History Books

Book SynopsisHandel called Britain ''The Ringing Isle'' because he heard bells ringing everywhere he went. Behind the quintessentially English sound of bells ringing lies a unique way of hanging bells and a special way of ringing them that evolved in the late sixteenth century. Ringing has since developed and spread, with some 6,000 towers worldwide with bells hung in the English style, and most of them in England. Over 40,000 active ringers keep alive the traditions and skills of change ringing that have been handed down over many generations.The book is an introduction to the world of bells and bell-ringing. It explains how bells are made and how a ringing installation works. It explains the nature of change ringing, which has mathematical as well as musical aspects. It provides insights into the ringing community its origins and culture as well as its relationships with the Church and the community.Table of ContentsBells and Bell-hanging / Change Ringing / Evolution of English-style Ringing / Ringing and the Church / Modern Ringing / Ringing Terminology / Further Reading / Useful Websites / Places to Visit / Index

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Book SynopsisFew cars have achieved the iconic status of Volkswagen's classic and much-loved Beetle yet its origins are intertwined with the dark days of Nazism. This book looks at those origins, at the marque's initial post-war rescue by the British and the effect of early VW Director General Heinz Nordhoff's forward-looking desire to perfect one model rather than spread the company's talent over a range of designs, at the impact of radical-minded advertising campaigns and at the Beetle's never-to-be-beaten production record for a single model of nearly 22 million cars. Bringing the reader right up to the present day, marque expert Richard A. Copping recounts the Beetle's story in a lively and authoritative manner guaranteed to delight devotee and casual browser alike.Table of ContentsIntroduction / A Car for the Masses: 1933–45 / A British Volkswagen: 1945–8 / The ‘King of Wolfsburg’: 1948–68 / Poor Management and New Beetles: 1968–78 / The Lasting Legacy: 1978–2003 and Beyond / Further Reading / Places to Visit / Index

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Book SynopsisIn this admirable book Montgomery Watt traces the influence of Islam in medieval Europe, looking in detail at commerce, science and technology, philosophy, and the development of European self-awareness.Trade ReviewProfessor Watt's book is a fascinating and stimulating introduction to a subject which is too often ignored. It includes useful notes and references. -- Hakim Adi Professor Watt's book is a fascinating and stimulating introduction to a subject which is too often ignored. It includes useful notes and references.Table of ContentsThe Islamic presence in Europe; commerce and technology; Arab achievements in science and philosophy; reconquista and crusade; science and philosophy in Europe; Islam and European self-awareness.

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Book SynopsisFollowing the 900th anniversary of the Crusader capture of Jerusalem, it is now time to reflect on how the phenomenon of the Crusades influenced the Muslim world, then and now: militarily, culturally and psychologically.Carole Hillenbrand discusses a group of themes that highlight how Muslims reacted to the alien presence of the Crusaders in the heart of traditional Muslim territory. She examines ideological concerns and the importance of the jihad in the context of the gradual recovery of the Holy Land and the expulsion of the Crusaders.Trade ReviewThis is ground-breaking work, and its value lies not only in the detailed reportage, but also in the way Carole Hillenbrand gives western historians a guide to source material, either unknown to them or available only in partial translation, and introduces her readers to the mindset of medieval Muslims, providing an entirely different angle from which to look at the crusading movement. By putting modern ideas into context the book will enable readers in both the western and Islamic worlds to understand better events which to some extent are shaping the present. -- Jonathan Riley-Smith The Crusades from a Western viewpoint have produced a very rich and abundant bibliography for more than a century. On the other hand, very few studies on the Muslim response to the Crusade have appeared. For the first time the subject is tackled here globally and an attempt is made to explain, through a deep analysis of the Arabic sources, the motives and aims of the Muslims ! This work - which shows very clearly the impact which the Crusades have had in Islamic territory up until our own time - is a remarkable contribution to the history of relations between east and west. -- Anne-Marie Edde Hillenbrand's admirable book, the first comprehensive attempt to pull together the relevant Muslim texts on these wars, lets the sources speak for themselves, and provides intriguing insights into the deeply rooted problems which face us today ! she has done a masterful job, providing us with a whole new way to examine the traditional western material on the Crusades. A magisterial and path-breaking study in its own right ! a veritable treasure trove of material heretofore unavailable to the non-Arabist ! The Crusades is a masterly and welcome contribution to the historiography of the Crusades. Hillenbrand has set an enviable standard of scholarship from which teachers and students of the Crusades, the medieval Middle East, and medieval Europe will long benefit. It is a major contribution !The book is profusely illustrated and the illustrations are on the whole well chosen. This is ground-breaking work, and its value lies not only in the detailed reportage, but also in the way Carole Hillenbrand gives western historians a guide to source material, either unknown to them or available only in partial translation, and introduces her readers to the mindset of medieval Muslims, providing an entirely different angle from which to look at the crusading movement. By putting modern ideas into context the book will enable readers in both the western and Islamic worlds to understand better events which to some extent are shaping the present. The Crusades from a Western viewpoint have produced a very rich and abundant bibliography for more than a century. On the other hand, very few studies on the Muslim response to the Crusade have appeared. For the first time the subject is tackled here globally and an attempt is made to explain, through a deep analysis of the Arabic sources, the motives and aims of the Muslims ! This work - which shows very clearly the impact which the Crusades have had in Islamic territory up until our own time - is a remarkable contribution to the history of relations between east and west. Hillenbrand's admirable book, the first comprehensive attempt to pull together the relevant Muslim texts on these wars, lets the sources speak for themselves, and provides intriguing insights into the deeply rooted problems which face us today ! she has done a masterful job, providing us with a whole new way to examine the traditional western material on the Crusades. A magisterial and path-breaking study in its own right ! a veritable treasure trove of material heretofore unavailable to the non-Arabist ! The Crusades is a masterly and welcome contribution to the historiography of the Crusades. Hillenbrand has set an enviable standard of scholarship from which teachers and students of the Crusades, the medieval Middle East, and medieval Europe will long benefit. It is a major contribution !The book is profusely illustrated and the illustrations are on the whole well chosen.Table of ContentsThe first crusade - the Muslim reaction; Jihad - the evolution of propaganda, 1100-1174; Jihad - military success, 1174-1291; Muslims and crusaders - the ideological divide; Muslims and crusaders - social and cultural relations; warfare - technology, strategy, theory and practice; epilogue - the heritage of the crusades.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a full overview of the archaeology of the Vikings in Scotland, incorporating many results from the recent period of intense fieldwork and excavation.Trade ReviewThis book provides the reader with a much-needed comprehensive overview of the Viking period in Scotland. Incorporating the latest results from the recent period of intense excavation and fieldwork, it presents a thorough re-appraisal of our knowledge of the process, nature and extent of Scandinavian settlement in Scotland. A varied, up-to-date archaeological survey ... a comprehensive overview. This book provides the reader with a much-needed comprehensive overview of the Viking period in Scotland. Incorporating the latest results from the recent period of intense excavation and fieldwork, it presents a thorough re-appraisal of our knowledge of the process, nature and extent of Scandinavian settlement in Scotland. A varied, up-to-date archaeological survey ... a comprehensive overview.

