About the book: 2008 / The famous French medievalist views the Middle Ages primarily from the point of view of the formation of European identity. It was in this era, which deserves the closest attention to itself, that the main features of the Europe we know were formed. The very concept of “Europe” is found in documents of the 7th century, and the first attempt at its unification dates back to the next century. Further, throughout the Middle Ages, the distinctive features of Europe took shape as a special socio-cultural community united by Christian values, and the first shoots of a pan-European self-awareness arose.