A Companion to the Early Middle Ages: Britain and Ireland c.500 – c.1100

This collection of 28 original essays by leading scholars coversthe key debates and issues involved in writing a history of Britainand Ireland in the early middle ages. It moves away from theAnglo–centrism which has often characterised accounts of thecenturies from the end of the Roman occupation of Britain up to theNorman Conquest of England and its aftermath. The essays combineinclusive and comparative approaches with the questioning ofartificial distinctions of modern national boundaries. They arewritten in a clear, provocative, and lively manner and, taken as awhole, provide both a sophisticated and authoritative overview ofthe scholarship that has shaped our current understanding of theearly medieval History of Britain and Ireland and a new view ofthat history.

Drawing on the range of current historical scholarship, ACompanion to the Early Middle Ages is the first referencework of its kind to demonstrate how such a genuinely inclusiveapproach to the history of Britain and Ireland from c.500 to c.1100can transform our understanding of the period.

List of Maps

Notes on Contributors

List of Abbreviations

Maps

Part I: Introductory Matter:

1. Introduction: Pauline Stafford (University of Liverpool)

2. Historiography: Pauline Stafford (University ofLiverpool)

3. Sources: Pauline Stafford (University of Liverpool)

Part II: Britain and Ireland, c.500 c.750:

4. Britain and Ireland, c.500: Barbara Yorke (University ofWinchester)

5. Economy: Howard B. Clarke (formerly University CollegeDublin)

6. Kings and Kingship: Barbara Yorke (University ofWinchester)

7. Communities and Kinship: David E. Thornton (BilkentUniversity, Turkey)

8. Social Structure: Thomas M. Charles–Edwards (University ofOxford)

9. Britain, Ireland, and Europe, c.500 c.750: PaulFouracre (University of Manchester)

10. Conversions to Christianity: Huw Pryce (BangorUniversity)

11. Church Organization and Pastoral Care: Thomas Pickles(University of Oxford)

12. Latin Learning and Christian Art: Martin J. Ryan (Universityof Manchester)

Part III: Britain and Ireland in the Long Ninth Century,c.750 c.900:

13. Viking Raids and Conquest: Dawn Hadley (University ofSheffield)

14. Scandinavian Settlement: Dawn Hadley (University ofSheffield)

15. Britain, Ireland, and Europe, c.750 c.900: Janet L.Nelson (King s College, London)

Part IV: Britain and Ireland, c.900 c.1100:

16. Scotland: Alex Woolf (University of St. Andrews)

17. Ireland, c.900 c.1000: Edel Bhreathnach (UniversityCollege Dublin)

18. Ireland, c.1000 c.1100: Seán Duffy (TrinityCollege Dublin)

19. Northumbria: William M. Aird (Cardiff University)

20. Southumbria: Charles Insley (Canterbury Christ ChurchUniversity)

21. Wales and West Britain: John Reuben Davies (University ofGlasgow)

22. Britain, Ireland, and Europe, c.900 c.1100: SimonMacLean (University of St. Andrews)

23. The Institutional Church: Catherine Cubitt (University ofYork)

24. Pastoral Care and Religious Belief: Catherine Cubitt(University of York)

25. Nobility: Julia Crick (University of Exeter)

26. Settlement and Social Differentiation: Sally Crawford(University of Birmingham)

27. Localities: David E. Thornton (Bilkent University,Turkey)

28. Queens and Queenship: Pauline Stafford (University ofLiverpool)

Bibliography

Index

Pauline Stafford is Professor Emerita at Liverpool University, previously Professor of Medieval History. She is a specialist in the history of Anglo–Saxon England and of women and gender in England and Europe from the eighth to twelfth centuries. Her previous publications include Queens, Concubines and Dowagers, the King s Wife in the Early Middle Ages (1983, 1998), Unification and Conquest, a Political and Social History of England in the Tenth and Eleventh Centuries (1989), Queen Emma and Queen Edith (1997, 2001), Law, Laity and Solidarities (2001), Gender, Family and the Legitimation of Power: England from the Ninth to Early Twelfth Century (2006), and the jointly edited Gendering the Middle Ages (2000).

"Yet another volume in this thoughtful, thought provoking andcarefully written series has now appeared, this time focusingprimarily on pre Norman Britain and Ireland from the end of theRoman period." ( Reference Reviews, February 2010)