This anthology of judiciously selected sources concerned with medieval society and culture presents an intriguing view of Western society from its emergence as a distinctively "European" culture in the early Middle Ages (ca. 500-1000), to the burgeoning scholarship and literary and artistic expression of the central Middle Ages (ca. 1000-1350), and the dislocations and disasters of the closing Middle Ages (ca. 1350-1500). The documents presented for each period are intended to serve two purposes: an initial selection illustrates the society and the social milieu of the period, while the second group of readings provides examples of the chief forms of literary expression and illuminates some of the characteristic cultural attitudes of the age. Many ideas and ideals of the Middle Ages have exerted a permanent influence upon the culture of the modern world and have been a permanent source of enrichment for it. Readers will come away from this collection moved to a deeper appreciation of this truly fascinating period of history, as well as a wider interest in the rich and still living heritage of the medieval world.