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Book SynopsisThis book charts the transformation of the political landscape of northern Britain between the eighth and the eleventh centuries. Central to this narrative is the mysterious disappearance of the Picts and their language and the sudden rise to prominence of the Gaelic-speaking Scots who would replace them as the rulers of the North.Trade Review...a sometimes demanding, but often fascinating and always rewarding book, rich in ideas. -- Rab Houston BBC History Magazine Teasing out the tangle of sources and suggesting ways of filling in the blanks, Woolf comes closer than we've ever been to a coherent account of a fascinating time. 4 stars -- Michael Kerrigan The Scotsman An impressive piece of scholarship by one who has been in the vanguard of rewriting medieval Scottish history... Alex Woolf is to be commended for producing a work that greatly advances our understanding of what continues to be an obscure and challenging period in Scottish History. -- R. Andrew Macdonald Saga-Book The author of this masterly work presents and discusses the evidence of the available, often fragmentary, sources to provide an intelligible account of the eventual evolution of a very limited 'kingdom' of Alba. Northern History The author was charged with writing a political history of the kingdoms in North Britain between 789 and 1070. He has done this with aplomb and displayed a breadth of knowledge and understanding that would be hard to match... It is to Woolf's credit that he has managed to produce such a well-written account that effectively tackles a far wider frame of reference than any of his predecessors ever accomplished (or were willing to engage with), and it is the totality of his discussion that is so impressive. This book deserves to become a recommended text. -- Alasdair Ross, University of Stirling History Scotland Of all the periods of Scottish history, 789--1070 is the most obscure as it is one of the most formative; for that very reason Alex Woolf's success in distilling an intelligible and credible narrative makes this book a triumph... The balance of his approach is matched by the quality of his prose: it has an easy pace, a clarity of structure and the tone of civilised conversation. It is hard to think of how such a survey could be better done, given the difficulties of the evidence and the complexity of the changes in North Britain from the eighth to the eleventh century. -- T. M. Charles-Edwards, University of Oxford Innes Review I find an overriding sense of adventure in this volume, with ideas rolling thick and fast... Woolf repeatedly demonstrates a perceptive sense of place in his historical arguments, giving a valuable insight into the interplay of geography and history in Scotland's past. Woolf 's skills of close textual analysis are also brilliantly demonstrated throughout the volume... A striking and laudable feature of Woolf 's book is the concern to show Scotland in a bigger historical picture. Woolf often draws on parallels and insights from across medieval Europe. This is important in showing the value of comparative evidence to provide insights into Scottish history. This feature of Woolf 's work also highlights Scotland's potential significance for mainstream European medievalists. There is no doubt that this volume marks a major advance in interpreting the Viking Age istory of Scotland. Woolf demonstrates the breadth of vision and originality of mind which deservedly characterises him as one of the leading early medieval Insular historians. -- Claire Downham, University of Aberdeen Journal of Scottish Historical Studies From Pictland to Alba is an extremely valuable synthesis of recent scholarship, and a showcase for Woolf's original insights. The book is essential reading for scholars and its accessible style should ensure an extensive student readership. From Pictland to Alba will no doubt be considered a formative text by the next generation of scholars of early medieval Scottish History. -- Fiona Edmonds, Clare College, Cambridge Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies ...a sometimes demanding, but often fascinating and always rewarding book, rich in ideas. Teasing out the tangle of sources and suggesting ways of filling in the blanks, Woolf comes closer than we've ever been to a coherent account of a fascinating time. 4 stars An impressive piece of scholarship by one who has been in the vanguard of rewriting medieval Scottish history... Alex Woolf is to be commended for producing a work that greatly advances our understanding of what continues to be an obscure and challenging period in Scottish History. The author of this masterly work presents and discusses the evidence of the available, often fragmentary, sources to provide an intelligible account of the eventual evolution of a very limited 'kingdom' of Alba. The author was charged with writing a political history of the kingdoms in North Britain between 789 and 1070. He has done this with aplomb and displayed a breadth of knowledge and understanding that would be hard to match... It is to Woolf's credit that he has managed to produce such a well-written account that effectively tackles a far wider frame of reference than any of his predecessors ever accomplished (or were willing to engage with), and it is the totality of his discussion that is so impressive. This book deserves to become a recommended text. Of all the periods of Scottish history, 789--1070 is the most obscure as it is one of the most formative; for that very reason Alex Woolf's success in distilling an intelligible and credible narrative makes this book a triumph... The balance of his approach is matched by the quality of his prose: it has an easy pace, a clarity of structure and the tone of civilised conversation. It is hard to think of how such a survey could be better done, given the difficulties of the evidence and the complexity of the changes in North Britain from the eighth to the eleventh century. I find an overriding sense of adventure in this volume, with ideas rolling thick and fast... Woolf repeatedly demonstrates a perceptive sense of place in his historical arguments, giving a valuable insight into the interplay of geography and history in Scotland's past. Woolf 's skills of close textual analysis are also brilliantly demonstrated throughout the volume... A striking and laudable feature of Woolf 's book is the concern to show Scotland in a bigger historical picture. Woolf often draws on parallels and insights from across medieval Europe. This is important in showing the value of