Wickham also explores the economic and social changes that took place in the early Middle Ages. In contrast to earlier historiographical views, which emphasized the decline of trade and urban life in the aftermath of the Roman Empire's collapse, Wickham argues that the period was not characterized by a simple economic regression. Instead, he emphas

Chris Wickham's Framing the Early Middle Ages: Europe and the Mediterranean, 400–800 (2006) offers a comprehensive examination of the early medieval period, a time often shrouded in misconception and historical myth. Wickham challenges traditional interpretations of this era, emphasizing its complexity, dynamism, and interconnectedness, rather th

The Golden Rhinoceros itself is more than just a symbol of Mapungubwe; it is emblematic of the larger argument that Fauvelle is making throughout the book: that Africa's Middle Ages were not just a footnote in history but a vibrant and complex period in its own right. The rhinoceros, an animal that does not naturally inhabit the region, serves as a

At the heart of The Golden Rhinoceros lies the story of Mapungubwe, an ancient kingdom located in the southeastern part of present-day Zimbabwe. The discovery of the Golden Rhinoceros in the 1930s unearthed significant evidence of the wealth and power of the kingdom, which flourished from the 11th to the 13th century. The kingdom was home to a soph