Table of Contents

Part 1 Historical context: the origins of Mercia; a frontier in flames?; Wales and its relations with Mercia; Pictish parallells; Ireland - an alternative model for power-broking; Carolingian contacts; political structures; political women. Part 2 The church: the church in society during the Mercian period; the architecture and archaeology of the church in Mercia; hagiography and literature south of the Humber. Part 3 The material culture of Mercia: the archaeology of Mercia; landscape and environment; the growth of market centres and towns during the Mercian hegemony; London, the contested city; Mercian coinage. Part 4 Visual culture: sculpted monuments as expressions of authority and power; the classicism of Southumbrian sculpture; Mercian metalwork; the Tiberius group of Southumbrian manuscripts; Southumbrian manuscripts and liturgy. Part 5 Mercia in retreat; Mercia, Wessex and the Vikings; the military establishment. Part 6 Conclusion: continuity versus disruption; Alfred and after.