comparative evidence to provide insights into Scottish history. This feature of Woolf 's work also highlights Scotland's potential significance for mainstream European medievalists. There is no doubt that this volume marks a major advance in interpreting the Viking Age istory of Scotland. Woolf demonstrates the breadth of vision and originality of mind which deservedly characterises him as one of the leading early medieval Insular historians. From Pictland to Alba is an extremely valuable synthesis of recent scholarship, and a showcase for Woolf's original insights. The book is essential reading for scholars and its accessible style should ensure an extensive student readership. From Pictland to Alba will no doubt be considered a formative text by the next generation of scholars of early medieval Scottish History.Table of Contents; Maps, genealogical Tables and Illustrations; Acknowledgements; General Editor's Preface; Note on Pronunciation and Spelling; Introduction: Land and People in the Eighth Century; Part One: Events (789-1070); Chapter 1. The Coming of the Vikings; Chapter 2. The Scaldingi and the transformation of Northumbria; Chapter 3. Last Days of the Pictish Kingdom, 839 to 889; Chapter 4. The Grandsons of Cinaed and the Grandsons of Imar; Chapter 5. The Later Tenth Century: A Turmoil of Warring Princes; Chapter 6. The Fall of the House of Alpin and the Moray Question; Part Two: Process; Chapter 7. Scandinavian Scotland; Chapter 8. Pictavia to Albania; Table of Events; Guide to Further Reading; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis closing volume of the ten-volume New Edinburgh History of Scotland analyses in detail the transformation of Scotland from the Victorian period-dominated by the Liberal party, the Presbyterian chruches, the British empire and hearvy industry - to contemporary times in which the industrial economy, the empire and the dominance of presbyterianism are things of the past.Like the period it describes, this book has politics at its heart. It deals with the rise of the Labour party since the 1880s; the success of the Conservative party in the 1950s and its subsequent decline; the development of nationalism; the long and complex process leading to the creation of the Scottish parliament in 1998/9; and the 2007 Scottish parliamentary election. Ewen Cameron sets Scottish Experience alongside the irish, Welsh and European, and considers British dimensions of historical changes - involvement in two world wars, imperial growth and decline - from a Scottish perspective.Cameron devotes particular attention to the period of enormous change since 1945. Considerable change has taken place within the Anglo-Scottish Union and the volume seeks to explain why this political settlement survived the twentieth century. Underlying the history is the evolution and growth of national self-confidence and identity which fundamentally affected Scotland''s destiny in the last century. the book ends with a consideration of how such forces may continue to transform it in this one.Trade ReviewHe [Cameron] is a marvellous and masterly guide. This book is one of the most factually rich accounts of Scotland's most recent history one could hope for, and is a valuable addition to existing work in this area... Dr. Cameron's mastery of the literature is impressive and the book's bibliography is itself a most useful source for scholars of this period... The rich factual content of this work will, however, ensure its longevity on our bookshelves. Good scholarship never goes out of fashion. -- Catriona MacDonald Scottish Review of Books Cameron's book will be an essential reading for anyone wishing to seriously engage with late modern Scottish history. It will feature on all reading lists and I can already see the pencil defacement of the book by undergraduates, which is in itself a tribute to the author, though a nuisance to other readers. -- Bill Knox, University of St Andrews Contemporary British History This is a dense political study, but the best of its kind, with enough social history to explicate the changes underway. The research is superb, and the full, up-to-date bibliography alone makes this book worth the price. Essential. -- J. J. Butt, James Madison University Choice Cameron is a skilled story-teller, able to weave simultaneous strands of history together! An absorbing and insightful history of modern Scottish politics. -- Patricia Bowley, University of Guelph International Review of Scottish Studies He [Cameron] is a marvellous and masterly guide. This book is one of the most factually rich accounts of Scotland's most recent history one could hope for, and is a valuable addition to existing work in this area... Dr. Cameron's mastery of the literature is impressive and the book's bibliography is itself a most useful source for scholars of this period... The rich factual content of this work will, however, ensure its longevity on our bookshelves. Good scholarship never goes out of fashion. Cameron's book will be an essential reading for anyone wishing to seriously engage with late modern Scottish history. It will feature on all reading lists and I can already see the pencil defacement of the book by undergraduates, which is in itself a tribute to the author, though a nuisance to other readers. This is a dense political study, but the best of its kind, with enough social history to explicate the changes underway. The research is superb, and the full, up-to-date bibliography alone makes this book worth the price. Essential. Cameron is a skilled story-teller, able to weave simultaneous strands of history together! An absorbing and insightful history of modern Scottish politics.Table of ContentsPart One; Chapter 1, Progress and Poverty: Scottish Society, 1880 to 1914; Chapter 2, Enterprise and Initiative: The Scottish Economy, 1880 to 1939; Chapter 3, 'An Exuberant Verbosity': Scottish Politics in the 1880s; Chapter 4, 'Volcanic Upheavals': Scottish Politics Before the Great War; Chapter 5, 'Ower the Hill': Scotland and the Great War; Chapter 6, Poverty without progress? Scottish Society in the Inter-war Period; Chapter 7, 'Miracles and Politics Don't Mix': Political Change in the Inter-war Period; Chapter 8, Total War, 1939 to 1945; Part Two; Chapter 9, The Social Revolution: Scottish Society since 1945; Chapter 10, The End of Industrial Scotland: The Economy since 1945; Chapter 11, Unionist Scotland: Politics, 1945 to 1970; Chapter 12, The 1970s: A Decade of Scottish Politics; Chapter 13, Mothering Devolution: Scottish Politics, 1979 to 1997;Chapter 14, New Labour, New Scotland, New Parliament

