The time that followed the decline of the Roman Empire, often seen as the beginning of a long 'dark age', was in fact central to the development of modern Europ... » 

The time that followed the decline of the Roman Empire, often seen as the beginning of a long 'dark age', was in fact central to the development of modern Europe. Chris Wickham's acclaimed history shows how this world, encompassing peoples such as Goths, Franks, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, lies at the heart of how we now understand ourselves. From the collapse of the Roman imperial system to the establishment of new European states, and from Ireland to Constantinople, the Baltic to the Mediterranean, this landmark work makes sense of a period of invasion and turbulence, but also of continuity, creativity and achievement. «