' The Penguin History of Europe series is one of contemporary publishing's great projects' New Statesman The world known as the ' Dark Ages' often seen as a time of barbarism was in fact the crucible in which modern Europe would be created Chris Wickham's acclaimed history shows how this period encompassing peoples such as Goths Franks Vandals Byzantines Arabs Anglo-Saxons & Vikings was central to the development of our history & culture From the collapse of the Roman Empire to the establishment of new European states & from Ireland to Constantinople the Baltic to the Mediterranean this landmark work makes sense of a time of invasion & turbulence but also of continuity creativity & achievement