Going into considerable detail on matters he treats more sketchily in his books, Jordan examines such topics as problems discovered and solutions imposed during the communal administration in France from 1257 to 1270, the case of Saint Louis, the impact of the crusades on appropriations for public works in France, the representation of the crusades in songs attributed to Thibaud Count Palatine of Champagne, princely identity and the Jews in medieval France, and the Jews and the transition to papal rule in the Comtat-Venaissin. The 26 articles are reproduced from journal publications between 1976 and 1999; one is double spaced. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)