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.
