Normans - Hardcover

Trevor Rowley

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0752414348 ISBN 13: 9780752414348

Publisher: Tempus Publishing, 1999

Synopsis

The Normans were a relatively short-lived cultural and political phenomenon. They emerged early in the tenth century and had disappeared off the map by the mid-thirteenth century. Yet in that time they had conquered England, southern Italy and Sicily, and had established outposts in north Africa and in the Levant. Having traced the formation of the Duchy of Normandy, Trevor Rowley draws on the latest archaeological and historical evidence to examine how the Normans were able to conquer and to dominate significant parts of Europe. In particular he looks at their achievements in England and Italy and their claim to a permanent legacy, as witnessed in feudalism, in castles, churches and settlement and in place-names. But equally he examines why such an energetic people disappeared so quickly from the political stage. The reality is that, even within this short time-span, the Normans changed as time and place dictated from Norse invaders to Frankish crusaders to Byzantine monarchs to Feudal overlords. In the end their contribution to medieval culture was largely as a catalyst for other, older traditions.

About this title

From the Publisher:

The Normans remain an amazing political phenomenon. They emerged early in the tenth century and disappeared off the map by the mid–thirteenth century. But in this time they conquered England, southern Italy and Sicily, and established outposts in north Africa and the Levant. Trevor Rowley looks at their legacy—feudalism, castles, churches, place–names—and examines why such an energetic people disappeared so quickly off the political stage.

A distinguished landscape archaeologist and historian, Trevor Rowley has recently retired as Director of Public Programs in the Department for Continuing Education at the University of Oxford.

About the Author:

Trevor Rowley is an Emeritus Fellow of Kellogg College, Oxford.

About this edition

• Publisher: Tempus Publishing
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0752414348
• ISBN 13: 9780752414348
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176