Later medieval Europe saw a great deal of change and expansion ofdifferent kinds. This geographically broad textbook explores theseevents in a series of core chapters on the different countries,covering the Holy Roman Empire, East-Central Europe, Scandinavia andRussia. It looks not only at political history but also at economy,society and culture, including art, architecture, literature andmusic. North shows the significance of the different lines of developmentthat each country/region experienced, thereby offering a very importantcorrective to the usual western-European focus that characterizes othertextbooks in the field. In this way he demonstrates that Europe did notconsist of a core and periphery, but of different regions that haddivergent developments, and makes sense of these various patterns ofhistorical change. A review of current research debates also introducesreaders to the most up to date discussions in the field. This volume provides an excellent, clear and comprehensive surveyfor students, while also throwing light on these societies fromunexpected angles. It offers fresh perspectives on western Europe,comparing English with Scottish and Irish development, looking at theFrench monarchy in a social context, and incorporating Portugal intothe discussion of the Iberian Peninsula.

Other innovative chaptersinclude sections on Russian icons, the Alpine economy and more.