Medieval Britain in 100 Facts

by Matthew Lewis

The medieval period is often thought of as the Dark Ages, a period of cultural stagnation and little economic and political advancement. However, Britain in this period survived invasion upon invasion, absorbing aspects of Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman culture. Britain developed from a small and fractured island into a more unified and powerful nation that could hold its own in European politics.Medieval Britain in 100 Facts covers this extensive period of change, guiding us through the key events, such as the many invasions and internal conflicts, and the key personalities. Matthew Lewis challenges our misconceptions about this period of British history, condensing this huge story into easy-to-read, bitesize chunks. He examines some of the most important aspects of the Middle Ages, from its formation after the Roman exodus, to the Norman invasion, to its eventual decline during the Wars of the Roses.

Genres: History

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2015

About the author

Matthew Lewis is the author of histories and historical fiction novels about Richard III and the Wars of the Roses. The medieval period is a particular passion of Matthew’s, a passion he hopes to share through his blog. He is dedicated to teaching and discussing this period, operating two history podcasts and providing bite-sized facts to his Twitter and Facebook following.

Lewis has degree in Law and currently lives in Shropshire.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Medieval Britain in 100 Facts is a quick paced, blog style collection of entries that is an ideal introduction to medieval Britain for younger readers or those who are beginning their journey into the past. It also has enough little tidbits to be fun for those who have greater expertise in this era.

Beginning with Edgar II, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, Lewis takes the reader on a trip through medieval times along an easy to follow chronological path. Each topic is covered briefly in a page or two, giving enough detail for basic understanding and to provide inspiration for further research. This format is wonderful for people who like to read in article style form or in short spurts.

Although I consider myself fairly well-read on the time period covered, I learned some fun facts, such as that there is a legal date set for 'Time Immemorial' - July 6, 1189. Other facts include the discussion of prophecies, mysteries, betrayals, and minor events that made a huge difference in British history. All in bite size portions.

Perfect for kids who have expressed an interest in history or for the long-suffering spouses of history enthusiasts. This book will provide enough background to make history fun without getting too deep to be confusing or overwhelming. I think I will be handing my copy over to the hubby. ;-)

[Oana]

A short, trivia-type holiday read inspired by a visit to the Conwy Castle.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 100 Facts series is great for giving you a little taster of an era and is fab for dipping in and out of. Some of the information in here I already knew but it also gave me a mental list of topics and people I should read more about.

[Michele Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️