Warfare and Society in the Barbarian West 450-900

<p>Guy Halsall relates warfare to many aspects of medieval life, economy, society and politics.This book recovers its distinctiveness, looking at warfare in a rounded context in the British Isles and Western Europe between the end of the Roman Empire and the break-up of the Carolingian Empire.</p><p>Examining the raising and organization of early medieval armies and looks at the conduct of campaigns, the survey also includes a study of the equipment of warriors and the horrific experience of battle as well as an analysis of medieval fortifications and siege warfare.</p><p><em>Warfare and Society in the Barbarian West</em> uses historical and archaeological evidence in a rigorous and sophisticated fashion. It stresses regional variations but also places Anglo-Saxon England in the mainstream of the military developments in this era, and in the process, provides an outstanding resource for students of all levels.</p> List of illustrations, Acknowledgements, Maps, 1 Warfare and violence in the early Middle Ages, 2 Warfare and society, 3 Raising an army (1): post-Roman Europe, 4 Raising an army (2): the Carolingian world, 5 Raising an army (3): allies, mercenaries and training the troops, 6 Raising an army (4): the size of armies, 7 Campaigning, 8 Weaponry and equipment, 9 Battle, 10 Fortification and siege warfare, Epilogue, Appendix: Military activity in the Frankish realms, 581–90, Notes, Select bibliography, Index