The mountains and the city

About the book

One of the few anthropological studies of medieval history ever to be written, this book charts the internal social and economic development of two mountain valley societies in Tuscany from the 8th to the 12th century. Linking Garfagnana and Casentino with the emerging world of Italian city states, the author explores society from below, through the activities of the local people, rather than through the interests of their masters.