Medieval Russia, 980–1584 (Cambridge Medieval Textbooks) - Tapa dura

"Janet Martin cuts through the complexities of identity continuity, and discontinuity suggested by the preceding sentence. She presents the history of a single society in which many states evolved over time....Martin's effort to pull it all together has the virtue of engaging and challenging the reader....Most noteworthy is her integration of recent revisionist work that reframes issues such as Kiev's demise, the Mongol's role in Mosow's rise....Historians will appreciate the degree to which the argument is supported by important excurses into society and economy, administrative structures, and ideology and symbolism, and students should enjoy grappling with Martin's argument and with the counterargument that she so fairly and lucidly presents. Martin is to be commended for prodigious work and thoughful synthesis; this book will set the terms of debate for years to come." Nancy Shields Kollmann, American Historical Review

"Janet Martin's textbook reflects the results of the best recent scholarship in an accessible form. It ought to be in the library of every serious student of Russian history." Eve Levin, The Historian

"Martin presents her analysis in a clear and well-organized style that leaves no doubt as to her conclusions. Her arguments are, in the main, convincing and reflect the author's considerable erudition and wide reading." Thomas S. Noonan, JEMH

"Martin sets out her central themes with admirable clarity and balance. She judiciously unravels the debates of the specialists and incorporates the most valuable insights of recent scholarly literature..." Robert O. Crummey, Speculum

This book is a concise and comprehensive narrative history of Russia from 980 to 1584. It covers the history of the realm of the Riurikid dynasty from the reign of Vladimir 1 the Saint, through to the reign of Ivan the Terrible, who sealed the end of his dynasty's rule. Presenting developments in social and economic areas, as well as in political history, foreign relations, religion and culture, Medieval Russia, 980–1584 breaks away from the traditional view of Old Russia as a static, immutable culture, and emphasises the 'dynamic' and changing qualities of Russian society. Janet Martin develops clear lines of argument that lead to conclusions concerning how and why the states and society of the lands of the Rus' assumed the forms and characteristics that they did. Broadly accessible with informative and provocative interpretations, this book provides an up-to-date analysis of medieval Russia.