Part 1. Orientations -- The written sources / Sandra Macchiavello and Antonella Rovere -- Genoa and liguria / Paola Guglielmotti -- Early medieval Genoa / Ross Balzaretti -- Part 2. Politics and society -- The commune / Luca Filangieri -- Political alliance and conflict / Antonio Musarra -- Law and society / Roberta Braccia -- Social landscapes / Denise Bezzina -- Part 3. Culture and religion -- Civic identity / Carrie E. Benes -- Architecture and urban topography / George L. Gorse -- Visual culture and artistic exchange / Rebecca Muller -- Intellectual life / Giovanna Petti Balbi -- The church and religious life / Gervase Rosser -- The religious orders / Valeria Polonio -- Part 4. Economy and empire -- The Genoese economy / Jeffrey Miner and Stefan Stantchev -- Companies, commerce, and credit / Carlo Taviani -- Mediterranean rivalries / Thomas Kirk -- Genoa and the crusades / Merav Mack -- Colonies and colonization / Sandra Origone.