The First Kingdom
Britain in the Age of Arthur
1st Edition
Published on 4. February 2021
480 pages
978-1-78854-346-0 (ISBN)
Description
The bestselling author of The King in the North turns his attention to the obscure era of British history known as 'the age of Arthur'.
'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' Tom Holland, Sunday Times
'An accessible and illuminating book' Gerard de Groot, The Times
'A fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence' This England
Somewhere between the departure of the Roman legions in the early fifth century and the arrival of Augustine's Christian mission at the end of the sixth, the kingdoms of Early Medieval Britain were formed. But by whom? And out of what?
The First Kingdom is a skilfully wrought investigation of this mysterious epoch, synthesizing archaeological research carried out over the last forty years to tease out reality from the myth. Max Adams presents an image of post-Roman Britain whose resolution is high enough to show the emergence of distinct political structures in the sixth century - polities that survive long enough to be embedded in the medieval landscape, recorded in the lines of river, road and watershed, and memorialized in place names.
'Not just a valuable book, but a distinctive one as well' Tom Holland, Sunday Times
'An accessible and illuminating book' Gerard de Groot, The Times
'A fascinating picture of Britain's new-found independence' This England
Somewhere between the departure of the Roman legions in the early fifth century and the arrival of Augustine's Christian mission at the end of the sixth, the kingdoms of Early Medieval Britain were formed. But by whom? And out of what?
The First Kingdom is a skilfully wrought investigation of this mysterious epoch, synthesizing archaeological research carried out over the last forty years to tease out reality from the myth. Max Adams presents an image of post-Roman Britain whose resolution is high enough to show the emergence of distinct political structures in the sixth century - polities that survive long enough to be embedded in the medieval landscape, recorded in the lines of river, road and watershed, and memorialized in place names.
More details
Series
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Head of Zeus
ISBN-13
978-1-78854-346-0 (9781788543460)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
11/2021
Apollo
€16.50
Available immediately
Book
02/2021
Apollo
€57.20
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Person
Max Adams is a writer, archaeologist and woodsman whose work explores themes of landscape, knowledge and human connectedness with the earth. He is the author of Admiral Collingwood, Aelfred's Britain, Trees of Life, the bestselling The King in the North and In the Land of Giants. He has lived and worked in the North-East of England since 1993.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Contents
- List of maps and figures
- Author's note and acknowledgements
- PART I: THE END OF HISTORY
- 1. Late Romans
- 2. The ruin
- 3. Signs of life
- 4. Of grub huts, urns and isotopes
- 5. Of famine, sword and fire
- Chronography I: 350-500
- Abbreviations for primary sources
- PART II: AFTER HISTORY
- 6. Private enterprise
- 7. Belongings
- 8. Territories
- 9. Horizons
- Chronography II: 500-635
- Abbreviations for primary sources
- PART III: THE FIRST KINGDOM
- 10. Duces bellorum
- milites Christi
- 11. Dynasts
- 12. Overlords
- 13. God-given kings
- Appendix
- Tribal Hidage
- Notes
- Part I: The End of History
- Chapter 1: Late Romans
- Chapter 2: The ruin
- Chapter 3: Signs of life
- Chapter 4: Of grub huts, urns and isotopes
- Chapter 5: Of famine, sword and fire
- Part II: After History
- Chapter 6: Private enterprise
- Chapter 7: Belongings
- Chapter 8: Territories
- Chapter 9: Horizons
- Part III: The First Kingdom
- Chapter 10: Duces bellorum
- milites Christi
- Chapter 11: Dynasts
- Chapter 12: Overlords
- Chapter 13: God-given kings
- Bibliography
- Online primary sources
- Image credits
- About the Author
- An Invitation from the Publisher
