Product Description

Starting AD 400 (around the time of their invasion of England) and running through to the 1100s (the 'Aftermath'), historian Geoffrey Hindley shows the Anglo-Saxons as formative in the history not only of England but also of Europe. The society inspired by the warrior world of the Old English poem "Beowulf" saw England become the world's first nation state and Europe's first country to conduct affairs in its own language, and Bede and Boniface of Wessex establish the dating convention we still use today. Including all the latest research, this is a fascinating assessment of a vital historical period.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27392 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Good Book Guide, July 1, 2006
'This is an excellent assessment of a vital historical epoch from one of our most respected medievalists'

About the Author
Geoffrey Hindley is an acclaimed Medievalist. His many books include The Shaping of Europe, Saladin: a Biography, The Book of Magna Carta and A Brief History of the Crusades.

Customer Reviews

Much needed research on the Anglo-Saxon contribution to England
Hindley's book brings to the reader's attention the much-undervalued contribution the Anglo-Saxons invaders/settlers made to England. The period of Anglo-Saxon dominance is usually dismissed as something of a non-event in terms of the development of the nation, sandwiched between the great Roman & Norman invasions that are thought to have brought civilisation to the English and rescued them from the `dark ages.' However, by the time William the Conquerer came to the throne Hindley shows us that he had actually inherited rather than created the most efficient administrative structure in the whole of Europe.

Hindley tells us of the progress the Anglo-Saxons made in bringing about a concept of `Englishness' amongst all the initially separate kingdoms of England with the concept of 'Bretwalda,' a king who had supreme recognised authority over all the kingdoms of England. The setting up of a king's Navy by Alfred the Great and his preservation of the kingdom of Wessex which saved the Anglo-Saxon civilisation from oblivion at the hands of the Vikings. The contribution of the Anglo-Saxons to language, law, literature and bringing Christianity to Europe in the form of missionaries is impressive; this book highlights a wide range of achievements and as the previous reviewer states the book is anything but brief.

How England Began!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a fantastic book telling the story where the English came from (Saxons=Germany and Angles=Denmark) and how we formed a country called England. The Anglo-saxon period laid the foundation of what we know today as England and Englishness. This is not a "Brief history" as it is 400pages long. It is well written and extremely informative and the only bad point is that it doesnt talk about the battles between the British/Welsh and the Germans/English and how we made the Welsh forigners in their own land, and the word 'Welsh' means foreigner in old English. (I highly recommend the novel "The Rise of the Saxons" as it puts everything into context and does show the wars between the Welsh and the English from the English perspective, see my reviews) And after centuries of fighting other Germanic tribes (the vikings) slowly a new kingdom started to emerge and we call that land, 'Land of the Angles' or England. It tells the story of the Vikings, the 1st English kings/Bretwaldas, Alfred the great, our language, law, literature such as 'Beowulf'and how we became Christian. And the battle of Hastings is reviewed in great detail.

This is a great book and probably the best book on the forgotten Germanic invasions of Britain that I highly recommend to all students or those that have a huge interest in early English history with a lot of time on their hands. To learn about our pagan beliefs before christianity i recommend "Gods and Myths of Northern Europe".

Readable, balanced and informative
This is a very readable and informative overview of the Anglo-Saxons. It incorporates recent research and archaeological discoveries, and covers political, military, ecclesiastical, social and cultural history. The key role of the church is described, but in a way which is balanced by other aspects of the history of the epoch. Thoroughly recommended.