Political Thought in Europe, 1250-1450Cambridge University Press, 1992 M08 20 - 211 pages Why did European civilisation develop as it did? Why was it so different from that of Russia, the Islamic world and elsewhere? In this new textbook Antony Black explores some of the reasons, looking at ideas of the state, law, rulership, representation of the community, and the right to self-administration, and how, during a crucial period these became embedded in people's self-awareness, and articulated and justified by theorists. This is the first concise overview of a period never previously treated satisfactorily as a whole: Dr Black uses the analytical tools of scholars such as Pocock and Skinner to set the work of political theorists in the context of both contemporary politics and the longer-term history of political ideas. The book provides students of both medieval history and political thought with an accessible and lucid introduction to the early development of certain ideas fundamental to the organisation of the modern world and contains a full bibliography to assist students wishing to pursue the subject in greater depth. |
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according Ages Aquinas argued argument Aristotle Aristotle's authority body called century Christ Christian church citizens city-states civic civil claimed clergy concept concerned consent constitutional corporation council Cusa defended derived developed discussion distinct divine doctrine ecclesiastical election emperor Empire England especially Europe example existing expressed faith France German given hand human idea individual Italian Italy John judge jurists justice kind king kingdom kingship language later legislator legitimate less liberty Marsiglio matters means medieval Middle monarchy moral nature Nicholas of Cusa Ockham original papacy papal parliament particular peace person philosophy political pope practice prince principle question reason referred reform relation religious representative role Roman royal rule ruler secular sense social society sovereignty spiritual subjects suggested superior temporal theology theory thought true tyranny universal virtue whole