This book, like its predecessor The Settlement of Disputes in Early Medieval Europe, is meant to be read as a book and not as a collection of separate essays. It arises from the ongoing collaboration of the group and from our agreement to look at some key issues concerning property, and power over property, in different parts of early medieval Europe. As before, we have talked over each other's contributions at length, and agreed the content of introduction and conclusion.

Charter weekends have gone on. We have continued to meet regularly, in Bucknell, to discuss old and new approaches to the early middle ages and to find some healthy criticism for our individual work in hand. We share a common approach but have plenty to learn, and we each benefit from the interaction. Tim Reuter and David Ganz, who were part of the original group although unable to contribute to Disputes, came to meetings from the late 1980s and have written papers here. Richard Sharpe has come regularly to meetings, and contributed to discussion and to the shape and content of this book, but does not have a named paper in it.

We want our ideas to be accessible and are anxious that students should read and use this volume as well as scholars and specialists. We have therefore again included a glossary of early medieval words and concepts; this is a simple guide – intentionally so – and is not a comprehensive survey.