First published 2004
Medieval studies meets Marxist theory in this scholarly examination of how classic Marxism viewed the Middle Ages. Bruce Holsinger and fellow contributors tackle a fundamental contradiction: Marx saw feudal society as both an idyllic world where peasants enjoyed security through their connection to the land and as a system of exploitation that foreshadowed industrial capitalism's worst excesses. The collection explores this tension through eight essays that examine the theoretical implications and cultural effects of Marxist approaches to premodern periods. Contributors analyze everything from household economics in medieval Manchester to Shakespeare's drama as Marxist fetish, from Adorno's aesthetic theory applied to medieval culture to the early English East India Company's investment practices. The book offers readers a comprehensive rethinking of how Marxist thought intersects with medieval and early modern studies, revealing both the insights and limitations of applying historical materialism to premodern societies.
Genres: non-fiction, academic, medieval-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: academic
Period: Middle Ages
248 pages · Paperback · Duke University Press Books