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The Dark Ages, 476-918

Chapter 2: AUTHOR’S PREFACE
By Charles Oman
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History - EuropeanHistory - Medieval/Middle Ages

About This Book

A concise narrative and analytical survey of early medieval Europe from the fall of Western Roman authority to the early tenth century, tracing political transformations that produced new kingdoms, Byzantine resilience, Islamic expansion, and the rise of Frankish power. It surveys major rulers, dynasties, military campaigns, migrations, and institutional changes, treating the Lombard and Visigothic polities, Justinian’s wars, Merovingian and Carolingian developments, the evolving role of the papacy, iconoclasm, Viking incursions, and regional developments in Italy, Germany, and Byzantium. Organized chronologically and supplemented with maps, genealogical tables, and appendices, it offers a continuous, accessible sketch of the period’s political and military history.

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

In spite of the very modest scale on which this book has been written, I trust that it may be of some use to students of European History. Though there are several excellent monographs in existence dealing with various sections of the period 476-918, there is no continuous general sketch in English which covers the whole of it. Gibbon’s immortal work is popularly supposed to do so, but those who have read it most carefully are best aware that it does not. I am not acquainted with any modern English book where the inquirer can find an account of the Lombard kings, or of the Mohammedan invasions of Italy and Sicily in the ninth century, or of several other not unimportant chapters in the early history of Europe. I am in hopes, therefore, that my attempt to cover the whole field between 476 and 918 may not be entirely useless to the reading public.

I must acknowledge my indebtedness to two living authors, whose works have been of the greatest possible help to me in dealing with two great sections of this period, Doctor Gustav Richter, whose admirable collection of original authorities in his Annalen des Fränkischen Reichs makes such an excellent introduction to the study of Merovingian and Carolingian times, and Professor Bury of Dublin, whose History of the Later Roman Empire has done so much for the knowledge of East-Roman affairs between 476 and 800. Nor must I omit to express my indebtedness to the kindly and diligent hands which spent so many summer hours in the laborious task of compiling my index.

A word ought, perhaps, to be added on the vexed question of the spelling of proper names. I have always chosen the most modern form in speaking of places, but in speaking of individuals I have employed that used by contemporary authorities, save in the case of a few very well known names, such as Charles, Henry, Gregory, Lewis, where archaism would savour of pedantry.

Oxford, November 1893.

PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION

The author has to acknowledge much kind help in the revision of this second edition given him by the Rev. Dr. Bright, Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History; by Mr. C. H. Turner, Fellow of Magdalen College; by the Rev. F. E. Brightman, of University College; and by the unwearied compiler of the index. They have materially improved the accuracy of the book by their suggestions.

October 30, 1894.