التاريخ في ألسنة اللهب | تدمير وبقاء المخطوطات في العصور الوسطى

To what extent does our knowledge of the past depend on written sources? What happens when these sources are destroyed? History in Flames focuses on medieval manuscripts, exploring instances in which vast amounts of written material were destroyed in a single day. This destruction did not occur as a result of fire or flood, but rather as a result of human forces such as arson and artillery and aerial bombardment. The book examines the political and military events leading up to the moment of destruction, from the Franco-Prussian War and the Irish Civil War to the complexities of World War II; It analyzes the missing materials and how they got to their places. At the same time, the book discusses the tremendous efforts made by researchers and archivists to preserve these manuscripts, even partially. History in Flames reminds us that historical knowledge is based on material remains, and that these remains are vulnerable to destruction.