Global Perspectives on Early Medieval England

This volume explores early medieval England through the lens of comparative and interconnected histories, examining artistic, archaeological, literary, and historical artifacts. It considers the transmission of material culture across borders, reimagines the permeable boundaries of early medieval England, and addresses the construction of and responses to Anglo-Saxon narratives. Contributors include Debby Banham, Britton Elliott Brooks, Caitlin Green, Jane Hawkes, John Hines, Karen Louise Jolly, Kazutomo Karasawa, Carol Neuman de Vegvar, John D. Niles, Michael W. Scott, and Jonathan Wilcox.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 08 April 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

This volume explores early medieval England through the lens of comparative and interconnected histories, delving into diverse aspects such as materiality and geography, narrative framework and boundaries, and their impact on the wider cultural sphere. The chapters, drawn from various disciplines, examine artistic, archaeological, literary, and historical artifacts, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the period. The first part examines the transmission of material culture across borders, exploring the possibilities and limitations of comparative and transnational approaches. It examines the spread of bread wheat, the collapse of art-historical decorative and functional styles, and the mysteries surrounding daily life in an early medieval English hall.

The volume then reimagines the permeable boundaries of early medieval England, drawing perspectives from the Baltic, Byzantium, and the Islamic world. It explores the Vercelli Homily VII from John Chrysostom's Greek Homily XXIX, Hārūn ibn Yaḥyā's Arabic descriptions of Barṭīniyah (Britain), and the Old English Orosius. The final chapters address the construction and responses to Anglo-Saxon narratives, both past and present. They examine early medieval England within a Eurasian perspective, the historical origins of racialized Anglo-Saxonism, and views from Oceania, comparing Hiberno-Saxon and Anglican Melanesian missions, as well as contemporary reactions to exhibitions of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and Pacific Island cultures.

Contributors to this volume include Debby Banham, Britton Elliott Brooks, Caitlin Green, Jane Hawkes, John Hines, Karen Louise Jolly, Kazutomo Karasawa, and Carol Neuman de V. Their insights and perspectives contribute to a deeper understanding of early medieval England and its place in global history.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783276868