The Conversion of Britain

by Barbara Yorke

The Britain of 600-800 AD was populated by four distinct peoples; the British, Picts, Irish and Anglo-Saxons. They spoke 3 different languages, Gaelic, Brittonic and Old English, and lived in a diverse cultural environment. In 600 the British and the Irish were already Christians. In contrast the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons and Picts occurred somewhat later, at the end of the 6th and during the 7th century. Religion was one of the ways through which cultural difference was expressed, and the rulers of different areas of Britain dictated the nature of the dominant religion in areas under their control. This book uses the Conversion and the Christianisation of the different peoples of Britainas a framework through which to explore the workings of their political systems and the structures of their society. Because Christianity adapted to and affected the existing religious beliefs and social norms wherever it was introduced, it’s the perfect medium through which to study various aspects of society that are difficult to study by any other means.

350 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Barbara York is Professor of Early Medieval History, University of Winchester.

Reviews

[Peter Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is by Barbara Yorke and so it is automatically very readable. As you'd expect, she begins with a survey of the sources and then she goes into an overview of the British Isles from 600-800. The strength and indeed, the weakness of this book is that it covers England, Wales, Dal Riata, Pictland and by default Ireland through its influence on the others.

This is a strength because all of them had an impact on their neighbours and a lot can be learnt through comparisons, as they all shared common features. It is also a weakness because not everyone is interested in the other areas and it is hard to say anything firm about many aspects of Pictland.

The chapters are:
Introduction (sources)
Politics and Society 600-800
The conversion of Britain to Christianity
Organisation and culture of the church in early medieval Britain
Religion, politics and society in early medieval Britain

Whilst each chapter should feel repetitive as the situation in each area of Britain is examined in turn, Yorke is such an engaging writer that this book never feels wearing. That is despite a few facts being repeated two or three times in different contexts, such as Adomnan's gift of a sharp stake and the difficulty of deciding whether an unrecorded high status site is secular or monastic.

This book would have benefited from better maps, as the two within are very general and some of the modern day counties of what became Scotland are unfamiliar to me and I had to check to see where things were actually located. There's also a typo where the battle of Chester is dated to 604.


Three things you'll take away from this book:
1, Under Theodore's Penitential fornication with one's mother brought 15 years penance
2, After nigh on 300 pages, the Picts are still almost an enigma
3, King Maelgwn was a bit of a lad - he murdered a his first wife and a nephew so that he could marry his nephew's wife.

[Aaron Schuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Conversion of Britain 600-800" by Barbara Yorke is a well-researched book that delves into the spread of Christianity in Britain during the early Middle Ages. The book offers a comprehensive overview of the period from the arrival of St. Augustine in Kent in AD 597 to the Viking invasions of the late 8th century.

Yorke provides examples of how Christianity was adapted in different parts of Britain, such as the use of pre-existing pagan sites for Christian worship and the incorporation of local traditions and customs into Christian practices. She also cites examples of how the spread of Christianity was facilitated by political alliances and the conversion of influential figures, such as the kings of Kent and Northumbria. In addition, Yorke uses place-names to trace the spread of Christianity throughout the country, highlighting the different ways in which the new religion was adopted and adapted in different regions.

In addition, the book provides insights into the social and political context of the time. Through the author's analysis of historical events and cultural practices, readers can gain a better understanding of the broader impact of Christianity on the society of early medieval Britain.

Overall, "The Conversion of Britain 600-800" is an accessible and engaging introduction to the subject that is suitable for both academic and general readers. The book's thorough research and detailed analysis make it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of Britain or the spread of Christianity.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly 2 months after starting this book - I’ve finished it! I haven’t found this an easy read, it is a very academic book and Barbara Yorke is very keen to dot all her i’s & cross all her t’s. However, it has answered questions I had about what happened after the Romans left & before the Anglo-Saxons arrived, mostly in the conclusions, so it’s a good job I persevered!

[Ron Nurmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look at early medieval Britain and the conversion to Christianity. The author explains the difficulty of writing this material because of the lack of sources. It covers how the political elite used Christianity to control and be controlled.