Early and Mediaeval English History
(to 1485)

Course Description: The course offers a chronological survey of the mediaeval history of the peoples of the British isles from the earliest times to the battle of Bosworth. The political, economic, social, intellectual aspects of the period will be discussed as well. The participants will become familiar with the most important events and developments of early English history and they will study some of the essential sources and documents pertaining to the period. The topics discussed will include — Prehistory, from Paleolithic to Neolithic; — henges, stone circles, Stonehenge — The Celts — Roman Britain — Gildas: De excidio Britanniae; — Early Anglo-Saxon Britain; the Heptarchy — Kent, Mercia, Northumbria; Offa 6-9^th centuries — Wessex in the 9-10^th centurie; Alfred — The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle — The Vikings: raids and settlements, the Great Danish Army; Danelag & Danegeld — The Advent of the Normans (* ** ***) — Doomsday Book (* ** ***)— English feudalism (Coronation Charter of Henry I)— Anarchy — Plantagenet expansion — Common Law — Heraldry — Plantagenet disaster — Magna Carta — beginnings of Parliament — Celtic troubles — Regicides — the Black Death and after — the Hundred Years' War — Wars of the Roses — English architecture.
Assignments, grading (%), textbooks: Participants will take an oral examination at the end of the term.

• Morgan, Kenneth O.: The Oxford History of Britain. Oxford: OUP, 1993. (One vol., pbk edn)
• Morgan, Kenneth O.: The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain. (Oxford: OUP, 1992), to p. 222
• Ridley, Jasper: The History of England. London & Sydney: Futura, 1983 [1981]
• Poole, A.L. From Doomsday Book to Magna Carta: 1087-1216. (Oxford History of England) 2^nd ed. Oxford: OUP, 1963.
• Powicke, F. Maurice: Thirteenth Century: 1216-1307. (Oxford History of England) 2^nd ed. Oxford: OUP, 1963.
• McKisack, May: Fourteenth Century 1307-1399. (Oxford History of England) Oxford: OUP, 1959.
• Jacob, E.F. Fifteenth Century 1399-1485. (Oxford History of England) Oxford, OUP, 1961.
• Morton, A.L., A People's History of England. several editions [1938].
• R.G. Collingwood & J.N.L. Myres, Roman Britain and the English Settlements (Oxford History of England);
• F.M. Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England (Oxford History of England).
• From the Pelican History of England: 1. Richmond, I., Roman Britain;
• 2. Whitelock, D., The Beginnings of English Society (from the Anglo-Saxon Invasion).
• The Life of King Alfred by Asser
• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
• H. de Bracton: De Legibus et Consuetudinibus Angliae
• Varga Vanda Éva (ed.): A Bayeux-i faliszőnyeg. Documenta Historica 18. Szeged, JATE Történész Diákkör, 1994.; Jójárt Júlia—Varga Vanda Éva (eds), A Bayeux-i faliszőnyeg. Második, átdolgozott kiadás. Documenta Historica 34. Szeged, JATE Történész Diákkör, 1998.
• Rimaszombati Károly (ed.): Vikingek az Angolszász Krónikában. Documenta Historica 31. Szeged, JATE Történész Diákkör, 1997.
• Novák Veronika (ed.): Gildas: Britannia romlásáról. Documenta Historica 32. Szeged, JATE Történész Diákkör, 1997.
• History of the United Kingdom (Primary Documents) — an excellent website

The Magna Carta
Exemplification of 1215
British Library, Cotton Augustus II. 106