The Birth of the West: Rome, Germany, France, and the Creation of Europe in the Tenth Century

“Stimulating, encyclopedic, and often downright funny, this is a book worth remembering.” —Stephen O’Shea, Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada)“A lively, full-to-bursting history of the turbulent tenth century in Europe…. Collins presents chaotic upheaval across Europe in an organized and riveting fashion.” —Kirkus (starred review)The tenth century dawned in violence and disorder. Charlemagne’s empire was in ruins, most of Spain had been claimed by Moorish invaders, and even the papacy in Rome was embroiled in petty, provincial conflicts. The stability once provided by Imperial Rome had dissolved, leaving a perilous landscape behind. Yet the story of the tenth century is the story of our culture’s birth.