Customer Reviews
A smooth flow of time - By: Stephen A. Haines, 19 Jun 2008 
Buried deep in this fine work is Francis Pryor's pondering of the question, how much of a 'revolution' was the Industrial one? The question indicates the theme of this book, which stresses continuity. Change was present, but often under very controlled circumstances. For Pryor, an archaeologist-writer who offers his ideas with wit & conviviality, the theme is "continuity" over "revolution". It's easy to highlight changes in a social scene, but as a man dedicated to hard evidence, the background is more important. Here, in the last of a string of books on what his science has found in Britain, continuity is the dominant theme.
Pryor launched his concept with "Britain BC", carried it through with post-Roman times in "Britain AD" & now arrives at the Christian-dominated Middle Ages. The change in religion had little impact on the daily transactions throughout Britain, with the likely shift of taxes from manor to chapel. The time-frame for this book begins about 650 CE & ends with the death of Henry VIII in 1547 CE. Nearly a millennium of time, with plenty of opportunity for "revolutions" - yet no major shifts in daily existence are in evidence. Henry's sequestration of the monasteries produced little in the way of disruption for village or town folk. As Pryor notes in the beginning, the book is about "hedges & fields, waterfronts & trade" rather than about the antics of monarchs or aristocrats. The Black Death had much more impact on society than any of the royals. Apart from the mortality, the economic shifts resulting from this plague were of far longer-lasting significance.
Even before the plague struck, agriculture & manufacturing led to early "free trade" agreements, even reaching across the Channel. Pryor finds such arrangements indicative of wider awareness & interaction than most "classical" histories have granted. Moreover, it's not treaties & other documents that he uses to make these points, but archaeological finds that provide hard evidence of what was transpiring in Britain in the Middle Ages. The Viking & Norse incursions carried a good many people into Britain, but after the initial raids, they came to stay & settled in nicely, thank you. If anything, the Norse' sea-faring skills more likely expanded existing trade arrangements, than disrupted commerce.
Pryor's chapters on urban life are the highlights of this work. After the Norse had become part of British society, population growth became a significant part of the social scene. Numbers rose to a height just before the Black Death that were not attained again until the 16th Century. The author selects various towns, describing their social & economic reactions to the plague & its aftermath. Drawing on his own observations & that of many other workers of recent generations he depicts a scene of nearly continuous development. York, in particular receives detailed attention for a span of nearly five centuries. York has provided a rich archaeological trove for the period - a rising trade community with a reach to distant places.
Reading Pryor is an unending delight, with nothing hidden in arcane academic discourse. He's open about what the evidence says & where uncertainties remain. Only the mildest interest in the past will bring rewards from this book. Readers are encouraged to enter this realm in full confidence that research is sound & the presentation fully accessible. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
The REAL Middle Ages - By: Vorley, 29 Nov 2007 If you were to read one book about the Middle Ages, this might be it. Certainly better this than an in depth view of the feudal "system". The book has a fine aim of painting the continuity of history. Where does the period begin - where does it end? This book is about the changes & developments in the lives of ordinary people. It demonstrates the engineering & constructional advancements, trade & communications of the period, blowing away some of the long taught myths of the Middle Ages.
It is a pleasure to read as it joins the historical documentary narrative to the archaeology.
It is a sequel in some was to Britain BC & Britain AD, but you could equallly read them in reverse.
Misleading Title? - By: L. Smith, 19 Nov 2006 
This book is a chatty, readable & amiable amble through various aspects of medieval archaeology.
In many ways it is as much a History of Medieval Archaeology, as a History of Medieval times from an archaeological perspective.
The author is a prehistory specialist, & unfortunately there are significant omissions in this work.
There is negligible reference to the monastic & military medieval world & the book focuses almost exclusively on England. Disappointing.
I had thought that if I found this book sufficiently rewarding, I would acquire "Britain BC" & "Britain AD", by the same author.
I will not be doing so, & am left wondering if this book was mainly written to exploit the success of those previous works?
With the current widespread enthusiasm in Britain for alll things historic & archaeological (spawned by the likes of "Time Team", "Worst Jobs in History" & their ilk), surely there is a real gap in the market for a detailed, accessible & informative Guide to the Archaeology of Medieval Britain?
Although a pleasant read, this is not it!
very accessible - By: R. J. Haddlesey, 09 Sep 2006 Its a great read! I am a PhD student involved in medieval studies & find his narrative approach easy to read. The book helps you understand how the real people of the middle ages lived & died. He takes historical events & combines them with archaeological finds to give context & meaning. Its so nice to read a 'normal' book that is factual & informed with out having to trudge through academic papers. Read it as a companion to other 'specialist' books as it is aimed at the informed public not scholars. Go & read this book, it's fun & light but very informative!
