Joseph P. Huffman Knihy

DIVIntegrates medieval Germany into western social history /div

The Imperial City of Cologne: From Roman Colony to Medieval Metropolis (19 B.C.-1125 A.D.) is an urban history of Cologne from its imperial Roman origins as a northeastern frontier military outpost to a medieval metropolis on the German Empire's northwestern border. This first history of Cologne, available in English, challenges received notions of late Roman ethnic identities, a Dark Age collapse of urban life, devastating Viking and Magyar incursions, and the origins of medieval urban government.

The book delves into the intricate social, economic, religious, and cultural interactions between England and Cologne during the central Middle Ages, from around 1000 to 1300. Utilizing original archival materials, it uncovers a robust network of English and German emigrants who successfully assimilated into their new environments. Highlighting diverse groups such as pilgrims, crusaders, merchants, and teachers, the work challenges traditional views of medieval Europe by illustrating the complexity of Anglo-German connections.

The book explores the historical narratives in Anglophone literature, highlighting the neglect of medieval Germany in favor of Anglo-French, Anglo-Low Countries, and Anglo-Italian frameworks. It critiques the tendency to view German contributions as peripheral and irrelevant, while also examining how German Rhineland scholars have focused primarily on civic public history and academic discourse. This analysis aims to bridge the gap between these perspectives, offering a more inclusive understanding of historical development across cultures.

This book explores the full range of social, economic, religious and cultural contacts between England and the German city of Cologne during the central Middle Ages, c. 1000 to c. 1300. A wealth of original archive material reveals an extensive network of English and German emigrants who were surprisingly successful in achieving assimilation into their new homelands. From pilgrims to emigrants, crusaders and merchants to teachers, there existed a complex world of Anglo-German associations that will suggest a reconsideration of the medieval European world.