The first kingdom : [Britain in the age of Arthur

The bestselling author of The King in the North turns his attention to the obscure era of British history known as 'the age of Arthur'. Somewhere in the shadow time between the departure of the Roman legions in the early fifth century and the arrival in Kent of Augustine's Christian mission at the end of the sixth, the kingdoms of Early Medieval Britain were formed. But by whom? And out of what? In The First Kingdom, Max Adams scrutinizes the narrative of this period handed down to us by later historians and chroniclers. Stripping away the more lurid claims made for a warrior-hero named Arthur, he synthesises the research carried out over the last forty years to tease out the strands of reality from the myth. He reveals how archaeology has delivered evidence of a diverse and dynamic response to Britain's new-found independence, of material and intellectual trade between the Atlantic islands and the rest of Europe, and of the environmental context of those centuries. A skilfully wrought and intellectually probing investigation of the most mysterious epoch in our history, The First Kingdom presents an image of post-Roman Britain whose resolution is high enough to show the emergence of distinct political structures in the sixth century – polities that survive long enough to be embedded in the medieval landscape, recorded in the lines of river, road and watershed, and memorialised in place names. PRAISE FOR MAX ADAMS: 'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' Tom Holland, Sunday Times 'Adams' overview is deeply immersed in the landscape of early medieval Britain ... The whole presents a very useful reference, and an enjoyable read' Current Archaeology 'A worthy synthesis of what little we know' Gerard de Groot, The Times The Bestselling Author Of The King In The North Turns His Attention To The Obscure Era Of British History Known As 'the Age Of Arthur'. Somewhere In The Shadow Time Between The Departure Of The Roman Legions In The Early Fifth Century And The Arrival In Kent Of Augustine's Christian Mission At The End Of The Sixth, The Kingdoms Of Early Medieval Britain Were Formed. But By Whom? And Out Of What? In The First Kingdom, Max Adams Scrutinizes The Narrative Of This Period Handed Down To Us By Later Historians And Chroniclers. Stripping Away The More Lurid Claims Made For A Warrior-hero Named Arthur, He Synthesises The Research Carried Out Over The Last Forty Years To Tease Out The Strands Of Reality From The Myth. He Reveals How Archaeology Has Delivered Evidence Of A Diverse And Dynamic Response To Britain's New-found Independence, Of Material And Intellectual Trade Between The Atlantic Islands And The Rest Of Europe, And Of The Environmental Context Of Those Centuries. A Skilfully Wrought And Intellectually Probing Investigation Of The Most Mysterious Epoch In Our History, The First Kingdom Presents An Image Of Post-roman Britain Whose Resolution Is High Enough To Show The Emergence Of Distinct Political Structures In The Sixth Century – Polities That Survive Long Enough To Be Embedded In The Medieval Landscape, Recorded In The Lines Of River, Road And Watershed, And Memorialised In Place Names. Praise For Max Adams: 'a Triumph. The Most Gripping Portrait Of Seventh-century Britain That I Have Read ... A Game Of Thrones In The Dark Ages' Tom Holland In The Times On The King In The North 'gripping, Hugely Enjoyable And Deeply Scholarly' History Today, Books Of The Year, On The King In The North 'brilliantly Combines History And Archaeological Research ... A Compelling Read' The Lady On Ælfred's Britain The bestselling author of The King in the North turns his attention to the obscure era of British history known as 'the age of Arthur'. Somewhere in the dim void between the departure from Britain of the Roman legions at the start of the fifth century and the days of the venerable Bede, the kingdoms of Early Medieval Britain were formed. But by whom? And out of what? Max Adams scrutinizes the narrative handed down to us by later historians and chronicles, stripping away the most lurid nonsense about Arthur and synthesizing the research of the last forty years to tease out strands of reality from myth. His central theme evolves from an apparently simple question: how, after the end of the Roman state, were people taxed? Rejecting ethnic and nationalist explanations for the emergence of the Early Medieval kingdoms, Adams shows how careful use of a wide range of perspectives from anthropology to geography can deliver a picture of the emergence of distinct polities in the sixth century that survive long enough to be embedded in the medieval landscape, recorded in the lines of river, road and watershed and in place names. The bestselling author of The King in the North turns his attention to the obscure era of British history known as 'the age of Arthur'. 'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' Tom Holland, Sunday Times 'An accessible and illuminating book' Gerard de Groot, The Times 'A fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence' This England Somewhere between the departure of the Roman legions in the early fifth century and the arrival of Augustine's Christian mission at the end of the sixth, the kingdoms of Early Medieval Britain were formed. But by whom? And out of what? The First Kingdom is a skilfully wrought investigation of this mysterious epoch, synthesizing archaeological research carried out over the last forty years to tease out reality from the myth. Max Adams presents an image of post-Roman Britain whose resolution is high enough to show the emergence of distinct political structures in the sixth century – polities that survive long enough to be embedded in the medieval landscape, recorded in the lines of river, road and watershed, and memorialized in place names. Somewhere In The Dim Void Between The End Of The Western Roman Empire And The Days Of Bede, In That Period Known As The Age Of Arthur, The Kingdoms Of Early Medieval Britain Were Formed. But By Whom? And Out Of What? These Are The Enduring Questions That Exercise Historians And Archaeologists. In The First Kingdommax Adams Scrutinizes The Narrative Handed Down To Us By Later Historians And Chroniclers. He Strips Away The More Lurid Nonsense About Arthur And Synthesizes The Research That Has Been Going On Over The Last Forty Years To Tease Out The Strands Of Reality From The Myth. He Will Reveal How Archaeology Has Delivered Evidence Of Invasion And Settlement; Of Active Material And Intellectual Trade Between The Atlantic Islands And The Rest Of Europe; Of The Environmental Context Of Those Centuries. And How Geography Has Shown How Retrogressive Analysis Can Deliver A Picture Of The Emergence Of Distinct Polities In The Sixth Century That Survive Long Enough To Be Embedded In The Medieval Landscape, Recorded In The Lines Of River, Road And Watershed And In Place Names.