A Companion to Britain in the Later Middle Ages

This authoritative survey of Britain in the later middle ages comprises 28 chapters written by leading international specialists in the field. The volume is broad–ranging, discussing the social, economic, political, religious and cultural history of England, Scotland, and Wales from 1100 to 1500. It also includes full coverage of Ireland during the period. The chapters guide readers through the different perspectives from which historians have approached late medieval Britain and examine ways in which current debates might be resolved.

The volume is ideal for upper–level students seeking an overview of the later middle ages and the historiographic controversies surrounding the era. At the same time, the contributions address questions at the leading edge of scholarship, and will therefore also be of interest to advanced researchers in the field.

List of Figures x

List of Plates xi

List of Maps xii

List of Contributors xiii

Introduction xvi

Part I Economy and Society in Town and Country 1

1 England: Land and People 3
Bruce M. S. Campbell

2 England: The Family and the Village Community 26
Phillipp R. Schofield

3 England: Towns, Trade and Industry 47
Richard H. Britnell

4 England: Popular Politics and Social Conflict 65
Jane Whittle and S. H. Rigby

5 England: Women and Gender 87
Judith M. Bennett

6 Scotland: Economy and Society 107
Nicholas J. Mayhew

7 Wales: Economy and Society 125
A. D. Carr

8 Ireland: Economy and Society 142
Brian Graham

Part II Politics, Government and Law 163

9 The British Perspective 165
Seán Duffy

10 England: Kingship and the Political Community, c.1100 1272 183
Ralph V. Turner

11 England: Kingship and the Political Community, 1272 1377 208
Scott L. Waugh

12 England: Kingship and the Political Community, 1377 c.1500 224
Rosemary Horrox

13 England: Law, Society and the State 242
Robert C. Palmer

14 England: The Nobility and the Gentry 261
Christine Carpenter

15 Scotland: Politics, Government and Law 283
Hector L. MacQueen

16 Wales: Politics, Government and Law 309
J. Beverley Smith and Llinos Beverley Smith

17 Ireland: Politics, Government and Law 335
James Lydon

Part III The Church and Piety 357

18 England: Church and Clergy 359
David Lepine

19 England: Piety, Heresy and Anti–clericalism 381
Matthew Groom

20 Scotland: Religion and Piety 396
D. E. R. Watt

21 Wales: Religion and Piety 411
Huw Pryce

22 Ireland: Religion and Piety 430
Henry A. Jefferies

Part IV Education and Culture 449

23 England: Education and Society 451
Jo Ann H. Moran Cruz

24 England: Art and Society 472
Veronica Sekules

25 England: Literature and Society 497
S. H. Rigby

26 Scotland: Culture and Society 521
Louise O. Fradenburg

27 Wales: Culture and Society 541
Susan L. Aronstein

28 Ireland: Culture and Society 558
Edel Bhreathnach and Raghnall Ó Floinn

Bibliography of Secondary Sources 596

Index 649

S. H. Rigby is Reader in History at the University of Manchester. His previous publications include Engels and the Formation of Marxism (1992), English Society in the Later Middle Ages (1995), Chaucer in Context (1996) and Marxism and History (second edition, 1998).

"It remains an immensely valuable summation of the state of mainstream scholarship at the beginning of the twenty–first century, from which students coming to these national histories for the first time will still derive immense benefit." ( Speculum, 2010)

Succinct and stimulating" English Historical Review "A handsome, informative and scholarly volume" Medieval Archaeology

"Admirably comprehensive and warmly to be recommended" History

"No scholar, student or general reader could ask for a better guide" Economic History Review

"A fine book with a stellar cast of contributors" Continuity and Change

"Among the better, most nuanced and thought–provoking introductions to its field" Journal of Ecclesiastical History

"An extremely important contribution to medieval British scholarship" Albion

"This is a very impressive product from an ambitious project." Welsh History Review