Making a Living in the Middle Ages: The People of Britain 850-1520 (New Economic History of Britain)

Dramatic social and economic change during the middle ages altered the lives of the people of Britain in far-reaching ways, from the structure of their families to the ways they made their livings. In this masterly book, preeminent medieval historian Christopher Dyer presents a fresh view of the British economy from the ninth to the sixteenth century and a vivid new account of medieval life. He begins his volume with the formation of towns and villages in the ninth and tenth centuries and ends with the inflation, population rise, and colonial expansion of the sixteenth century. This is a book about ideas and attitudes as well as the material world, and Dyer shows how people regarded the economy and responded to economic change. He examines the growth of towns, the clearing of lands, the Great Famine, the Black Death, and the upheavals of the fifteenth century through the eyes of those who experienced them. He also explores the dilemmas and decisions of those who were making a living in a changing world―from peasants, artisans, and wage earners to barons and monks. Drawing on archaeological and landscape evidence along with more conventional archives and records, the author offers here an engaging survey of British medieval economic history unrivaled in breadth and clarity. In this masterly survey, Christopher Dyer reviews our thinking about the economy of Britain in the middle ages. By analysing economic development and change, he allows us to reconstruct, often vividly, the daily lives and experiences of people in the past. The period covered here saw dramatic alterations in the state of the economy; and this account begins with the forming of villages, towns, networks of exchange and the social hierarchy in the ninth and tenth centuries, and ends with the inflation and population rise of the sixteenth century. This is a book about ideas and attitudes as well as the material world, and Dyer shows how people regarded the economy and how they responded to economic change. We see the growth of towns, the clearance of woods and wastes, the Great Famine, the Black Death and the upheavals in the fifteenth century through the eyes of those who lived through these great events.Changes were not always planned or directed by the rich and powerful, but arose from the uncoordinated ambitions and actions of thousands of ordinary people. Making a living in a changing world presented peasants, artisans and wage workers, as well as barons and monks, with dilemmas and decisions. The lives of these individuals were also subject to impersonal forces, such as the climate, but the author emphasizes the choices that were made. This book will guide readers through the controversies of the impact of the Vikings and the Norman Conquest, the importance of population growth, the fourteenth-century crisis and urban decline. Dyer deals with issues in social history which had an impact on the economy, such as family structures, social control and social protest. He uses the evidence of archaeology and the landscape as well as the more conventional records. Clearly and robustly written, this book sets a new standard for the understanding of medieval life. In This Survey, Christopher Dyer Reviews Our Thinking About The Economy Of Britain In The Middle Ages. By Analysing Economic Development And Change, He Allows Us To Reconstruct, Often Vividly, The Daily Lives And Experiences Of People In The Past. The Period Covered Here Saw Dramatic Alterations In The State Of The Economy; And This Account Begins With The Forming Of Villages, Towns, Networks Of Exchange And The Social Hierarchy In The Ninth And Tenth Centuries, And Ends With The Inflation And Population Rise Of The Sixteenth Century. This Is A Book About Ideas And Attitudes As Well As The Material World, And Dyer Shows How People Regarded The Economy And How They Responded To Economic Change. We See The Growth Of Towns, The Clearance Of Woods And Wastes, The Great Famine, The Black Death And The Upheavals In The Fifteenth Century Through The Eyes Of Those Who Lived Through These Great Events.--jacket. Pt. 1, Origins Of The Medieval Economy, C. 850-c. 1100 : -- Living On The Land, C. 850-c. 1050 -- Crisis And New Directions, C. 850-c. 1050 -- Conquest, C. 1050-c. 1100 -- Pt. 2. Expansion And Crisis, C. 1100-c. 1350 : -- Lords, C. 1100-c. 1315 -- Peasants, C. 1100-c. 1315 -- Towns And Commerce, C. 1100-c. 1315 -- Crisis, C. 1290-c. 1350 -- Pt. 3. Making A New World, C. 1350-c. 1520 : -- The Black Death And Its Aftermath, C. 1348-c. 1520 -- Towns, Trade And Industry, C. 1350-c. 1520 -- The Countryside, C. 1350-c. 1520. Christopher Dyer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [366]-389) And Index.

Dramatic social and economic change during the middle ages altered the lives of the people of Britain in far-reaching ways, from the structure of their families to the ways they made their livings. In this engagingly written economic history, Christopher Dyer provides a vivid new account of British medieval life from the Viking invasions through the Norman conquest to the colonial expansion of the sixteenth century."This elegant account of the economic history of Britain over seven centuries is an exhilarating book-this is serious history that can be read for pleasure."-Danny Danziger, Sunday Times (London); "A work of immense ambition and erudition."-Daniel Snowman, History Today; "[Dyer] offers accessible and cogent introductions to an infinite range of . . . topics, which he knits together into an effective and fascinating patchwork quilt."-John Hatcher, Times Literary Supplement; A must-read for any thoughtful person interested in medieval Europe or in the transition to the modern social and economic world."-Robert L. Woods, Jr., History: Reviews of New Books

Author Biography: Christopher Dyer, formerly professor of medieval social history at the University of Birmingham, is now professor of regional and local history at the University of Leicester.

The New Economic History of Britain Series - Series editor: David Cannadine

"In this survey, Christopher Dyer reviews our thinking about the economy of Britain in the middle ages. By analysing economic development and change, he allows us to reconstruct, often vividly, the daily lives and experiences of people in the past. The period covered here saw dramatic alterations in the state of the economy; and this account begins with the forming of villages, towns, networks of exchange and the social hierarchy in the ninth and tenth centuries, and ends with the inflation and population rise of the sixteenth century." "This is a book about ideas and attitudes as well as the material world, and Dyer shows how people regarded the economy and how they responded to economic change. We see the growth of towns, the clearance of woods and wastes, the Great Famine, the Black Death and the upheavals in the fifteenth century through the eyes of those who lived through these great events." Résumé de l'éditeur Dramatic social and economic change during the middle ages altered the lives of the people of Brittain in far-reaching ways, from the structure of their families to the ways they made their livings. In this engagingly written economic history, Christopher Dyer provides a vivid new account of British medieval life from the Viking invasions through the Norman Conquest to the colonial expansion of the sixteenth century. In this book, Christopher Dyer reviews our thinking about the economy of Britain in the Middle Ages. In analysing economic development and change, he allows us to reconstruct the daily lives and experiences of people in the past