"This book presents an innovative retelling of medieval Silesia, by providing a truly inclusive history that considers a variety of perspectives previously neglected in past narratives. Silesia, the land on the Odra, at the crossroads of the German lands, Poland, and Bohemia, is a region that played a key role in the history of medieval Europe, bridging East and West. The transformations of the thirteenth century, which included the migration of German, Francophone, and Jewish settlers in new towns and villages, and legal, technological, and environmental innovations, had profound effects on language, culture and the economy; proximity to Bohemia forced a reaction to the Hussite movement in the fifteenth century. Moving beyond past scholarship, this book combines a more familiar history with that of women and other cultural and religious groups - Francophones and Jews - who shared the territory of Silesia in the Middle Ages. This study will be an ideal resource for students of medieval Europe or anyone seeking an introduction to medieval Silesia and its diversity of cultures"--.