The Dangers of Ritual

The book challenges the prevalent view of political ritual as central to medieval history, questioning its significance in understanding events like coronations and civic games. Philippe Buc argues that contemporary scholars may misinterpret medieval documents due to a misunderstanding of the authors' intentions, influenced by twentieth-century ritual theories. By reevaluating the role of ritual, Buc invites readers to reconsider its place in historical analysis, suggesting that it may not hold the importance previously attributed to it.