An extensively researched and carefully reasoned study of the institutions and forces that shaped a phase of Italian history, Lordship, Reform, And The Development Of Civil Society In Medieval Italy: The Bishopric Of Orvieto, 1100-1250 is a scholarly analysis of a small Italian commune during the High Middle Ages. Exploring feudal revolution, ecclesiastical reform, and state building, as well as offer-ing a direct challenge to conclusions that overemphasize the secular nature of Italian city-states by pointing out how ecclesiastical institutions influenced the political and religious culture of communes, Lordship, Reform, And The Development Of Civil Society In Medieval Italy is a work of superb scholarship and a welcome addition to academic library Middle Ages studies and World History reference collections.