Conquests, Catastrophe and Recovery
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Conquests, Catastrophe and Recovery by John Gillingham
Beginning with the Norman Conquest of England, these tumultuous centuries and their invasions shaped the languages and political geography of present-day Britain and Ireland. The Irish, Scots and Welsh fought their battles against the English with varying success - struggles which, like the events of 1066 in England, produced spectacular upheavals and left enduring national memories. But there was still a common enemy: the Black Death - still the greatest catastrophe in their history. There were significant advances, too. Hundreds of new towns were founded; slavery, still prevalent until the twelfth century, died out; magnificent cathedrals built, schools and universities established; clocks, gunpowder and the printing press. Magna Carta set new standards for holding governments to account and trial by jury won a central place in the legal systems of England and Scotland. Tracing the political, religious and material cultures of the period, as well as what might have been, John Gillingham seeks to define the ways in which lives changed during these turbulent times. With the words of contemporaries to guide us, we can understand more than ever before about national identities and the differences which came to define and ultimately untie these islands.
No other single volume offers so comprehensive a consideration of the geography, economy, politics, society and religion of medieval Britain in so engaging and accessible a fashion as Gillingham’s -- Sarah Foot * BBC History Magazine *
Excellent -- Dan Snow
Clear, concise and utterly compellingYou won't find a better general history of medieval Britain -- Marc Morris
Excellent -- Dan Snow
Clear, concise and utterly compellingYou won't find a better general history of medieval Britain -- Marc Morris
John Gillingham is Emeritus Professor of History at the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Fellow of the British Academy. His books include Richard I (1999), The English in the Twelfth Century: Imperialism, National Identity and Political Values (2000) and The Angevin Empire (2001).
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780099563242 |
| ISBN 10 | 009956324X |
| Title | Conquests, Catastrophe and Recovery |
| Author | John Gillingham |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Vintage Publishing |
| Year published | 2014-10-30 |
| Number of pages | 368 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |