Table of Contents

Part 1 The background: geology; relief and soil; modern climate; coastline changes and navigable rivers; the fens and the wash; the Wantsum Channel; forest settlements and population; regional bias in the Anglo-Saxon chronicle; charters as a source of evidence; chronological bias; archaeology; kings and princes. Part 2 The events - from Bede to the rise of Wessex: the Vikings; the Vikings in the West; the Vikings in England; Scandinavian coins and graves; Scandinavian place names; Mercia 880-906; Scandinavia, Ireland, Iceland; Viking trade; the reconquest 902-921; from Aethelstan to Eric Bloodaxe; the submission to Edgar; the wars of the reign of Ethelred the Second; Wales. Part 3 Administration: the administrative implications of Offa's dyke; the tribal hidage; early kingdoms; the itineraries of the early kings; the burghal heritage; the itineraries of the kings of England, from Edward the Elder to Cnut the Fleet; itineraries of Harlod I Barefoot, Hartacnut and Edward the Confessor; the country hidage law and land landholding in 1066. Part 4 The economy: minerals, salt and lime; agriculture; mills; roads; building stone; coins; the mints of Carolongian Europe; mints in England towns and their distribution; the size of town and forts; Part 5 The Church: dioceses; missionary efforts; the monastic revival; the Church and its bishops.