Medieval Britain: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
by John Gillingham
|
List Price: ££7.99
Our Price: ££2.61
Your Save: £ 0.00 ( % )
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Manufacturer: Oxford Paperbacks
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 941.03
EAN: 9780192854025
ISBN: 019285402X
Label: Oxford Paperbacks
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 192
Publication Date: 2000-08-10
Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks
Studio: Oxford Paperbacks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: Highly readable and surprisingly detailed
Comment: I am a big fan of the Very Short Introduction series, and "Medieval Britain" by John Gillingham and Ralph A. Griffiths is one of its very best examples. For a book that is just 150 pages long, the authors have managed to fit in a surprising amount of information, covering the entire period from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to Henry VII's accession in 1485. At the same time, however, it is very readable and is broken down into easily digestible chunks.
The book follows a roughly chronological pattern. The first two chapters describe the main political events in the reigns of the Norman kings (1066-1154) and the Plantagenet kings (1154-1272). The authors then move on into a more thematic discussion of matters such as religion, royal administration, law and the economy. From then on political and social topics are interspersed together. By providing the broad overview of events first of all, then fleshing that out with all the aspects which give the reader a real flavour of medieval society, this structure proves very effective. In this way all of the key ideas are tied together nicely. The final chapter discusses the development of Englishness and the concept of England as a distinctive nation - much of which feels very relevant to our modern age.
The text is supplemented by no less than 5 maps and 14 illustrations, as well as a useful chronology of the years 1066-1485, and a royal genealogy, all of which provide some context. The bibliography is extensive, running to some 91 titles which cover virtually every angle discussed in the book. This offers tremendous scope for following up various topics and makes this Very Short Introduction an excellent springboard for studying the medieval period. Finally, the book has a thorough index, always a handy aid to navigation.
Just one word of warning: although entitled "Medieval Britain", this book is very Anglocentric and perhaps "Medieval England" would suit it better, since very little space is given to Scotland, Wales and Ireland. For me, however, this does not detract significantly from what is a very fine book and an excellent introduction to medieval English history (especially at the price it is currently being offered by Amazon). I would definitely recommend it, both for the student and for the casual interested reader.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: An interesting introduction to Medieval Britain
Comment: As someone with little background knowledge of the Medieval period inBritain I found this book to be a very interesting introduction to thepolitics and social changes of this era. Whilst providing sufficientinformation to give a very general overview of the changes occuring duringthis period the book was easy to read and accessible to thenon-historian. Despite the fact that this book is intended to be a briefintroduction to Medieval Britain I was not left with the feeling that theauthors had skimped on details.
To support the text there is also a chronology of the period and agenealogy of Royal descent, which I thought provided a helpful visual aidto understanding the information presented. The suggestions for furtherreading also covered a fairly broad spread of related topics.
Overall, this was an informative and interesting read, which without beingtoo academic and inaccessible to someone with little knowledge of the eraprovides a good basic grounding for further reading about this period inBritain's history.
|
|
|
- Ask about this education product "Medieval Britain: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)" in the forum
- Give review on this education product "Medieval Britain: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)" in the forum
- Search related information in the forum
|
|
|
|
|
| OOEN Referral Program Spotlight |
 | | Advanced Technology Institute
Advanced Technology Institute (ATI), located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, offers hands-on degree and diploma programs in some of today’s hottest service careers. Choose from ASE and NATEF certified programs in Automotive Technology, HVAC and Refrigeration, Diesel/Heavy Vehicle, Commercial Driving, and High Performance Repair. Extensive job placement assistance is available, as well as financial aid for students who qualify. | |  | |
 | | Akron Institute
Are you ready for a career you’ll really love? Akron Institute offers career-track diploma programs that will prepare you to become a Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Biller, or Insurance Coder. The best part? You can complete your program in as little as 9 months. Akron offers externships that will provide you with the real-world experience you’ll need to succeed. You’ll also benefit from extensive career placement services. If you’re serious about improving your future, start at Akron Institute. | | | |
 | | American Career College
American Career College (ACC) is one of the largest and most respected vocational training schools in the country. With campuses in Los Angeles and Orange County, ACC can provide you with the skills to become a Pharmacy Technician, Medical Assistant, Medical Biller/Health Claims Examiner, Optical Technician, Dental Assistant, Vocational Nursing, Computerized Business Specialist, or Surgical Technician. The best part? ACC can provide you with the skills you need in less than a year. | | | |
|
What is OOEN Referral Program Spotlight?
OOEN provides comprehensive listing of online courses, degree programs, colleges and universities.
Also OOEN provides links to their information request pages; if you want to find out more about any course,
degree program, college or university, you can just fill out the form linked from OOEN and request information.
It is completely free for anyone to request information, and you can request information from as many colleges
and universities as you'd like. We list featured schools and their brief information
in this "OOEN Referral Program Spotlight" section of OOEN Store for Education,
in case that you are interested in taking a class or two or even pursuing degree program
through these featured schools.
|
|
|