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the formative period when Scotland acquired the characteristics that enabled it to enter fully into the comity of medieval Christendom. These included a monarchy of a recognisably continental type, a feudal organisation of aristocratic landholding and military service, national boundaries, and a body of settled law and custom. By the end of the thirteenth century Scotland had a church based on territorial dioceses and parishes, centres of learning including monastic houses representing the main orders of western Europe, and thriving urban communities whose economic power counterbalanced the aristocracy''s. How and to what effect these characteristics were acquired are the main subjects of the book.After the introduction eighteen chapters are divided into three parts devoted to government, church and society. The volume comprises some of the most important as well as the most consistently readable work ever published on medieval Scotland. First published in 1973, it is now reissuedTrade ReviewA feast of learning, clearly expounded by an author with an impressive mastery of documentary and onomastic evidence, a wide-ranging topographical knowledge, and an enviable ability to marry the local, the regional and the general. An admirable guide to the growth of the Regnum Scotiae. A feast of learning, clearly expounded by an author with an impressive mastery of documentary and onomastic evidence, a wide-ranging topographical knowledge, and an enviable ability to marry the local, the regional and the general. An admirable guide to the growth of the Regnum Scotiae.

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Book SynopsisCharts the evolution of Scotland from a medieval and feudal to a modern, professional polity, and the transformation of its church and religious life from catholic to protestant.

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Book SynopsisIn 146 BC the armies of Rome destroyed Carthage and emerged as the decisive victors of the Third Punic War. The Carthaginian population was sold and its territory became the Roman province of Africa. In the same year and on the other side of the Mediterranean Roman troops sacked Corinth, the final blow in the defeat of the Achaean conspiracy: thereafter Greece was effectively administered by Rome. Rome was now supreme in Italy, the Balkans, Greece, Macedonia, Sicily, and North Africa, and its power and influence were advancing in all directions. However, not all was well. The unchecked seizure of huge tracts of land in Italy and its farming by vast numbers of newly imported slaves allowed an elite of usually absentee landlords to amass enormous and conspicuous fortunes. Insecurity and resentment fed the gulf between rich and poor in Rome and erupted in a series of violent upheavals in the politics and institutions of the Republic. These were exacerbated by slave revolts and invasions from the east.Table of ContentsSection I:146-91 BC; 1. The crises of the later second century BC; 1.1 The Wars in Spain; 1.2 The tribunate of Tiberius Gracchus; 1.3 Rome and the Eastern Mediterranean, 146-122; 1.4 The tribunates of Gaius Gracchus; 1.5 Foreign and domestic politics at the end of the second century BC; 1.6 The outbreak of the Social War; 2. Domestic politics: violence and its accommodation; 2.1 Elite competition; 2.2 Issues and ideology; 3. Imperial power: failure and control; 3.1 The parameters of Roman foreign policy; 3.2 War and imperial expansion; 3.3 The administration of peace; 3.4 Rome and the rest of Italy; Section II: 91-70 BC; 4. Social War, Civil War and the imposition of a new order; 4.1 The Social War; 4.2 Losing the peace: the transition to civil war; 4.3 Domestic politics and foreign affairs in the 80s BC; 4.4 The Sullan res publica; 4.5 The consulship of Pompeius and Crassus: a fresh start?; 5. The limits of autocracy; 5.1 Power and armed force; 5.2 Experiments in autocracy; 5.3 The Sullan res publica; 5.4 Rome, Italy and the Mediterranean; 5.5 Causes of change; Section III: 70-44 BC; 6. The end of the Republic, 70-44 BC; 6.1 The continuing problem of Mithridates; 6.2 Pompeius' campaigns 67-62 BC; 6.3 Italian crises; 6.4 Factionalism, the people, and the collapse of order; 6.5 Foreign Policy in the 50s; 6.6 The last years of the Republic; 6.7 The Civil War; 7. Imperial expansion: novelty and success; 7.1 Patterns of expansion; 7.2 Structures and methods of imperial conquest and government; 8. Elite competition, popular discontent and the failure of collective government; 8.1 Political culture at the end of the Republic; 8.2 The career of Pompeius; 8.3 Popular arbitration; 8.4 The implications of Caesar's dictatorship.

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Book SynopsisCentring on the reign of the emperor Augustus, volume four is pivotal to the series, tracing of the changing shape of the entity that was ancient Rome through its political, cultural and economic history.

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Book SynopsisThe Roman empire during the period framed by the accession of Septimus Severus in 193 and the rise of Diocletian in 284 has conventionally been regarded as one of crisis. This book describes and integrates the contrasting histories of different parts of the empire and assesses the impacts of administrative, political and religious change.

