The mirror of the medieval : an anthropology of the Western historical imagination / K. Patrick Fazioli.

"Since its invention by Renaissance humanists, the myth of the 'Middle Ages' has held a uniquely important place in the Western historical imagination. Whether envisioned as an era of lost simplicity or a barbaric nightmare, the medieval past has always served as a mirror for modernity. This book gives an eye-opening account of the ways various political and intellectual projects--from nationalism to the discipline of anthropology--have appropriated the Middle Ages for their own ends. Deploying an interdisciplinary toolkit, author K. Patrick Fazioli grounds his analysis in contemporary struggles over power and identity in the Eastern Alps, while also considering the broader implications for scholarly research and public memory"--Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographies and index.

Part I. Anthropology, history, and the Middle Ages -- Manifesto for an anthropology of historicity -- Mirror of the medieval -- Anthropology's lost medieval heritage -- Part II. Identity, power, and the medieval past in the Eastern Alpine region -- German imperialism and the early medieval past -- Slovenian identity and the early medieval past -- Beyond ethnicity : technological choice and communities of practice -- Christianization, syncretism, and an archaeology of time -- Conclusion: Mourning modernity and the myth of the medieval.

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