The Normans

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Professor Robert Bartlett embarks on an ambitious journey deep into the hearts and minds of a band of warriors who transformed medieval Europe. Bursting with colourful characters and illuminating detail, Professor Bartlett’s story follows the fortunes of the Normans all the way from Scandinavia to Normandy and England in 1066. He then follows them south to Jerusalem via southern Italy, Sicily and modern day Turkey. He draws on Anglo-Saxon chronicles, medieval manuscripts and some of the most powerful examples of Norman architecture in an epic sweep of the period of Norman supremacy. And he reveals how the Norman legacy lives on in our culture and politics to this day.

Domesday

In a fascinating exploration of Domesday Book, medieval historian Dr Stephen Baxter reveals the human and political drama that lies within the parchment of England’s earliest surviving public record. He also finds out the real reason it was commissioned by William the Conqueror. Most historians believe Domesday is some kind of tax book for raising revenue. But Baxter reveals why Domesday Book couldn’t have been used to collect taxes. He argues that its real purpose was to give revolutionary new powers to England’s first Norman King.