Author Description
The Norman Conquest in 1066 was one of the most profound turning points in English history, dramatically transforming a disparate collection of small nations into a powerful European state. But what actually happened? How was the invasion viewed by those who witnessed it? And how has its legacy been seen by generations since? In this fascinating Very Short Introduction, George Garnett--a leading expert on the Norman Conquest and its aftermath--reveals how dramatically English life was changed, transforming everything from its language to its law, and introducing a more sophisticated form of government as well as an enduring and intense dislike of the French. He sheds light on the differing ways the conquest has been viewed by historians and in folklore over nearly a millennium, revealing how much of what we understand today about the Norman Conquest was colored by the values of the Victorian Age, and showing how historians have pieced together the events of 1066, including the invasion by William the Conqueror and its climactic moment at the Battle of Hastings.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the historical reality and long-term cultural legacy of the 1066 Norman Conquest of England. George Garnett, a professor of medieval history and expert on the period, utilizes primary source analysis and historiographical review to argue that the Conquest was not merely a military event but a transformative process that reshaped English law, language, and governance. He examines how subsequent generations, particularly during the Victorian era, projected their own values onto the events of 1066 to create a distorted national narrative.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the Battle of Hastings and the political climate of 11th-century England
- Examination of the administrative and legal shifts introduced by William the Conqueror
- Historiographical survey of how the Conquest has been interpreted over the last millennium
Scope Limits
- Does not provide a minute-by-minute tactical breakdown of every skirmish during the invasion
- Does not focus on the personal biographies of minor Norman nobility outside of the central political figures
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this work as a concise and highly accessible entry point for students and general readers interested in medieval historiography. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which manages to condense complex political shifts into a brief, manageable format.
Page Count:
147
Publication Date:
2009-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192801619
ISBN-13:
9780192801616
History
Military History
British History
European History
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