Description

The Normans were a relatively short-lived phenomenon. They emerged early in the 10th century but had disappeared off the map by the mid-13th century. Yet in that time they had conquered England, Ireland, much of Wales, and parts of Scotland. They also founded a new Mediterranean kingdom in southern Italy and Sicily, as well as a Crusader state in the Holy Land and an outpost in North Africa. Moreover, they had an extraordinary ability to adapt as time and place dictated, from Norse invaders to Frankish crusaders, from Byzantine overlords to feudal monarchs. Drawing on archaeological and historical evidence, Trevor Rowley offers a comprehensive picture of the Normans and argues that despite the short time span of Norman ascendancy, it is clear that they were responsible for a permanent cultural and political legacy.