Early European Castles

Aristocracy and Authority, AD 800-1200

Oliver Creighton (Associate Professor of Archaeology, University of Exeter)

$52.99

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Bristol Classical Press
01 July 2012

History; Medieval European archaeology

Series: Debates in Archaeology

Medieval castles were, alongside the great cathedrals, the most recognisable buildings of the medieval world. Closely associated with concepts of justice, lordship and authority as well as military might, castles came to encapsulate the period's very essence.

Looking at above and below-ground evidence and examining a wide variety of sites - from towering donjons to earth and timber castles - in different parts of western Europe, this book explores the relationship between early castle building and the emergence of a new aristocracy and investigates the impact of authority on the organisation of the landscape.

A particular focus is on the social context of early private fortifications: Europe’s earliest castles came to embody a new and radically different form of power – an aristocratic authority that was highly personal in nature, glaringly visible in its presence, and enforceable through violence, both threatened and real. The volume reassesses traditional models of castle origins; examines aspects of elite lifestyle in and around these structures, including pastimes and diet; considers medieval visual experiences of sites and their settings; and explores some future directions for research.

By: Oliver Creighton (Associate Professor of Archaeology University of Exeter)
Imprint: Bristol Classical Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 135mm, Spine: 15mm
Weight: 234g
ISBN: 9781780930312
ISBN 10: 1780930313
Series: Debates in Archaeology
Publication Date: 01 July 2012
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Preface List of illustrations Debating the European 'Castral Revolution' Earth and Timber Castles Stone Towers of Status and Display The Broader Context: Landscape and Townscape Conclusions: The Rise of the Seigneury Bibliography Index

Reviews for Early European Castles: Aristocracy and Authority, AD 800-1200

The prolific medieval archaeologist and academic author Oliver Creighton has now produced an excellent and thought-provoking short book on the origins and early development of European castles to c AD 1200 . . . This short book makes the formative stages of the 'medieval castle' on the European stage much more accessible to readers. -- Terry Barry, Trinity College, Dublin * Medieval Archaeology * Of necessity broad in approach, Oliver Creighton's text provides us with an accessible, lucid and compelling narrative that introduces the main themes and methods that have emerged in castle studies over the last century, and provides us with a series of illustrative examples to support each area of discussion, without becoming submerged in complex detail. -- Richard Oram * Archaeological Journal *