Offers a reinterpretation of how European civilization as we know it arose in the wake of utter chaos in Rome, France and Germany - not in the 11th or 12th century, as is commonly thought, but during the 10th. This book tells the story of this transformation from chaos to order, and explores the strange and alien landscape of Europe in transition.

This book describes the ritual performance of childbirth, baptism, courtship, weddings, and funerals in England from circa 1500 to 1700, and reveals how these activities changed in response to the Reformation, the Revolution, and the Restoration.

A major new biography of the Black Prince: hero of the battles of Crecy and Poitiers and England's greatest medieval warrior.

It was 'Black Tom' Fairfax, not Oliver Cromwell, who created and commanded Parliament's New Model Army during the English Civil War. This is his first biography by a modern academic. -- .

A transformative history - in Tudor times there were Africans living and working in Britain, and they were free

A transformative history - in Tudor times there were Africans living and working in Britain, and they were free

The Wars of the Roses turned England upside down. Between 1455 and 1485, four kings, including Richard III, lost their thrones, more than forty noblemen lost their lives on the battlefield, and thousands of the men who followed them met violent deaths. This title tells how a family survived one of the tempestuous periods in English History.

Exactly 150 years after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, history came extremely close to repeating itself when another army set sail from the Continent with the intention of imposing foreign rule on England.

Groundbreaking reassessment of the role played by armour, weapons and heraldry in medieval warfare, showing their cultural as well as military significance.

In his Book of Marvels and Travels, Sir John Mandeville describes a journey from Europe to Jerusalem and on into Asia, and the many wonderful and monstrous peoples and practices in the East. A captivating blend of fact and fantasy, Mandeville's Book is newly translated in an edition that brings us closer to Mandeville's worldview.

Alongside, and inexorably linked with, the ecclesiastical establishment, the law was one of the main social bonds that shaped and directed the interactions of day-to-day life in medieval and early modern times. Exploring the boundaries of the law as they existed and as they have been perceived by historians, this volumes offers wide-ranging insight into a key aspect of European society.

By 1300, England and other West-European countries had undergone a significant degree of commercialisation. More and more communities, both urban and rural, depended on an efficient network of local markets to obtain the goods they needed, in particular for their food.

From the Norman Conquest to the Battle of Bosworth Field - how Britain was invaded and become a nation. The first volume in the stunning four volume Brief History of Britain series.

The fascinating story behind the English Constitution, and why its influence remains significant today throughout the world

This book reveals the lasting impact of the Dutch Revolt on Britain's commercial, religious and political culture.

A stunning new edition of the earliest atlas of the British Isles, Britain's Tudor Maps: County by County reproduces the maps of John Speed's 1611 collection The Theatre of Great Britaine in large format for the first time, with towns and topographical features wonderfully clear and easy to read alongside Alasdair Hawkyard's fascinating commentary.

William Cecil, Lord Burghley (1520-1598) was Elizabeth I's closest adviser. This revealing biography shows, the driving force behind the Queen's reign for four decades. It helps us redefine our understanding of the Elizabethan period.

A vivid and original account of warfare in the Middle Ages and the cruelty and atrocity that accompanied it.

Examines the Calais garrison, the largest standing military force available to the English crown. This book covers topics such as recruitment and service in the garrison, and the weaponry and tactics used. It challenges the notion that England lagged behind its Northwest European rivals in terms of military technology and effectiveness.

This informative and entertaining book explores 500 often overlooked years in the life of the city of Canterbury, including its development, its industries, military connexions, and leisure activities, and its rebuilding after devastation by German bombers in the Second World War.