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Book SynopsisA History Of Everyday Life In ScotlandSeries Editors: Christopher A. Whatley & Elizabeth FoysterThis series demonstrates how everyday routines and behaviours can open a window into the social, economic and cultural lives of ordinary Scots. Each volume examines common topics such as landscape, homes, objects, rituals, beliefs, work and leisure patterns, conflict and communication. Across the series there are some striking continuities and remarkable changes in aspects of Scottish everyday life, while the everyday is shown to be shaped by national and regional surroundings, and varied between urban and rural, highland and lowland settings. Based on the collective research of a large team of established and younger scholars, this series presents an entirely new way of looking at Scotland''s past.A History Of Everyday Life In Medieval Scotland, 1000 To 1600---Edited By Edward J. Cowan & Lizanne HendersonWhat was it like to live in the medieval period? In what ways did extraordinary events affect the everyday?The first volume in the Everyday Life series answers these questions as it opens a window on medieval Scotland from 1000 to 1600. The everyday involves all that is common to humanity from the passage of birth through to the rites of death. To date the historiography of medieval Scotland has not been greatly concerned with the familiar and the day-to-day. In fact some might claim that the topic has been entirely ignored, until now.A strong international team of contributors draws upon a range of primary sources and published material, as well as artefactual and archaeological evidence, to present as complete a picture as possible of how people experienced life and complex issues of identity, geography, language, family and subsistence over five hundred years ago.Table of ContentsContents List of Figures Series Editors' Forward Christopher A. Whatley and Elizabeth Foyster Introduction: Everyday Life in Medieval Scotland Edward J. Cowan and Lizanne Henderson Chapter 1. Landscape and People Fiona Watson Chapter 2. The Worldview of Scottish Vikings in the Age of the Sagas Edward J. Cowan Chapter 3. Sacred and Banal: The Discovery of Everyday Medieval Material Culture Jenny Shiels and Stuart Campbell Chapter 4. The Family David Sellar Chapter 5. 'Hamperit in ane hony came': Sights, Sounds and Smells in the Medieval Town Elizabeth Ewan Chapter 6. Playtime Everday: The Material Culture of Medieval Gaming Mark Hall Chapter 7. Women of Independence in Barbour's Bruce and Blind Harry's Wallace Rebecca Boorsma Chapter 8. Everyday Life in the Histories of Scotland from Walter Bower to George Buchanan Nicola Royan Chapter 9. Disease, Death and the Hereafter in Medieval Scotland Richard D. Oram Chapter 10. 'Detestable Slaves of the Devil': Changing Ideas about Witchcraft in Sixteenth-Century Scotland Lizanne Henderson Chapter 11. Glasgwegians: The First One Thousand Years Edward J. Cowan Chapter 12. Marian Devotion in Scotland and the Shrine of Loreto Audrey-Beth Fitch Annotated Bibliography Notes on the Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisThis series demonstrates how everyday routines and behaviours can open a window into the social, economic and cultural lives of ordinary Scots Each volume examines common topics such as landscape, homes, objects, rituals, beliefs, work and leisure patterns, conflict and communication Across the series there are some striking continuities and remarkable changes in aspects of Scottish everyday life, while the everyday is shown to be shaped by national and regional surroundings, and varied between urban and rural, highland lowland settings. Based on the collective research of a large team of established and younger scholars, this series presents an entirely new way of looking at Scotland''s pastAccounts of nineteenth-century Scotland have been preoccupied with the impact of change, unprecedented in its pace and extent. Through the shock of industrialisation and its close cousin urbanisation, society evolved from small scale and personal to larger scale, dense and urban, in the process transforming all aspects of the everyday.The chapters in this volume examine the lives of the Scottish people under the changes and continuities that enveloped the nineteenth century. Some of the most visible transformations were reflected in the Scottish landscape and in the work and culture found in urban areas. Locality and community were revitalised in new customs and ceremonies. The printed word brought insight into society at home and at a distance. Rural Scotland adjusted to changes in farming practice and the traumas of population loss and began to look to the opportunities presented by recreation and tourism. With new interpretations from some of Scotland''s most respected historians, this collection makes essential reading for anyone looking to understand the everyday lives of the Scottish people in this most dynamic century.Trade ReviewThis book, part of a landmark new series on the history of the everyday in Scotland, will become a fixture in the bibliographies of historians, students, and interested readers alike. The series consists of four volumes covering everyday life from the medieval period up to the twentieth century and aims to examine, "the ordinary, routine, daily behaviour, experiences and beliefs of the Scottish people" (ix). Some of the best historians in their field have contributed to this volume, in nine specialist chapters. There is also a very good series introduction, an introduction to the volume, an annotated bibliography, and a plethora of fascinating illustrations, making it an excellent resource for readers! It is a roaring success; theoretically informed, and all of the chapters clearly linked to create an admirably coherent whole without any overlap-the authors and editors are to be congratulated. -- Annie Tindley, Glasgow Caledonian University Journal of British Studies This book, part of a landmark new series on the history of the everyday in Scotland, will become a fixture in the bibliographies of historians, students, and interested readers alike. The series consists of four volumes covering everyday life from the medieval period up to the twentieth century and aims to examine, "the ordinary, routine, daily behaviour, experiences and beliefs of the Scottish people" (ix). Some of the best historians in their field have contributed to this volume, in nine specialist chapters. There is also a very good series introduction, an introduction to the volume, an annotated bibliography, and a plethora of fascinating illustrations, making it an excellent resource for readers! It is a roaring success; theoretically informed, and all of the chapters clearly linked to create an admirably coherent whole without any overlap-the authors and editors are to be congratulated.

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Book SynopsisSurveys the current debates in modern literature and provides a wide selection of translated sources.

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Book SynopsisReceived an honorable mention at the 2016 British-Kuwait Friendship Society Book PrizeThe Great Seljuk Empire was the Turkish state which dominated the Middle East and Central Asia in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. This book surveys that period, which was one of exceptional importance, witnessing profound demographic, religious, political and social changes in the Islamic Middle East. The Turkish invasions played a role in provoking the Crusades, led to the collapse of Byzantine power in Anatolia and brought about the beginnings of Turkish settlement in what is now Turkey and Iran, permanently altering their ethnic and linguistic composition.Table of ContentsList of box texts; Illustrations and maps; Abbreviations; A note on transliteration, conventions and geographical terminology; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Chapter 1. The Rise of the Seljuk Empire: from the Eurasian Steppe to the Gates of Cairo, c. 965 1092; Chapter 2. Crisis, Consolidation and Collapse: the Great Seljuk Empire and the Sultanate of Iraq, 1092 1194; Chapter 3. Sovereignty, Legitimacy and the Contest with the Caliphate; Chapter 4. The Dargah: Courts and Court Life; Chapter 5. The Kuttab: Bureaucrats and Administration; Chapter 6. The 'Askar: The Seljuk military; Chapter 7. Religion and the Seljuk Empire; Chapter 8. The Economic and Social Organisation of the Seljuk Empire; Conclusion: The Seljuk Legacy; Appendices: Regnal Dates of Seljuk Sultans; 'Abbasid Caliphs, Khwarazmshahs and principal Atabegs; Genealogical chart of the Seljuk Sultans; Chronological Outline; Glossary; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisIt aims to fill the gap between specialised volumes on specific aspects of Muslim Spain and derivative surveys of the field that lack an academic coherence.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Background: Invasion and Settlement; 2. Establishment of a quid pro quo in al-Andalus; 3. Chaos in the Ninth Century; 4. The Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba; 5. The Influence of Islam in Christian Territories of Iberia; 6. Islamic Culture in the Heyday of al-Andalus; 7. The Collapse of the Islamic State and the Emergence of the Taifas; 8. The Change of Power in the Iberian Peninsula in the Eleventh Century; 9. Revitalisation: the Murabitun and the Muwahhidun; 10. A Case Study: Toledo from the Eleventh to the Fourteenth Centuries; 11. The Nasrids of Granada; Conclusion; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisThe Fatimid empire in North Africa, Egypt and Syria was at the centre of the political and religious history of the Islamic world in the Middle Ages, from the breakdown of the ''Abbasid empire in the tenth century, to the invasions of the Seljuqs in the eleventh and the Crusaders in the twelfth, leading up to its extinction by Saladin. As Imam and Caliph, the Fatimid sovereign claimed to inherit the religious and political authority of the Prophet, a claim which inspired the conquest of North Africa and Egypt and a following of believers as far away as India. The reaction this provoked was crucial to the political and religious evolution of mediaeval Islam. This book combines the separate histories of Isma''ilism, North Africa and Egypt with that of the dynasty into a coherent account. It then relates this account to the wider history of Islam to provide a narrative that establishes the historical significance of the empire.Table of Contents1. Introduction: The Fatimids in the perspective of the literature; 2. The Mahdi: Faith and the formation of the dynastic state, 874-947; 3. The Imam: Faith and the formation of the empire, 947-996; 4. The Caliph: Faith and government, 973-1045; 5. The crisis of empire, 1009-1074; 6. The restoration of the Caliph and the repudiation of the Imam, 1074-1131; 7. The demise of the Caliph, 1131-1171; 8. The Fatimid empire in comparative perspective.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first book in English to provide a comprehensive account of the rise and fall of the Almoravids and the Almohads, the two most important Berber dynasties of the medieval Islamic west, an area that encompassed southern Spain and Portugal, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The Sanhaja Almoravids emerged from the Sahara in the 1050s to conquer vast territories and halt the Christian advance in Iberia. They were replaced a century later by their rivals, the Almohads, supported by the Masmuda Berbers of the High Atlas. Although both have often been seen as uncouth, religiously intolerant tribesmen who undermined the high culture of al-Andalus, this book argues that the eleventh to thirteenth centuries were crucial to the Islamisation of the Maghrib, its integration into the Islamic cultural sphere, and its emergence as a key player in the western Mediterranean, and that much of this was due to these oft-neglected Berber empires.

