Blair, John

Covering the emergence of the earliest English settlements to the Norman victory at Hastings in 1066, this is a brief introduction to the political, social, religious and cultural history of Anglo-Saxon England.

This book is Vol. 2 of the series “The Oxford History of England”, edited by Sir George Clark. The following is taken from the book cover of the above book, “Anglo-Saxon England”, 3rd edition, by Sir Frank Stenton. The period (c. 550-1087) to which this volume relates extends from the emergence of the earliest English kingdoms to the establishment of the Anglo-Norman monarchy in 1087. In the field of political history it covers the unification of Britain begun by the kings of Mercia and completed by the kings of Wessex, the Scandinavian settlements of the 9th century, the annexation of England to Denmark by Cnut, and the overthrow of the Old English state by William of Normandy. The development of English society is traced from the age of the oldest Anglo-Saxon laws, through the changes brought about by the growth of royal power and the extension of private lordship to the establishment of feudalism after the Norman Conquest. The volume describes the Conversion of various English kingdoms and the chief phases in the history of the Anglo-Saxon church, with particular reference to the enterprise of Anglo-Saxon missionaries in the eight century, the monastic revival inspired by Dunstan, and the ecclesiastical organisation carried through by Lanfranc. The art, coinage, and scholarship of the period are reviewed, and an account is given of the literature written in the English language, which forms the distinctive achievement of the Anglo-Saxon peoples. ‘It is surely safe to predict that this and later generations will regard Prof. Stenton’s book as one of the outstanding volumes in the series of which it forms a part, and one of the most valuable contributions ever made to our knowledge of the history of our own land.’ English Historical Review ‘For a broad and balanced survey of every aspect of Anglo-Saxon society in the movement of five hundred years there is nothing to approach Prof. Stenton’s book.’ Times Literary Supplement

This book examines the pastoral and sacramental work of the early medieval church in the British Isles. It provides a synthesis of recent scholarship which has uncovered new evidence about the organisation and structure of the early church and the close relations between monks and clergy and between the 'Roman' and 'Celtic' churches. It shows how theological ideals were translated into pastoral work and demonstrates the short comings of the 'national church' approach to the history of early British and Irish Christianity. It will become the foundation for most future work on this central field of early medieval history.

230 p.: 30 cm

This outstanding collection of essays honours a distinguished scholar best known for her work on late medieval economy, demography, and estate management, and on the monastic community at Westminster. The uniting theme is the imprint of the church, especially the monastic church, upon society at large. Contributions range from the eighth to sixteenth centuries, with an emphasis on the later middle ages, looking at urban religion, monastic education, and the role of religious communities in stimulating economic growth. Westminster Abbey figures prominently, alongside essays on the effects of the Dissolution on nunneries, the role of sanctuary in local communities, and on individuals such as Matthew Paris and Robert of Knaresborough. In a worthy tribute to a great medievalist, the contributors show us a world where the influence of the cloister reached into almost every aspect of daily life.