examines the social and economic issues in Spain in the early middle ages Written by a leading Medieval Historian
Looks at tenth-century Spain in a European context Examines the social and economic issues in Spain in the early middle ages Written by a leading Medieval Historian

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780199283408
Publisert
2007
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Vekt
490 gr
Høyde
223 mm
Bredde
143 mm
Dybde
19 mm
Aldersnivå
UU, UP, 05
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
260

Forfatter