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Book SynopsisAn introductory history that takes Scotland through two world wars and subsequent social exhaustion, through the re energising adjustments loosely referred to as 'the sixties' to a final endgame of Union versus Independence.

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Book SynopsisThe Scottish soldier has been at war for over 2000 years. This illustrated pean to his rich heritage explores both the detail of battles and the cultural history of war, devoting eight separate chapters to 'The Cultural and Physical Dimensions' of Scottish military involvement.Trade Review"An ambitious and timely work... a very important book." (History Scotland)"Table of ContentsList of Illustrations; Acknowledgements; Preface by Hew Strachan; Introduction, Edward M. Spiers; I Early Warfare and the Emergence of a Scottish Kingdom; 1. War in Prehistory and the Impact of Rome, Fraser Hunter; 2. Warfare in Northern Britain, c 500-1093, James E. Fraser; 3. The Kings of Scots at War, c 1093-1286, Matthew Strickland; 4. The Wars of Independence, 1296-1328, Michael Prestwich; 5. The Kingdom of Scotland at War, 1332-1488, Alastair J. Macdonald; 6. Scotland in the Age of the Military Revolution, 1488-1560, Gervase Phillips; 7. Warfare in Gaelic Scotland in the Later Middle Ages, Martin MacGregor; II Forging a Scottish-British Military Identity; 8. The Wars of Mary and James VI/I, 1560-1625, Matthew Glozier; 9. 'Mercenaries': the Scottish Soldier in Foreign Service, 1568-1860, Allan Carswell; 10. The Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 1625-1660, Martyn Bennett; 11. The Restoration and the Glorious Revolution, 1660-1702, K. A. J. McLay; 12. Marlborough's Wars and the Act of Union, 1702-1714, John C. R. Childs; 13. The Jacobite Wars, 1708-1746, Christopher Duffy; III Scotland in Britain and the Empire; 14. The Scottish Military Experience in North America, 1756-1783, Stephen Brumwell; 15. The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793-1815, Charles J. Esdaile; 16. Internal Policing and Public Order, c 1797-1900, Ewen A. Cameron; 17. Scots and the Wars of Empire, 1815-1914, Edward M. Spiers; 18.Commonwealth Scottish regiments, Wendy Ugolini; 19. The First World War, Trevor Royle; 20. Internal Policing and Public Order, c 1900-1994, Ian S. Wood; 21. The Second World War, Jeremy A. Crang; 22. The Cold War and Beyond, Niall Barr; IV The Cultural and Physical Dimensions; 23 Scottish Military Dress, Allan Carswell; 24. Scottish Military Music, Gary J. West; 25. The Scottish Soldier in Literature, Robert P. Irvine; 26. The Scottish Soldier in Art, Peter Harrington; 27. Castles and Fortifications in Scotland, Chris Tabraham; 28. The Archaeology of Scottish Battlefields, Tony Pollard; 29. Scottish Military Monuments, Elaine W. McFarland; 30. Scottish Military Collections, Stuart Allan; Epilogue: Reflections on the Scottish Military Experience, Alistair Irwin; Select Bibliography; Notes on the Contributors; Illustration Credits; Index.

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Book SynopsisBefore 1996, no one assumed Portmahomack held a key to the understanding of the mysterious Pictish world. This book develops the interpretation of a prime Pictish settlement site in north east Scotland, along with chapters exploring Iron Age, Medieval and European contexts of the settlement.

