Early Medieval Britain, c. 500–1000 (Cambridge History of Britain, Series Number 1)

Early medieval Britain saw the birth of England, Scotland and of the Welsh kingdoms. Naismith's introductory textbook explores the period between the end of Roman rule and the eve of the Norman Conquest, blending an engaging narrative with clear explanations of key themes and sources. Using extensive illustrations, maps and selections from primary sources, students will examine the island as a collective entity, comparing political histories and institutions as well as societies, beliefs and economies. Each chapter foregrounds questions of identity and the meaning of 'Britain' in this period, encouraging interrogation and contextualisation of sources within the framework of the latest debates and problems. Featuring online resources including timelines, a glossary, end-of-chapter questions and suggestions for further reading, students can drive their own understanding of how the polities and societies of early medieval Britain fitted together and into the wider world, and firmly grasp the formative stages of British history. Half title 2 Series page 3 Title page 4 Imprints page 5 Contents 7 Preface and Acknowledgements 15 Boxes 19 Illustrations 22 Maps 26 1 Introduction 27 1.1 Overview 28 1.2 Cathróe’s Journey 30 1.3 The Land and Kingdoms of Britain 38 1.4 Peoples and Places 44 1.5 Rethinking ‘the Middle Ages’ 47 1.6 Reading this Book 52 1.7 Key Texts 53 Part I Conceiving Early Medieval Britain 54 2 An Island in the Ocean: The Idea of Britain 55 2.1 Overview 56 2.2 Introduction 57 2.3 Britain in the Sixth Century: Un-Roman Britain 59 2.4 Britain in the Eighth and Ninth Centuries: A Contest of Scholarship 65 2.5 Britain in the Tenth Century: Three Visions 75 2.6 Conclusion: Whose Britain Was it Anyway? 91 2.7 Points for Discussion 93 2.8 Key Texts 94 3 On the Edge of the World: Britain and Europe 96 3.1 Overview 97 3.2 Britain on the Edge 98 3.3 West: Ireland and the Irish Sea 109 3.4 East: Scandinavia 122 3.5 South: Mainland Europe 136 3.6 Conclusion 152 3.7 Points for Discussion 154 3.8 Key Texts 155 4 Legend, Myth and History 156 4.1 Overview 157 4.2 An Anglo-German Chronicle 158 4.3 Forms of History 164 4.4 Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People 174 4.5 Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain 182 4.6 Beowulf 190 4.7 The Pillar of Eliseg 194 4.8 Conclusion 198 4.9 Points for Discussion 199 4.10 Key Texts 200 5 Migrations and Peoples 201 5.1 Overview 202 5.2 Thinking About Peoples 203 5.3 Thinking About Migration 214 5.4 The Roots of the English 218 5.5 What’s in a Name? The Anglo-Saxons 230 5.6 The Origins of Scotland: Irish Migration to North Britain 240 5.7 Viking Settlement in Britain 246 5.8 Conclusion 254 5.9 Points for Discussion 256 5.10 Key Texts 257 6 Fragments of the Past 259 6.1 Overview 260 6.2 Introduction 261 6.3 Out of the Libraries 263 6.4 Out of the Ground 278 6.5 Out of Mouths 286 6.6 Conclusion 290 6.7 Points for Discussion 291 6.8 Key Texts 292 Part II Making Early Medieval Britain 293 7 Britain c. 500 294 7.1 Overview 295 7.2 Timeline: Britain before AD 500 296 7.3 Introduction 297 7.4 Two Britains 298 7.5 The End of Roman Britain 303 7.6 North Britain 317 7.7 Conclusion 321 7.8 Points for Discussion 323 7.9 Key Texts 324 8 ‘Fertile of Tyrants’: Britain 500–650 325 8.1 Overview 326 8.2 Timeline 327 8.3 Introduction 328 8.4 Becoming Different: New Kingdoms in the South 332 8.5 Developing Kingship in Southern and Eastern Britain 347 8.6 Continuity and Change in North Britain 350 8.7 Gildas’s Vision of Britain 355 8.8 The Date and Outlook of Gildas 359 8.9 Religions Old and New 363 8.10 Conclusion 375 8.11 Points for Discussion 376 8.12 Key Texts 377 9 ‘What the Outcome Will Be, a Future Age Will See’: Britain 650–850 378 9.1 Overview 379 9.2 Timeline 380 9.3 Introduction: Britain in the Balance? 381 9.4 Southern Britain: Mercia and Wessex 384 9.5 Middle Britain: Northumbria and its Neighbours 402 9.6 North Britain: The Triumph of the Picts 407 9.7 Towns and Trade 412 9.8 Conclusion: The Coming of the Vikings 416 9.9 Points for Discussion 418 9.10 Key Texts 419 10 ‘God Help Us!’: Britain 850–1000 420 10.1 Overview 421 10.2 Timeline 422 10.3 Introduction: Crisis and Consolidation 423 10.4 Vikings 427 10.5 The Kingdom of the English 446 10.6 The Kingdom of Alba and North Britain 462 10.7 The Welsh Kingdoms 471 10.8 Conclusion 479 10.9 Points for Discussion 482 10.10 Key Texts 483 Part III Living in Early Medieval Britain 484 11 Kingship in Action 485 11.1 Overview 486 11.2 Introduction 487 11.3 Doing without Kings? 