The period between 770 and 880 experienced an explosion of words signalling the documentary reawakening of Western civilization; this anthology offers a plentiful and engaging selection of primary source documents from that vibrant era.

Among the material new to this second edition are Rimbert's Life of Anskar, with its detailed account of the Carolingian missionary contact with Scandinavia, Ratramnus's study of the dog-headed men, the monk Bernard's Journey to Jerusalem, new specimens of popular beliefs, Audradus Modicus's complete Book of Revelations, and new maps and illustrations.

Chapter One: The Time of Pepin the Short (741-768)

1. A List of Superstitions and Pagan Practices
2. The Correspondence of Boniface, Missionary and Martyr
3. The Elevation of Pepin the Short
4. The Reanointing of Pepin in 754
5. The Donation of Constantine

Chapter Two: The Time of Charlemagne (768-814)

6. Pope Stephen Scolds Charlemagne and Carloman
7. Einhard's Life of Charlemagne
8. Pepin's Victory over the Avars
9. Epitaphs and Eulogies
10. The Equestrian Statue of Theoderic
11. The Lateran Palace of Pope Leo III
12. Charlemagne and Pope Leo
13. Capitularies
14. An Exhortation to the Faithful
15. The Iconodule Controversy in Francia
16. Theodulf's Mosaic of the Ark
17. Theodulf and the Antique Vase
18. Six Short Poems by Theodulf
19. Theodulf of Orléans: Precepts for the Priests of his Diocese
20. Letters of Alcuin
21. Five Poems of Alcuin
22. Alcuin's Dialogue with Young Prince Pepin
23. Charlemagne's Division of his Kingdoms
24. The Diet of Aachen in 813

Chapter Three: The Time of Louis the Pious (814-840)

25. Lament on Charlemagne's Death
26. Thegan's Life of Louis
27. Benedict of Aniane: His Life and Times
28. The Ordinatio Imperii of 817
29. The Vision of the Poor Woman of Laon
30. Louis's Public Penance in 822
31. The Polyptyque of St-Germain-des-Prés
32. The Polyptyque of the Church of Marseilles
33. Agobard of Lyons and the Popular Belief in Weather Magic
34. Of Bread and Provisions in the Statutes of Adalhard of Corbie
35. A Royal Judgment of Pepin in 828
36. Claudius of Turin's Complaint
37. The Penitential of Halitgar
38. Saint-Riquier (Centula): Its Precious Goods
39. The Emperor Louis's Palace at Ingelheim
40. Freculf Dedicates his Book to Empress Judith
41. The Astronomer's Account of the Rebellions
42. Paschasius Radbertus's Defense of Wala
43. Rudolf of Fulda's The Life of Saint Leoba
44. The Final Days and Death of Louis the Pious

Chapter Four: The Time of The Civil War (840-843)

45. Nithard's History
46. Engelbert at the Battle of Fontenoy
47. The Treaty of Verdun, 843
48. Dhuoda's Advice to Her Son

Chapter Five: The Time of the Three Kings and their Sons (844-877)

49. The Annals of Xanten for the Years 844 to 862
50. Audradus Modicus and his Book of Revelations
51. Gottschalk and the Predestination Controversy
52. Popular and Learned Beliefs: Two Specimens
53. The Epitaphs of Ermengard and Lothar
54. Sedulius Scottus's On Christian Rulers
55. Lothar II's Divorce
56. The Susanna Crystal of King Lothar
57. Otfrid of Weissenburg on Old High German
58. Anskar and his Mission to Scandanavia
59. Ratramnus and the Dog-headed Humans
60. The Vision of Charlemagne
61. Letters of Lupus of Ferrières
62. The Wandering Monks of Saint-Philibert
63. The Monk Bernard's Journey to Jerusalem
64. A Judicial Dispute in the Loire Valley
65. A Charter of Immunity from Charles the Bald
66. Saint Remi's Protection of People and Property
67. The Coronation of Charles the Bald as King of Lotharingia
68. Eriugena's Periphyseon: The Beginning and End
69. Wulfadus's Library
70. Wulfadus Goes to Court
71. Charles the Bald Grants a Benefice
72. The Capitulary of Quierzy, 877
73. The Death of Charles the Bald

Chapter Six: The Time of Charles the Fat (878-888)

74. The Annals of Saint-Vaast for the Years 882 to 886
75. The Song of Louis: Ludwigslied
76. Abbo's Account of the Siege of Paris by the Northmen
77. Hincmar of Rheims's On the Governance of the Palace
78. Notker the Stammerer Addresses Charles the Fat
79. The Saxon Poet's Thoughts on Charlemagne
80. The Vision of Charles the Fat
81. Last Thoughts