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Book Synopsis''Here is art which conceals art, and intellect which conceals intellect, so that by the end of the book one feels that one understands something one had not understood before. Mr Hall is witty and amusing, but not snide; he has a lightness of touch which allows him to write of extremely serious matters without solemnity; he knows how to convey a great deal in a few words'' Sunday Telegraph''He is an observant and witty writer...you believe implicitly that he has met the people he writes about, and that they said what he quotes them as saying'' Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisA striking and sympathetic portrait of England''s first Queen, Mary I - whose character has been vilified for over 400 years. Instead of the bloodthirsty bigot of Protestant mythology, Mary Tudor emerges from the pages of this deeply-researched biography as a cultured renaissance princess, a courageous survivor of the violent power struggles that characterised the reigns of her father, Henry VIII, and brother Edward VI. The author does not belittle Mary''s burning of heretics, which earned her the subriquet ''Bloody Mary'', but she also had many endearing personal qualities and talents, not least the courage of leadership she showed in facing down Northumberland''s rebellion. A well-balanced and readable biography of Mary I is long overdue.Trade ReviewDrawing on new, contemporary scholarly research, this is a fascinating new take on a much misunderstood monarch * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *A richly researched, marvellously realised historical biography * TELEGRAPH *Mary deserves her proper account and this friendly and appreciative biography gives her the credit she is due * THE TABLET *This well-researched biography about "Bloody" Mary is fascinating. I loved the way the author shattered the misconceptions we have of her * WOMAN'S OWN *

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Book SynopsisLittle is generally known of the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and the immortal place it holds among all the Royal Ordnance Factories. For nearly four hundred years it was a ''secret walled city'', self-sufficient and closely guarded. As it grew, and developed the nation''s weapons of war, it became the main source of all implements of war for our armed forces. Even those weapons not produced in the Arsenal very often had to be tested and approved within its boundaries. Here for the first time is a tantalising look behind the walls of the secret city, once among the most sensitive of government establishments.

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Book SynopsisBasingstoke in the 1960s looks at the North Hampshire town during the period in which it was drastically altered to accept the flow of population from London and other areas under the Town Development Scheme. The town centre was partially demolished to make way for a new shopping centre, a new road system was built, and various housing and industrial estates were constructed for thousands of new residents.Several local farms were acquired for the massive building project, which was to extend well into the countryside. With over 200 fascinating photographs charting Basingstoke''s growth, the book will rekindle many memories of this time of demolition and development. The social life of the town and its annual carnivals are documented, as are accidents and other news stories.The introduction gives a brief history of Basingstoke up to the 1960s, when its population suddenly increased from 16,000 to its present 150,000. The author is a local historian and freelance photographer who has taken some 4,000 photographs recording the changes to Basingstoke since 1955. He has captured the important moments of a community transforming from the old to the new.

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Book SynopsisIn this second selection of images of Cradley Heath, Old Hill and district, great use has been made of the marvellous old photographs that can be seen in, and are still being deposited at the Sandwell Community History & Archive Service collection in Smethwick Library.This is an invaluable source of historic information recording the changing face of the area - especially the drastic demolition and rebuilding which took place after the Second World War. This book is sure to give local people a fascinating insight into the area''s past, and will be of great interest to anyone who has a sense of the history of this corner of the Black Country.

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Book SynopsisThis work is an introduction to the structure and context of archaeology in Britain. It reviews the vital issues facing archaeologists during a period in which the discipline has become increasingly diverse, and analyses the questions of principle and practice that have arisen.

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Book SynopsisThe Tudor era belongs to its women. No other period of English History has produced so many notable and interesting women, and into other period have they so powerfully influenced the course of political events. Mary Tudor, Elizabeth 1 and, at moments of high drama, Mary Queen of Scots dominated the political scene for more than half a century, while in the previous fifty years Henry VIII''s marital escapades brought six more women to the centre of attention. In this book the women of the royal family are the central characters; the royal women set the style and between them they provide a dazzling variety of personalities as well as illustrating almost every aspect of life as it affected women in Tudor England. We know what they ate, how they dressed, the books they read and the letters they wrote. Even the greatest of them suffered the universal legal and physiological disabilities of womanhood - some survived them, some went under. Now revised and updated, Alison Plowden''s beautifully written account of the women behind the scenes and at the forefront of sixteenth-century English history will be welcomed by anyone interested in exploring this popular period of history from the point of view of the women who made it.

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Book SynopsisIn the century before the great famine of the late 1840s, the Irish people, and the poor especially, became increasingly dependent on the potato for their food. So when potato blight struck, causing the tubers to rot in the ground, they suffered a grievous loss. Thus began a catastrophe in which approximately one million people lost their lives and many more left Ireland for North America, changing the country forever. During and after this terrible human crisis, the British government was bitterly accused of not averting the disaster or offering enough aid. Some even believed that the Whig government''s policies were tantamount to genocide against the Irish population. James Donnelly''s account looks closely at the political and social consequences of the great Irish potato famine and explores the way that natural disasters and government responses to them can alter the destiny of nations.Trade ReviewThis is unquestionably the most comprehensive single account of the Irish catastrophe... -- Professor Peter Gray... many historians have written excellent books about the great Irish famine ... Donnelly's is the best and most comprehensive of them all. -- Kerby Miller, Middlebush Professor of HistoryJames Donnelly's book is likely to become the classic account of the Great Famine, and the first port of call for both students and general readers. -- Professor Peter Gray

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Book SynopsisFeaturing over two hundred photographs, many selected from private and previously unseen collections, Around Tiverton illustrates how the town has developed into the vibrant community it is today. It gives an unforgettable insight into the daily lives of local people during the twentieth century.There are glimpses of national occasions, such as the Queen''s Silver Jubilee in 1977, as well as local events, including the River Exe Struggle and the famous Blundell''s School Russell cross-country races. Comprimising the work of both professional and gifted amateur photgraphers, this fascinating collection draws on a variety of sources to create a memorable picture of life in Tiverton past and offers those who remember the town as it was a trip down memory lane.

