Alice Rio Ordre des livres

Exploring the evolution of slavery and serfdom in early medieval Western Europe, this book examines the complex dynamics of slave-taking and slave-trading. It delves into various circumstances leading to enslavement, such as debt and crime, as well as instances of voluntary servitude. By providing a comprehensive historical account, it sheds light on a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of European history following the fall of the Roman Empire.

Focusing on legal formularies from the Merovingian and Carolingian periods, this book explores their significance as historical sources. It delves into the challenges and opportunities these documents present for understanding the legal and social contexts of their time, offering insights into the evolution of law and governance in early medieval Europe. Through critical analysis, the work illuminates the complexities of interpreting these formularies and their impact on historical scholarship.

Legal formularies provide modern historians with information on many aspects of ordinary life in early medieval Europe, from labour and land agreements to cases which we would nowadays associate with criminal law. This book provides a detailed analysis of formularies, setting out their problems and possibilities as historical sources.