Estudiar el Estado para comprender las sociedades altomedievales: a propósito de un libro reciente

Abstract

Álvaro Carvajal’s Bajo la máscara del regnum is an original and fruitful contribution to existing research on early medieval societies, based on Bob Jessop’s approach to state theory. This article suggests a number of points for discussion around three issues: agrarian growth, the forms and functions of justice, and conflicts over space. On the one hand, the potential of Carvajal’s approach can be verified beyond the aspects that constitute the core of the book. On the other hand, its originality makes very apparent (by contrast) some theoretical and historiographic problems that burden current research practice.