Medieval archaeology
Encyclopedia
Medieval archaeology is the study of humankind through its material culture, specialising in the period of the European Middle Ages
. At its broadest, the period stretches from the 5th to the 16th century and refers to post-Roman
but pre modern remains. The period covers the upheaval caused by the fall of the Roman Empire
and cultures such as the Vikings, Saxons
and Franks
. Furthermore it concerns on the study of medieval settlements, especially including medieval towns. Although it was considered by some historians to be useless and not able to solve major problems for a long time, today it is fully acknowledged as one of the branches of historic sciences.
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. At its broadest, the period stretches from the 5th to the 16th century and refers to post-Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
but pre modern remains. The period covers the upheaval caused by the fall of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
and cultures such as the Vikings, Saxons
Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
and Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
. Furthermore it concerns on the study of medieval settlements, especially including medieval towns. Although it was considered by some historians to be useless and not able to solve major problems for a long time, today it is fully acknowledged as one of the branches of historic sciences.
External links
- Journal „Medieval Archaeology“, digitized version of vols. 1–50 (1957–2006)