Feudalism: a Short Bibliography for the Novice

Mord Hrutsson the Green (Steven P. Blowney)

This bibliography only scratches the surface of all the works you could read on feudalism. Medieval scholars still spend much of their time and much their ink discussing feudalism or things that surround feudalism. Thus feudalism is often redefined. This bibliography is designed to serve as a beginning.

Primary Sources

Augustine, Bishop of Hippo. The City of God. The major theological and philosophical work of the early middle ages. A long read.

Boethius. The Consolation of Philosophy. The other major philosophical work by the last of the classical students. Alas, he wrote the work in prison and was then executed.

Einhard. The Life of Charlemagne. The Emperor's life as witnessed by his friend and associate.

Gregory of Tours, Bishop. The History of the Franks. My translation bored me to tears. A must. Absolutely.

Geary, P.J. Readings in Medieval History, Volume One: the Early Middle Ages. Lewiston, New York: Broadview Press, 1992. ISBN: 0-921149-38-7. A useful book that contains samples from various early medieval law codes, the dialogue of Gregory the Great, and perhaps most importantly, the Rule of Saint Benedict.

Tactius. Germania. Everything any Roman wanted to know about the Barbarians. Written at the end of the first century AD, the work gives only clues to the Germanic character. Besides it's about the only thing written about the Germans until they learned to write for themselves

Secondary Sources

Bachrach, B.S. "Charles Martel, Mounted Shock Combat, the Stirrup, and Feudalism." from Studies in Medieval and Renaissance History, Volume VII. W.M. Bowsky, ed. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 1970. This article attempts to refute Lynn White Jr.'s technological approach to the early Middle Ages. I can not deny Mr. Bachrach's scholarship. He proves that the stirrup was not present in the time of Charles Martel. Unfortunately Bachrach does not take on all of White's ideas, Furthermore, no alternative is offered.

Bark, W.F. Origins of the Medieval World. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1958. Designed to encourage discussion at a time when the American study of the Middle Ages was undergoing the intellectual revolution of social historical studies. Makes one think.

Bloch, M. Feudal Society. Though I have read Marc Bloch about three times, I do not pretend to understand fully the complexity which he presents. Bloch's intent, I think was to explain the Feudal dynamic in terms of economics and social obligations. He first, of course, attempts to explain the circumstances of the evolution of those economics and obligations. A must read.

Moss, H. The Birth of the Middle Ages. London: Oxford University Press, 1935. A basic try to cover everywhere synthesis of Early Medieval history. Mr. Moss does not succeed in covering everywhere and does not even attempt to define feudalism. Yet, the author shows an admirable grasp of what he does discuss. A worthy read.

Pirenne, H. Mohammed and Charlemagne. Pirenne's thesis that there could be no Charlemagne without the outside economic threat of Islam was controversial when it was published in the 1930's and still has its adherents today. On the other hand, no one has been able to conclusively prove that Mr. Pirenne was right.

Stephenson, C. Medieval Feudalism. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1957. I really want to like Stephenson's book. There are moments when the author's insights into the problem of feudalism are clear to the point of brilliance. This is especially true in the beginning of the book, but unfortunately one wonders with which century Stephenson is dealing. A good short read.

White, L. Jr. Technology and Medieval Social Change. Feudalism was the direct product of the development of the stirrup, the horse shoe, the horse collar, and the heavy plow. Controversial, but very popular.