The authors provide a broad overview of the culture and world of the Late Middle Ages (1200-1500 AD) throughout all of Europe. To this end they lean on the pragmatic philosophy of W. James to R. Rorty, who provide many models and interpretations in the context of concrete "ways of life" and "living environment."Grabner-Haider introduces the reader to the world and social processes of this era, including matters of trade relations, worklife, economics and the gender relationships of that time. Besides the political developments in Middle Europe, in England and France as well as in Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe, he also takes a closer look at the religious beliefs of the day, the lives of the mendicant orders, clerical power, the teachings of the Church Councils and the religious beliefs of the day.On the other hand, we also learn about the teachings of the theologians and philosophers at the universities, the concepts of the humanists and the renaissance of ancient thought. Grabner-Haider describes the conflicts between Jews, Christians and Moslems, the development of the natural sciences, medicine, mathematics and astronomy.The volume deals extensively with life under Byzantine rule, the expansion the Ottoman Empire, the role of the Greek-Orthodox Church in Southern Italy and the developments occurring in Russia of that day. It recalls the dark sides of Christianity, the persecution of the "heretics," the many forms of inquisition and the resistance to church reform.Johann Maier is concerned with the culture and world of the Jews in Europe and in the Islamic countries, their religious and cult teachings and theological tenets. Karl Prenner looks at the culture and life of the Moslems in the Arab and Persian worlds, their exchange with the Jews and Chrisians in Spain, their theological and philosophical teachings, the schools of laws as well as the forms of rule they established. There is also an informative timeline, a list of important secondary literature as well as a person index at the end of the volume.

Dr. theol. Dr. phil. Anton Grabner-Haider ist Professor für Religionsphilosophie an der Universität Graz.