Authors: Prof. Dr. Verena Epp
The paper focuses on the social and cultural impact of letter- writing in the early Middle Ages. Three major letter-collections from Gaul, Italy and Burgundy are analysed to show how in times of crisis letters helped to foster the social and political influence of élites. By a new method of close reading recurring motives of these letters are discerned to unfold the authors` mental maps and their respective sets of cultural and political values.
Keywords: Transformation of the Roman Empire, migrations, political insecurity, education and learning, social status, political freedom