Before the Normans: Southern Italy in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries

by Barbara M. Kreutz

Histories of medieval Europe have typically ignored southern Italy, looking south only in the Norman period. Yet Southern Italy in the ninth and tenth centuries was a complex and vibrant world that deserves to be better understood. In Before the Normans , Barbara M. Kreutz writes the first modern study in English of the land, political structures, and cultures of southern Italy in the two centuries before the Norman conquests. This was a pan-Meditteranean society, where the Roman past and Lombard-Germanic culture met Byzantine and Islamic civilization, creating a rich and unusual mix.

Genres: History, Italy, Nonfiction, Medieval History, Medieval

268 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1991

Reviews

[Michael Curtotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Before the Normans" really caught my attention and is one of my favourite Italian history books. The title says it all. This is southern Italy's equivalent of Britain's dark ages. In the same century that the venerable Bede was writing his History of the English People, Paul the Deacon was writing a History of the Lombards. In south-west England, Roman Britain hung on for a while as documented by Gildas. In Italy the Roman Empire (now ruled from Constantinople) is still desperately fighting for its Italian holdings. Meanwhile the Islamic Empire is growing in the south - bringing with it trade, scientific knowledge and new agriculture. Lombard princes, fighting among themselves for control of the peninsula turn to Arab mercenaries. Cities like Naples, Gaeta and Amalfi are emerging maritime republics that could have evolved like their northern sister cities, if history had taken a different path. To the north the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor frequently make their presence felt in local politics. A great read.

[Rusty del Norte · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a solid amount of interesting information regarding Southern Italy in the 9th and 10 centuries contained in this book. Broken down by region, like Salerno Benevento, as well as major events, Barbara Kreutz weaves a very detailed account of what was going on at this time. A time where Byzantium was trying to hold its own, Arabs raiding the area, Popes trying to assert their rights, and emperors from the north to impose their own rule at times.

I found the first 4 chapters to contain lots of information that helped in trying to piece this era other. I was introduced to a variety of figures that, unfortunately, do not get a lot of attention. This is because this book functions as a bit of a detailed survey. Writings, records, and events are given to the reader. But many of these materials are from out of print books or document translations.

Overall, this is a must for anybody who is interested in Italy, Byzantium, Muslims in Europe, or Lombards in the medieval era.

[Tonari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ecco cosa succede ad appassionarsi a Crusader Kings 2! Si cominciano a leggere per puro diletto anche questi libri sulla storia del Meridione italiano tra il nono e il decimo secolo!

Non posso che dare un'opinione da perfetto dilettante nella materia: scritto bene, mi è piaciuto. L'ho sentito un po' vicino anche per questioni "genetiche", date le mie origini. La prima metà sugli sconvolgimenti politici dell'800 dopo Cristo è sicuramente più facile in quanto più "movimentata". La seconda parte si sofferma su particolari delle istituzioni e della società Longobarda-Bizantina-Amalfitana e coinvolge meno il lettore occasionale.

In ogni caso l'ho letto tutto senza particolari problemi, è anche piuttosto breve.

[John Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read a free copy through project muse and the NYPL. Gives an understanding of why this period has been called the dark ages. The Muslim sack of Rome and Bari emirate are interesting topics that needed more analysis.

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm afraid that this didn't have my full attention for various reasons. It was interesting--I'm just not sure I got all of the details. I can say that if the invading Normans were not in good company, they were certainly in plentiful company--Muslims, Franks, Carolingians, Byzantines, Lombards all gave it a go--some a better go than others. They variously teamed up with each other, or against each other, sometimes with the assistance of local rulers and sometimes against them. It wasn't so much a melting pot as a boiling over pot....

[Damian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty dry and academic, but full of interesting facts. For example, I never knew that Bari was an Islamic state known as the Emirate of Bari for 25 years. This is just miles from where my family is from in Molfetta.

[Melisende · Rating 3 out of 5]

nicely detailed political and social history of southern Italy in the 9th and 10th centuries - prior to the arrival of the normans