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In the eleventh and twelfth centuries the Normans had a formative
influence on the development of states and societies in the British
Isles, southern Italy and the Levant. Their achievements still
resonate powerfully today, and represent a vital field of
historical study. But how far did colonial elites define themselves
as Norman, and to what extent were they categorized as such by
others? What were the defining attributes of the supremacies
achieved by the Normans, and by other incomers associated with
them, and how decisive and diverse was the impact of their
influence on local power-structures and native societies? How
readily did they reach accommodations with those societies, and how
might their own identities be renegotiated within the context of
cross-cultural encounters? And, in terms of the progress and
practices of state-formation, what was the balance between 'old'
and 'new'? These are some of the key questions addressed in this
collection of essays, which also treats the Normans as a genuinely
European phenomenon. Norman activity in the British Isles and in
the Mediterranean lands receives equal coverage; and the topics
explored include identities and identification, marriage policies,
acculturation, the pre-existing landscapes of power and how far
they were transformed, castle-building strategies, the nature of
frontiers, urban government, and law and legislation. This volume
therefore serves both to illustrate and to open up for fresh debate
many of the salient themes concerning the Norman experience of
diaspora and settlement. At the same time, it seeks to underscore
how the dynamics, character and consequences of Norman expansion -
and the connections, continuities and contrasts - can better be
appreciated by taking the wider Norman world, or worlds, as the
focus for collective study.
In the eleventh and twelfth centuries the Normans had a formative
influence on the development of states and societies in the British
Isles, southern Italy and the Levant. Their achievements still
resonate powerfully today, and represent a vital field of
historical study. But how far did colonial elites define themselves
as Norman, and to what extent were they categorized as such by
others? What were the defining attributes of the supremacies
achieved by the Normans, and by other incomers associated with
them, and how decisive and diverse was the impact of their
influence on local power-structures and native societies? How
readily did they reach accommodations with those societies, and how
might their own identities be renegotiated within the context of
cross-cultural encounters? And, in terms of the progress and
practices of state-formation, what was the balance between 'old'
and 'new'? These are some of the key questions addressed in this
collection of essays, which also treats the Normans as a genuinely
European phenomenon. Norman activity in the British Isles and in
the Mediterranean lands receives equal coverage; and the topics
explored include identities and identification, marriage policies,
acculturation, the pre-existing landscapes of power and how far
they were transformed, castle-building strategies, the nature of
frontiers, urban government, and law and legislation. This volume
therefore serves both to illustrate and to open up for fresh debate
many of the salient themes concerning the Norman experience of
diaspora and settlement. At the same time, it seeks to underscore
how the dynamics, character and consequences of Norman expansion -
and the connections, continuities and contrasts - can better be
appreciated by taking the wider Norman world, or worlds, as the
focus for collective study.
In this up-to-date study of Stephen's reign, Keith Stringer looks
at the relationship between government, warfare and the rise and
fall of the medieval states. Using primary sources and the most
recent research, he offers an important re-evaluation of the
so-called "anarchy" and a radical reassessment of Stephen's ability
as a ruler.
In this study of Stephen's reign, Keith Stringer looks at the
relationship between government, warfare, and the rise and fall of
medieval states. Using primary sources and the most recent
research, he offers an important re-evaluation of the so-called
`Anarchy' and a radical reassessment of Stephen's ability as a
ruler.
This book examines the organisation of power and society in
north-east England over two crucial centuries in the emergence of
the English 'state'. England is usually regarded as medieval
Europe's most centralised kingdom, yet the North-East was dominated
by liberties--largely self-governing jurisdictions--that greatly
restricted the English crown's direct authority in the region.
These local polities receive here their first comprehensive
discussion; and their histories are crucial for understanding
questions of state-formation in frontier zones, regional
distinctiveness, and local and national loyalties.
The analysis focuses on liberties as both governmental entities and
sources of socio-political and cultural identification. It also
connects the development of liberties and their communities with a
rich variety of forces, including the influence of the kings of
Scots as lords of Tynedale, and the impact of protracted
Anglo-Scottish warfare from 1296. Why did liberties enjoy such
long-term relevance as governance structures? How far, and why, did
the English monarchy respect their autonomous rights and status? By
what means, and how successfully, were liberty identities created,
sharpened and sustained? In addressing such issues, this
ground-breaking study extends beyond regional history to make
significant contributions to the ongoing mainstream debates about
'state', 'society', 'identity' and 'community'.
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Nadine Gordimer
Paperback
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R398
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Discovery Miles 3 300
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