The Cambridge Urban History of Britain: Volume 1, 600–1540

Surveys the history of British towns from their post-Roman origins down to the sixteenth century.

D. M. Palliser (Edited by)

9781108716116, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 November 2018

893 pages
23.4 x 15.6 x 5.5 cm, 1.38 kg

'This magnificent volume is a sound and thoughtful foundation for medieval urban studies, deserving a place on any historian's shelves.' Medieval Prosopography

The first volume of The Cambridge Urban History of Britain surveys the history of British towns from their post-Roman origins in the seventh century down to the sixteenth century. It provides the first ever detailed overview of the course of medieval urban development, and draws on archaeological and architectural as well as historical sources. The volume combines thematic analysis with regional and national surveys, with full coverage of developments in England, Scotland and Wales. The international team of contributors represent historical, geographical and archaeological expertise, and the whole marks a major step forward in the understanding of the medieval British town. Part I examines historiographical tradition and the origins of British towns. Parts II and III focus on the early and later medieval periods respectively, and Part IV contains a sequence of systematic regional surveys. Extensively illustrated, the volume also contains ranking lists of towns and an extensive bibliography.

Preface
Plates
Maps and figures
Tables
Abbreviations
Acknowledgements
List of contributors
Part I. Introductory: 1. Introduction D. M. Palliser
2. The origins of British towns D. M. Palliser
Part II. The Early Middle Ages c.650–c.1300: 3. General survey Grenville Astill
4. Power and authority James Campbell
5. Society and population Richard Holt
6. The economy of British towns Richard Britnell
7. Churches, education and literacy in towns Julia Barrow
8. The topography of towns D. M. Palliser, T. R. Slater and E. Patricia Dennison
9. London from the post-Roman period to 1300 Derek Keene
10. The large towns to c.1300 David A. Hinton
11. Small towns 650–1270 John Blair
Part III. The Later Middle Ages c.1300–c.1540: 12. General survey Barrie Dobson
13. Government, power and authority S. H. Rigby and E. Ewan
14. The economy of British towns Richard Britnell
15. Urban culture and the church Gervase Rosser
16. The built environment John Schofield and Geoffrey Stell
17. London Caroline M. Barron
18. The greater towns Jennifer Kermode
19. Port towns: England and Wales Maryanne Kowaleski
20. Small towns 1270–1540 Christopher Dyer
Part IV. Regional Surveys: 21. Regional introduction (England and Wales) Derek Keene and D. M. Palliser
22a. The south-east of England Derek Keene
22b. The south-west of England T. R. Slater
22c. The Midlands Christopher Dyer
22d. East Anglia Barbel Brodt
22e. Wales and the Marches Ralph Griffiths
22f. Northern towns Jennifer Kermode
23. Scotland E. Patricia Dennison and G. Grant Simpson
Part V. Conclusion: 24. Conclusion D. M. Palliser
Appendix: ranking lists of English medieval towns Alan Dyer
Select Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: British & Irish history [HBJD1]