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Book SynopsisNUNEATON MEMORIES is sure to fascinate anyone who has grown up or lived in Nuneaton over the past fifty years. It shows the enormous changes that have taken place in the town since the Second World War, as it adapted to the needs of increasing car ownership and changes in social and economic conditions. The photographs come from the huge collection taken by Reg Bull and deposited at the Warwickshire County Record Office after his death in 1999. Reg Bull came from a local family; in fact his grandfather founded the Nuneaton Chronicle in 1868. Reg worked for the Coal Board but from 1950 his passion was photography. He collected local pictures from other sources, and took thousands of his own. John Burton is well known for his books and slide shows. In this, his fifth book, he has selected over 230 pictures from the Reg Bull Collection, and arranged them to show the changing face of post-war Nuneaton. He provides a commentary and interpretation of the photographs to accompany the changes

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Book SynopsisThe Black Death

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Book SynopsisToday's village of Kinver first made an appearance in 736 AD as Cynibre. Despite being close to the Black Country and having a flourishing iron working industry from the seventeenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, the village avoided the spread of industry and housing. Even today much of the village lies within a conservation area and is surrounded by green belt land. The neighbouring village of Enville, its hall the seat of the former Earls of Stamford and Warrington, has also escaped the seemingly relentless spread of suburbia, and has retained its unspoilt individuality. Chapters cover canals and rivers, pubs, prominent properties, churches, the Kinver Light Railway and tourism. This attractive volume will evoke nostalgic memories for many people, and will give pleasure to residents and visitors alike.

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Book SynopsisThis is a fascinating selection of images featuring the town of Bury St Edmunds along with many of its surrounding villages. Robert Halliday has collected together over 250 old photographs, and these, coupled with his informative captions, give an insight into the area's history. Among the villages featured are Risby, Culford, Ampton, Stowlangtoft, Ashley and Wickhambrook. Around Bury St Edmunds will provide a rare glimpse of what life was like in the area in a bygone age.

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Book SynopsisThe six children of King George V and Queen Mary all lived to maturity except the youngest, Prince John. The eldest, who was Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, reigned as King Edward VIII for less than a year. His infamous romance with Mrs Simpson plunged the country into the abdication crisis and led both of them into a long period of exile. King George VI, who reluctantly and unexpectedly ascended to the throne, was a shy man, handicapped by a speech impediment and a sense of his own inadequacy. However, together with his Consort, Queen Elizabeth, and the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, he gave the nation spirited guidance throughout World War II. Both surviving younger brothers served in the armed forces during war-time. Henry, Duke of Gloucester, was Governor General of Australia from 1944-6 and crowned his military career with promotion to the rank of Field-Marshal. George, Duke of Kent, an officer in the RAF, was tragically killed on active service in

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Book SynopsisPrincess Victoria Melita played a colourful role from her birth in 1876. The second daughter of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, she made a brief and unhappy marriage at the age of 17 to her cousin, Ernest, Grand Duke of Hesse. In the face of strong opposition from her family she divorced him seven years later and married another cousin, Grand Duke Cyril of Russia, resulting in three years of exile. When revolution toppled the empire in 1917, the Grand Duke and Duchess and their children escaped to Finland, living in danger for three long years. Following the atrocities of the Bolsheviks at the time, including the murder of most of the Romanov family, the Grand Duke believed he was the senior surviving member of the imperial house, and proclaimed himself Tsar. However, they were never able to return to their homeland, and the Grand Duchess died in exile in 1936. Using previously unpublished correspondence from the Royal Archives and Astor papers, this is a portrait of the Princess, set against the imperial courst of the turn of the 20th century and inter-war Europe.

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Book SynopsisFounded in 1673 by the Society of Apothecaries, the Chelsea Physic Garden led the world for over 300 years in the research and classification of new plants. Sue Minter examines its history and many notable achievements.

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Book SynopsisCharles Cruickshank provides a full account of the German invasion, the subsequent landings of various British agents, raids and an attempt to end the occupation using psychological warfare. He also looks at how the islanders and Wehrmacht lived, the reality of collaboration with the occupying powers and the extent of support for the Resistance.

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Book SynopsisKing Harold Godwineson is one of history''s shadowy figures, known mainly for his defeat and death at the Battle of Hastings. His true status and achievements have been overshadowed by the events of October 1066 and by the bias imposed by the Norman victory. In truth, he deserves to be recalled as one of the greatest rulers. Harold: The Last Anglo-Saxon King sets out to correct this distorted image by presenting Harold''s life in its proper context, offering the first full-length critical study of his career in the years leading up to 1066. Ian Walker''s carefully researched critique allows the reader to realistically assess the lives of both Harold and his rival William, significantly enhancing our knowledge of both.

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Book SynopsisThis fully illustrated book explores the treasures of Scotland''s capital city and unlocks the meaning of landmarks that have become familiar. It tells the reader how to find and understand the citys nooks and crannies, and includes information on the location of and access to all the sites covered.

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Book SynopsisAs the world''s first - and only - supersonic passenger transport aircraft, the Anglo-French Concorde has never been out of the news. From its maiden flight in 1969 until its retirement from airline service in 2003, Concorde''s achievements have been perpetually in the superlativ - the fastest, highest, most luxurious, most expensive (to build as well as to fly in) - to name just a few. The sleek white bird set standards in aeronautical design and passenger service that remain unsurpassed to this day. Here is the incredible story of an icon of 20th century design technology.

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Book SynopsisLyme Regis grew up as a medieval port, and re-invented itself as a seaside resort in the mid-eighteenth century. This book uses image picture collection at Lyme Regis Museum to illustrate the dramatic changes in the town and also the continuities. The illustrations are accompanied by Jo Draper''s commentary.

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Book SynopsisIf you enjoy the occasional pub meal, a drink at the bar, or if you''re interested in Lancashire''s social history, you''re sure to find something entertaining in Peter Thomas''s introduction to the county''s pubs. It opens with a round-up of the history of brewing, pubs and ale-selling, and a section on Lancashire''s pub signs, though most of the book is dedicated to an A-Z of over fifty of the most interesting inns. Their history, architecture, ghosts and associated legends are all featured, as well as the exploits of their famous and infamous landlords and landladies. Peter''s exhaustive research has resulted in a gem of a book which brings together the proud history, traditions and customs associated with Lancashire hostelries; from ale tasting at the Plough at Eaves to the Britannia Coconut Dancers at the Crown Inn at Bacup. A fascinating journey, with plenty of refreshment stops along the way, this will appeal to anyone with an interest in local history, and those who''d like to

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Book SynopsisIn this latest volume by Neil R. Storey we encounter some of the personalities, folklore, events, disasters, heroes and villains that have become interwoven into the rich tapestry of Norfolk''s coastal past.

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