Reddit reviews The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000
We found 2 Reddit comments about The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
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I did a course on medieval kingship at university last year. I believe Carolingian kings wore their hair short, and had mustaches.
The Merovingian kings who came before the Carolingians used their long hair as a source of legitimacy, and the cutting of the hair was often used as a way to disinherit heirs. I'm afraid there is no mention of beards, however, so I would have to trust the other commenters' assertions that shaving was uncommon for the period. The coin linked in the OP was certainly an attempt to claim legitimacy through an association with the Roman Empire, as the Latin inscription indicates. I would, therefore, take the emperor's depiction on it with a grain of salt, it is an attempt to imitate Roman coins, and not necessarily an attempt to actually depict Charlemagne.
A good source for the period, and one I've consulted often, is Chris Wickham's phenomenal book, The Inheritance of Rome, which I'd highly recommend.
Im pretty sure that the start of the Middle Ages is know put at the 8th century, it certainly is for the Middle East, as someone interested in the period you should read this:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Inheritance-Rome-History-Europe/dp/0140290141
I have an MA in Archaeology, research landscapes of the Sassanid Empire (GIS + CORONA) and work here in Australia as consultant archaeologist, I have worked on research excavations in the Middle East and Caucasus.