A Companion To Britain In The Later Middle Ages

This authoritative survey of Britain in the later Middle Ages comprises 28 chapters written by leading figures in the field.


* Covers social, economic, political, religious, and cultural history in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales

* Provides a guide to the historical debates over the later Middle Ages

* Addresses questions at the leading edge of historical scholarship

* Each chapter includes suggestions for further reading

* Includes 28 chapters written by leading authorities in the field

* Covers social, economic, political, religious, and cultural history in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales

* Provides a guide to the historical debates over the later Middle Ages

* Addresses questions at the leading edge of historical scholarship

* Each chapter includes suggestions for further reading

S. H. Rigby is Reader in History at the University of Manchester. His previous publications include Engels and the Formation of Marxism (1992), English Society in the Later Middle Ages (1995), Chaucer in Context (1996) and Marxism and History (second edition, 1998).

List of Figures x


List of Plates xi


List of Maps xii


List of Contributors xiii


Introduction xvi


Part I Economy and Society in Town and Country 1


1 England: Land and People 3
Bruce M. S. Campbell


2 England: The Family and the Village Community 26
Phillipp R. Schofield


3 England: Towns, Trade and Industry 47
Richard H. Britnell


4 England: Popular Politics and Social Conflict 65
Jane Whittle and S. H. Rigby


5 England: Women and Gender 87
Judith M. Bennett


6 Scotland: Economy and Society 107
Nicholas J. Mayhew


7 Wales: Economy and Society 125
A. D. Carr


8 Ireland: Economy and Society 142
Brian Graham


Part II Politics, Government and Law 163


9 The British Perspective 165
Seán Duffy


10 England: Kingship and the Political Community, c.1100–1272 183
Ralph V. Turner


11 England: Kingship and the Political Community, 1272–1377 208
Scott L. Waugh


12 England: Kingship and the Political Community, 1377–c.1500 224
Rosemary Horrox


13 England: Law, Society and the State 242
Robert C. Palmer


14 England: The Nobility and the Gentry 261
Christine Carpenter


15 Scotland: Politics, Government and Law 283
Hector L. MacQueen


16 Wales: Politics, Government and Law 309
J. Beverley Smith and Llinos Beverley Smith


17 Ireland: Politics, Government and Law 335
James Lydon


Part III The Church and Piety 357


18 England: Church and Clergy 359
David Lepine


19 England: Piety, Heresy and Anti-clericalism 381
Matthew Groom


20 Scotland: Religion and Piety 396
D. E. R. Watt


21 Wales: Religion and Piety 411
Huw Pryce


22 Ireland: Religion and Piety 430
Henry A. Jefferies


Part IV Education and Culture 449


23 England: Education and Society 451
Jo Ann H. Moran Cruz


24 England: Art and Society 472
Veronica Sekules


25 England: Literature and Society 497
S. H. Rigby


26 Scotland: Culture and Society 521
Louise O. Fradenburg


27 Wales: Culture and Society 541
Susan L. Aronstein


28 Ireland: Culture and Society 558
Edel Bhreathnach and Raghnall Ó Floinn


Bibliography of Secondary Sources 596


Index 649