Death in the Middle Ages: Mortality, Judgment, and Remembrance (Library of Medieval Civilization)
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Author Description
Medieval man thought about death a great deal and his/her way of life and values were influenced by it. The author covers deaths by battle, execution, and the plague. He follows with burial customs. Many illustrations are given of exquisite tombs, monuments and chapels that remain as silent witness to the lavish ceremonies and pagentry prevalent in the late Middle Ages.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates how the pervasive awareness of mortality shaped the social values, religious practices, and artistic expressions of individuals living during the Middle Ages. T. S. R. Boase, a noted historian of medieval art and culture, examines the intersection of death with daily life, legal systems, and spiritual belief. By analyzing historical records alongside surviving funerary monuments, the author argues that the medieval preoccupation with the afterlife dictated the structure of public ceremony and private devotion.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of mortality causes including warfare, capital punishment, and the Black Death
- Documentation of burial customs and funerary rites
- Examination of late medieval tomb architecture and chapel design
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on Western European traditions
- It does not provide an exhaustive theological treatise on the afterlife
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students of medieval history frequently cite this work as a concise introduction to the material culture of death in the period. Readers note that the text balances historical narrative with visual analysis, making it a useful reference for those interested in the intersection of art and social history.
Page Count:
144
Publication Date:
1972-01-01
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill
ISBN-10:
007006203X
ISBN-13:
9780070062030
History
Death Studies
Cultural History
Art History