Between 871 and 878, Wessex came close to extinction, as the Great Heathen Army, the Great Summer Army, and Guthrum the Dane came to conquer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1.17 Alfred and the Fight for Survival

Series 1 is a concise social and political history of England from the 5th to 11th centuries. Series 2 is a social history how society and lordship worked during and directly after the migration period. It then looks at how that culture evolved, as the impact of economic development and the Viking invasions wrought changes in lordship and political structures. It looks also at the landscape - how it affected peoples' lives, how the Anglo Saxons shaped it in turn - and some of the marks ordinary people left for us to see today. And lastly, it considers whether the Norman conquest effected deep change or merely accelerated processes already underway. Sister series of The History of England podcast, with which is shares the contents of Series 1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1066 and the Norman conquest undoubtedly came with dramatic change in personel and architecture. But did it extend much below the elites, did it change the depths and fundamentals of English society - or just ripple the surface? After all many have argued that feudalism by another name was already well advanmced by 1066. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2.9 Norman Transformation?

From 9th century, the increasing intensfication of agriculture and population growth led to a transformation of agriculture and settlement in the 'champion' lands of lowland England changes which still define the basic stucture of the rural landscape around us today - and the classic English village.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2.8 A New Landscape

The Danish wars from the 9th century had a enormous impact on the Anglo Saxon state. The national struggle to repel and survive meant the creation of a centralised bureaucratic state - to raise geld, armies, build burghs. The economy was stimulated, towns and markets grew, and a new class of Thegns was endowed to administer this new bureaucracy. These Thegns created and invested in their 'manors' and villages. They intensified the exploitation of their estates, built churches and endowed priests. Thus the lives of English people became inceasingly focussed on their local village Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2.7 Rise of the Thegns

Warland was held by all free Anglo Saxon families, and so called because the resources of the land were to be used for the waru, defence of the land. That might mean military defence - but it was a much more general concept that tha - it was to be used in defence of the health and well being of the community. The responsibilities of the holder of warland were extensive, public, participatory and based on the cconcept of custom and reciprocity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2.6 Life in Warland

As 7th century turns into 8th, society becomes a little more hierarchical; tribute centres like Rendlesham begin to disappear for more permanent royal sites. But more significant for the life of many Ceorlisc families, was the arrival of Christianity. Because the new religion brought with it new institutions - priests, minsters, monasteries. These institutions required permanent establishments and households. And to support them, more is required from the land. Technology will help, and new, more intensively farmed Inland estates. But to work them, and new breed of peasant farmer will be needed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1.17 Alfred and the Fight for Survival

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