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This text provides an introduction to Anglo-Saxon history from the 5th century to the eve of the Norman Conquest.
In this major survey, three distinguished historians produce an exciting introduction to the field. Although the "Lost Centuries" between AD400 and 600 suffer from a scarcity of written sources, and only two writers, King Alfred and the Venerable Bede, dominate our understanding of later times, the authors have created a rich and thought-provoking account of the stormy era when Britain became Christian and sustained several waves of Viking invaders. A single nation, they suggest, slowly emerged from the rivalries and fluctuating fortunes of separate kingdoms like Mercia, Wessex and East Anglia. Major figures such as Offa, Alfred, Edgar and Cnut are discussed in detail, while the stunning illustrations convey the immense achievements of Anglo-Saxon centuries were 'simply a barbarous prelude to better things'.
__________________ THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A deep dive into one of the murkiest periods of our national history ... Splendid' DAN JONES, Sunday Times 'Beautifully written, incredibly accessible and deeply researched' JAMES O'BRIEN 'An absolute masterpiece' DAN SNOW 'Illuminates England's weird and wonderful early history with erudition and wit' IAN HISLOP __________________ Sixteen hundred years ago Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Grand cities and luxurious villas were deserted and left to crumble, and civil society collapsed into chaos. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters...
The culture of early Anglo-Saxon England explored from an inter-disciplinary perspective. A stimulating contribution to the field of Anglo-Saxon studies. MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY A mind-stretching read. NOTES AND QUERIES The papers contained in this volume, by leading researchers in the field, cover a wide range of social, economic and ideological aspects of the culture of early Anglo-Saxon England, from an inter-disciplinary perspective. The status of `Anglo-Saxondom' and `Englishness' as cultural and ethnic categories are a recurrent focus of debate, while other topics include the reconstruction of settlement patterns; social and political structures; farming in medieval England; and the spiri...
What happened to the reputation of the Anglo-Saxons after the famous Battle of Hastings in 1066? How were they portrayed by historians, politicians and artists over the centuries? Not long after the Norman invasion Williams of Malmesbury viewed it as an unmitigated disaster, while Geoffrey of Monmouth cast the Anglo-Saxons as cruel invaders and resurrected the old Arthurian myths. Later, Elizabethan historians saved Anglo-Saxon manuscripts for posterity and the English Civil War saw the overtly political use of a sense of Anglo-Saxonism. This was followed by an earnest attempt by scholars to understand the Old English language. It was an era which saw the rise of the first real histories of England, with mixed results for the Anglo-Saxons. The notions of Germanism and an Anglo-Saxon 'race' in both England and America preceded the Victorian age where politics, art and culture began to reflect gratitude towards the Anglo-Saxons. In conclusion the author asks how the Anglo-Saxons are viewed by the modern English people. Book jacket.