One of the funnest texts I've ever read is Book of Deeds of James I of Aragon (“Llibre dels fets” in Catalan, “Libro de los hechos” in Spanish), perhaps Barcelona. Although it doesn't give you a ton of daily life stuff, it kind of gives you a ton of small-time war and politics in northeastern Spain. It's a very micro history in its feel, a lot of fun, quirky little details, and a really good depiction of the attitude of a a personable king who dictated a memoir.
Excellent review! I read a book a while ago, "Shylock Reconsidered", that similarly challenged my ideas about the reality of medieval society. In this case, it was about how normalized the idea of debt and lending was in medieval society and how sophisticated the legal system was that built up around it, at least in England.
I largely got the same impression that you did, that the idea of unhappy, hyper-religious medieval peasants is a vast oversimplification. However, the ahistoricity of the Montaillou inhabitants seems strange. I wonder if the same was true of their clergy/educated folk, or if they voluntarily chose to forget their unhappy recent history.
One of the funnest texts I've ever read is Book of Deeds of James I of Aragon (“Llibre dels fets” in Catalan, “Libro de los hechos” in Spanish), perhaps Barcelona. Although it doesn't give you a ton of daily life stuff, it kind of gives you a ton of small-time war and politics in northeastern Spain. It's a very micro history in its feel, a lot of fun, quirky little details, and a really good depiction of the attitude of a a personable king who dictated a memoir.
Excellent review! I read a book a while ago, "Shylock Reconsidered", that similarly challenged my ideas about the reality of medieval society. In this case, it was about how normalized the idea of debt and lending was in medieval society and how sophisticated the legal system was that built up around it, at least in England.
I largely got the same impression that you did, that the idea of unhappy, hyper-religious medieval peasants is a vast oversimplification. However, the ahistoricity of the Montaillou inhabitants seems strange. I wonder if the same was true of their clergy/educated folk, or if they voluntarily chose to forget their unhappy recent history.