R. H. C. Davis was one of the finest historians of his generation, and his "A History of Medieval Europe: From Constantine to Saint Louis "has been recognized for fifty years as the clearest, most authoritative and most approachable introduction to medieval history.

Davis's exploration of the Dark Ages examines the impact of the Barbarian invasions on Constantine's Christianized empire, and the gradual emergence of a new social, economic and political order. He discusses the Church and the Papacy, the coming of Islam, and the rise and fall of the Frankish Empire. In his consideration of the High Middle Ages, Davis takes the reader from the Saxon Empire through to an examination of the European economy in the mid-thirteenth century, addressing the spread of monasticism, the papal reform, the crusades, and feudal monarchy.

The third edition, revised by R. I. Moore, leaves the text unaltered, but reflects the considerable growth in our knowledge of the period. New features include:

- A new Preface, outlining Davis's view of the importance and relevance of medieval history

- Postscripts to each part, introducing the most important new interpretations of the period to have emerged since the book was written, and showing how Davis's views relate to them

- New maps and illustrations

- Updated reading lists

Combining a strong narrative history of the period with an introduction to diverse historical perspectives, this book is essential reading for all students of medieval history.

The late R. H. C. Davis was Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the Universityof Birmingham. He was also Emeritus Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, the Royal Historical Society, and the BritishAcademy. As one of the leading medievalists of his generation, his research made fundamental contributions to many aspects of English history.

R. I. Moore is Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the Universityof Newcastle upon Tyneand Corresponding Fellow of the Medieval Academy of America. He was a pupil and friend of R. H. C. Davis. He is co-editor (with H. Mayr-Harting) of "Studies in Medieval History presented to R. H. C. Davis "(1985), and author of "The First European Revolution "(2001).