New perspectives on the central middle ages in western Europe cover a wide range of issues. Six papers reassess how 'feudalism' is to be understood after Susan Reynolds's Fiefs and Vassals; in addition to her own response to reviews of her book, these are: consideration of the Germanic comitatus; 'feudal' vocabulary in Dudo of Saint-Quentin; the titles of the early rulers of Normandy; the rise of territorial lordships in the principality of Salerno; and a broad comparative study of 'military lands' in the early and central middle ages. The other five papers range over early Anglo-Saxon reuse of Roman artefacts; the exploitation of whales in early medieval Britain; Edward the Confessor's clerks; Abbot Faricius of Abingdon; and wage-rates in late twelfth- and early thirteenth-century England.
Dr C.P. LEWIS is a lecturer in the School of History at the University of Liverpool. Contributors SUSAN REYNOLDS, STEVEN FANNING, FELICE LIFSHITZ, ROBERT HELMERICHS, VALERIE RAMSEYER, BERNARD S. BACHRACH, CAROL NEUMAN DE VEGVAR, VICKI ELLEN SZABO, MARY FRANCES SMITH, KEVIN SHIRLEY, PAUL LATIMER.