Gregory of Tours

Analytical Essay # 50600

Gregory of Tours

An examination of Saint Gregory of Tours's famous work, "History of the Frank People".

3,400 words () | 6 sources | MLA | 2001 Canada

Paper Summary:

This essays examines, in a scholarly fashion, these three schools of historical interpretation, with reference to both Gregory's "History of the Frank People", as well as several 20th century contributions critiquing that work. The first section of the essay examines Gregory's intellectual influences regarding his histories and his role as Bishop of Tours; the second section examines postmodern interpretations of Gregory as a bishop and as a historian; the third section examines the social history of Gregory's time and how it affected his work, "The History of the Franks".

From the Paper:

"Several schools of historiography may be examined to determine the historical significance of Gregory's work, The History of the Franks. Most of the historiography dealing with Gregory's work has been recorded in the twentieth century. Historians such as Walter Goffart, Lewis Thorpe, Patrick J. Geary, Kevin Knight, Jean-Jacques Ampere, Emil H. Walter, and M. L. W. Laistner are all influenced by, and critical of Gregory's Histories. These historians all discuss Gregory's writings in accordance with various schools of historical interpretation including intellectual history, postmodern history, and from a socialist historical perspective."