A Social History of England, 900–1200

An integrated social history of England that spans the conventional divide of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Julia Crick (Edited by), Elisabeth van Houts (Edited by)

9780521713238, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 21 April 2011

472 pages, 23 b/w illus. 2 maps
22.6 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.74 kg

'This collection of thirty essays by field leaders, expertly edited by Julia Crick and Elisabeth van Houts, is … very welcome and has much to offer medieval history. Going far beyond considerations of government, and taking in change alongside continuity, it makes important contributions … excellent surveys and overviews, accessible to students and non-specialists, reinforcing and enlightening to veterans.' Alex Burghart, The Times Literary Supplement

The years between 900 and 1200 saw transformative social change in Europe, including the creation of extensive town-dwelling populations and the proliferation of feudalised elites and bureaucratic monarchies. In England these developments were complicated and accelerated by repeated episodes of invasion, migration and changes of regime. In this book, scholars from disciplines including history, archaeology and literature reflect on the major trends which shaped English society in these years of transition and select key themes which encapsulate the period. The authors explore the landscape of England, its mineral wealth, its towns and rural life, the health, behaviour and obligations of its inhabitants, patterns of spiritual and intellectual life and the polyglot nature of its population and culture. What emerges is an insight into the complexity, diversity and richness of this formative period of English history.

Introduction Julia Crick and Elisabeth van Houts
Part I. Land Use and People Robin Fleming: 1. Water and land Stephen Rippon
2. Forest and upland Oliver Rackham
3. Mineral resources Peter Claughton
4. Health and disease Carole Rawcliffe
Part II. Authority and Community Bruce O'Brien: 5. Lordship and labour Stephen Baxter
6. Order and justice John Hudson
7. War and violence John Hudson
8. Family, marriage, kinship Elisabeth van Houts
9. Poor and powerless David Pelteret
Part III. Towns and their Hinterlands David Griffiths: 10. Commerce and markets Richard Britnell
11. Urban planning Julia Barrow
12. Urban populations and association Charles West
Part IV. Invasion and Migration Elisabeth van Houts: 13. Ethnicity and acculturation D. M. Hadley
14. Intermarriage Elisabeth van Houts
15. The Jews Anna Abulafia
Part V. Religion and Belief Carl Watkins: 16. Rites of passage and pastoral care Sarah Hamilton
17. Saints and cults Paul Anthony Hayward
18. Public spectacle Tom Licence
19. Textual communities (Latin) Teresa Webber
20. Textual communities (vernacular) Elaine Treharne
Part VI. Learning and Training Julia Crick: 21. Information and its retrieval Nicholas Karn
22. Esoteric knowledge Andy Orchard
23. Medical practice and theory Carole Rawcliffe
24. Subversion Martha Bayless
Glossary
Timeline
Further reading
Index.

Subject Areas: British & Irish history [HBJD1]