Medieval Britain: A Very Short Introduction

by John Gillingham, Ralph A. Griffiths, Ralph A. Griffiths

Book Overview

A comprehensive and authoritative short guide, this Very Short Introduction to Medieval Britain covers the establishment of the Anglo-Norman monarchy in the early Middle Ages, through to England's failure to dominate the British Isles and France in the later Middle Ages. Out of the turbulence came stronger senses of identity in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Yet this was an age, too, of growing definition of Englishness and of a distinctive English...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 019285402X
• ISBN13: 9780192854025
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 6.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Introduction

This slim volume packs a great deal in to introduce Medieval Britain to the reader perhaps not familiar with the period. The book covers both chronological history, focusing in particular on the Kings from William I to Richard III and a thematic treatment of issues such as the development of national identity and the evolution of the peasantry during this period. It was a 400 year sweep that saw the power of monarchs oscillate wildly against the backdrop of growing commercialisation of society, the buds of individual liberty for citizens, the fledgling time or parliament and messy and often bloody entanglements with other nations (Scots, Irish, Welsh, French), the vested interests of the aristocracy, and the Church. You may remember some of the choice incidents of this era from school - the Norman Conquest, Magna Carta, Peasants Revolt, War of the Roses. But this book is much more than a simple introduction, and will spark the intelligent reader into developing their study of this fascinating period when Britain really began to take shape as the United Kingdom we recognise today.