488 11.4 The Making of Kingdoms 490 11.5 The Workings of Kingship 495 11.6 Case Study: Alfred the Great (871–99) 503 11.7 Points for Discussion 520 11.8 Key Texts 521 12 Building a Christian Society 522 12.1 Overview 523 12.2 Introduction: An Age of Faith? 524 12.3 The Conversion Process 527 12.4 The Nature of Conversion 535 12.5 The Aristocracy Converts the Church 546 12.6 Case Study: Conversion and Burial 557 12.7 Case Study: Pre-Christian Beliefs 564 12.8 Points for Discussion 574 12.9 Key Texts 575 13 Maintaining Belief: The Church as an Institution 576 13.1 Overview 577 13.2 Introduction: Structuring Religion 578 13.3 The Bishops of Britain 579 13.4 Forms of Monasticism 587 13.5 Local Churches and Pastoral Care 602 13.6 An Age of Saints 609 13.7 Points for Discussion 620 13.8 Key Texts 621 14 Family, Friend, Lord, Slave: The Basis of Society 622 14.1 Overview 623 14.2 Getting by in Early Medieval Britain 624 14.3 Families and Lords 626 14.4 Rank and Social Structure 631 14.5 Slavery and Unfreedom 637 14.6 Women’s Status 647 14.7 Sex and Sexuality 657 14.8 Law and Order 663 14.9 Points for Discussion 669 14.10 Key Texts 670 15 Land, People and Settlement 671 15.1 Overview 672 15.2 Introduction 673 15.3 People on the Land 674 15.4 Living on the Land 678 15.5 A Tour of the Early Medieval Countryside 686 15.6 A Sense of Place: Settlements and Central Places 703 15.7 Conclusion: Place and Mobility 711 15.8 Points for Discussion 714 15.9 Key Texts 715 16 Getting and Giving: Acts and Settings of Exchange 716 16.1 Overview 717 16.2 Introduction 718 16.3 Commerce, Tribute and Gift-Giving 719 16.4 Means of Exchange: Money, Metal and Beyond 730 16.5 People and Places of Exchange 743 16.6 Points for Discussion 752 16.7 Key Texts 753 17 Language and Communication 754 17.1 Overview 755 17.2 Introduction: The Languages of Britain 756 17.3 The Age of Latin? 760 17.4 The Age of the Vernacular? 767 17.5 What’s in a Name? 782 17.6 Points for Discussion 790 17.7 Key Texts 791 18 ‘As Far as the Cold Waves Reach’: Conclusion 792 18.1 Overview 793 18.2 Britain in the Eleventh Century 794 18.3 A New Britain? 802 18.4 Key Texts 807 Glossary 808 Further Reading 819 1 Introduction 820 2 An Island in the Ocean: The Idea of Britain 822 3 On the Edge of the World: Britain and Europe 824 4 Legend, Myth and History 827 5 Migrations and Peoples 830 6 Fragments of the Past 833 7 Britain c. 500 835 8 ‘Fertile of Tyrants’: Britain 500–650 837 9 ‘What the OUTCOME Will Be, a Future AGE Will SEE’: Britain 650–850 840 10 ‘God Help us!’: Britain 850–1000 843 11 Kingship in Action 846 12 Building a Christian Society 848 13 Maintaining Belief: The Church as an Institution 851 14 Family, Friend, Lord, Slave: The Basis of Society 853 15 Land, People and Settlement 856 16 Getting and Giving: Acts and Settings of Exchange 858 17 Language and Communication 860 Index 863 "Blending an engaging narrative with clear explanations of key themes and sources, this undergraduate textbook deconstructs the early history of Britain's island nations within an accessible framework. Using extensive illustrations, maps and selections from crucial primary sources, students will examine the island as a collective entity, comparing political histories and institutions as well as societies, beliefs and economies. Each chapter foregrounds questions of identity and the meaning of 'Britain' in this period, encouraging interrogation and contextualisation of sources, including the latest debates and problems. Featuring timelines, a glossary, end of chapter questions, suggestions for further reading and a companion website, students can drive their own understanding of how the polities and societies of early medieval Britain fitted together and into the wider world, and firmly grasp the formative stages and developments of British history"-- Proporcionado por el editor "Blending an engaging narrative with clear explanations of key themes and sources, this undergraduate textbook deconstructs the early history of Britain's island nations within an accessible framework. Using extensive illustrations, maps and selections from crucial primary sources, students will examine the island as a collective entity, comparing political histories and institutions as well as societies, beliefs and economies. Each chapter foregrounds questions of identity and the meaning of 'Britain' in this period, encouraging interrogation and contextualisation of sources, including the latest debates and problems. Featuring timelines, a glossary, end of chapter questions, suggestions for further reading and a companion website, students can drive their own understanding of how the polities and societies of early medieval Britain fitted together and into the wider world, and firmly grasp the formative stages and developments of British history"-- Provided by publisher