Author Description
The 1279-80 hundred rolls are one of the most important sources for later thirteenth century England, yet this is the first comprehensive study of the inquiry which brought them into being. A Second Domesday will be an indispensable working tool for historians and is based on the latest knowledge of the returns. More of these are being discovered all the time and one of the aims of this book is to stimulate the recognition of other surviving texts. The book places the inquiry in its historical context, continental as well as English. This is followed by an examination of its purpose and whether or not it was conceived deliberately as a second Domesday Book. Central to the study is a consideration of the geographical range of the inquiry, how it was conducted and the way in which the returns were compiled. The way in which the inquiry was used, by historians as well as contemporaries, along with the introductory chapters will be particularly helpful to students. The book concludes with a description of all known returns, which, together with the appendices, are designed to assist future users.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This study investigates the origins, methodology, and historical significance of the 1279-80 Hundred Rolls to determine if the inquiry was intentionally modeled after the Domesday Book. Sandra Raban, a specialist in medieval administrative history, utilizes the surviving returns of the inquiry to reconstruct the bureaucratic processes of thirteenth-century England. The author argues that the rolls represent a critical, yet under-examined, administrative effort that provides unique insight into the social and economic structures of the period.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the geographical range and administrative execution of the 1279-80 inquiry
- Comparative study of the inquiry within both English and continental historical contexts
- A comprehensive catalog of all known surviving returns
- Appendices designed to facilitate further research and identification of additional texts
Scope Limits
- The study focuses primarily on the administrative and historical context of the inquiry rather than providing a full transcription of the rolls themselves
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and medievalists regard this work as a foundational reference for understanding the administrative landscape of late thirteenth-century England. The text is noted for its scholarly rigor and its utility as a practical guide for researchers working with primary source documents.
Page Count:
240
Publication Date:
2004-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191514438
ISBN-13:
9780191514432
History
Historiography
European History
British History
Reference