The Route of the Franks

A scientific study of the journey that Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury undertook from the British Isles to Rome, focussing on the segment included in the territory of modern France. It not only reconstructs the route, but also offers an archaeological snapshot of the urban developments along the route at the twilight of the first mi

The Route of the Franks presents a scientific study of the journey that Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury undertook at the end of the first millennium from the British Isles to Rome, focussing on the segment included in the territory of modern France. It not only reconstructs the route that Sigeric followed here but also takes an archaeological snapshot of the urban and architectural developments in the centres crossed by this route at the twilight of the first millennium AD. Sigeric’s journey, undertaken for reasons connected to his office, is framed within the historical context of the contemporary Anglo-Saxon world. The special relationship connecting Rome and Canterbury during the Early Middle Ages is also analysed and an archaeological overview of the archbishop’s town is attempted. Sigeric’s experience is framed in the historical context of medieval journeys from England to Rome and the Holy Land. Building upon the literature, culture and narratives of travel, the modalities and practicalities of this type of movement in the Middle Ages are reconstructed, reviewing the many other possible routes across France and the reasons which determined Sigeric’s choice. This brings the author to a new conceptualisation of travel in the past and to study how it affected the identity of the traveller, how individuals and groups interacted in the peculiar framework of displacement, introducing sociological and anthropological perspectives. By applying theoretical frameworks developed in the fields of geography, social sciences, anthropology, environmental behavioural studies, phenomenology, spatial analysis, ICTs and cognitive studies, the book reveals how movement affects the perception of landscapes and how mobility patterns socio-cultural phenomena.

Acknowledgments Introduction Clearing the ground. Archaeological research vs merchandising and branding Note Chapter 1. Conceptualising the Journey Theoretical framework and methodological issues: Defining 'travelscapes' Conceptualising the journey Landscapes of movement Phenomenology of travel: Landscapes of the mind On the way... of constructing an identity An insight into the confrontation of groups of different nature Pilgrimage On the edge of danger Chapter 2. The Historical Framework The geo-cultural definition The Carolingians The tenth century Before and after the year 1000 The communication network Chapter 3. Sigeric and Canterbury Archbishop Sigeric and his time: Eschatology for the end of a millennium and the Anglo-Saxon kingdom Paving the way: Sigeric's predecessors and epigones Canterbury calls Rome: Building an identity Canterbury in the Early and High Middle Ages Chapter 4. Travel in Early Medieval Europe: Modalities, Practice, Exploration Routes, roads and infrastructure Travels from England to Rome A range of possibilities: Routes and roads through medieval France Orienteering and mapping Itineraries and guides Motivations for reporting Scheduling, duration, distance, pauses, means of transport: The routine of travel Hospitality and accommodation Internal structure and composition of the parties Chapter 5. In the Footsteps of Sigeric On the (Roman) road. The itinerary across modern France Chapter 6. A Cross-section of Continental Europe at the End of the First Millennium AD Towns and centres Churches, abbeys, sanctuaries and artistic trends Around the year 1000. At the dawn of a new era? Conclusion. Landscapes of movement at the twilight of the first millennium Landscape perception and medieval journey Bibliography Index of Geographical, Ethnic and Personal Names Index of Ancient and Medieval Sources Index of Manuscripts, Acknowledgments Introduction Clearing the ground. Archaeological research vs merchandising and branding ;
Note ;
Chapter 1. Conceptualising the Journey Theoretical framework and methodological issues: Defining ‘travelscapes’ ;
Conceptualising the journey ;
Landscapes of movement ;
Phenomenology of travel: Landscapes of the mind ;
On the way… of constructing an identity ;
An insight into the confrontation of groups of different nature ;
Pilgrimage ;
On the edge of danger ;
Chapter 2. The Historical Framework The geo-cultural definition ;
The Carolingians ;
The tenth century ;
Before and after the year 1000 ;
The communication network ;
Chapter 3. Sigeric and Canterbury Archbishop Sigeric and his time: Eschatology for the end of a millennium and the Anglo-Saxon kingdom ;
Paving the way: Sigeric’s predecessors and epigones ;
Canterbury calls Rome: Building an identity ;
Canterbury in the Early and High Middle Ages ;
Chapter 4. Travel in Early Medieval Europe: Modalities, Practice, Exploration Routes, roads and infrastructure ;
Travels from England to Rome ;
A range of possibilities: Routes and roads through medieval France ;
Orienteering and mapping ;
Itineraries and guides ;
Motivations for reporting ;
Scheduling, duration, distance, pauses, means of transport: The routine of travel ;
Hospitality and accommodation ;
Internal structure and composition of the parties ;
Chapter 5. In the Footsteps of Sigeric On the (Roman) road. The itinerary across modern France ;
Chapter 6. A Cross-section of Continental Europe at the End of the First Millennium AD Towns and centres ;
Churches, abbeys, sanctuaries and artistic trends ;
Around the year 1000. At the dawn of a new era? ;
Conclusion. Landscapes of movement at the twilight of the first millennium ;
Landscape perception and medieval journey ;
Bibliography Index of Geographical, Ethnic and Personal Names Index of Ancient and Medieval Sources Index of Manuscripts