England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest

By: Jennifer Paxton, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Professor Jennifer Paxton

The history of England before 1066 is shrouded in myths and legends. From the fall of Rome in the fourth century to the invasion of the Normans in the 11th century, this wild and diverse land offers an incredible story of social, cultural, religions, and political change. How did this small island, far from the centers of western civilization, become the great England we know from the history books?

England: From the Fall of Rome to the Norman Conquest takes you through the mists of time to the rugged landscape of the British Isles. Over the course of 24 sweeping lectures, Professor Jennifer Paxton of The Catholic University of America surveys the forging of a great nation from a series of warring kingdoms and migrating peoples. From Germanic tribes to Viking invasions to Irish missionaries, she brings to life an underexamined time and place.

When the Romans arrived on the shores of southern England, they believed they had reached the edge of the empire, a place of little consequence. When they left in the fifth century, the island of Britain contained a number of small political groups and a wide variety of ethnicities. Little did the Romans know, the wheels of time continue to turn, and the Anglo-Saxons who emerged from the ruins of Roman England would dominate Britain for the next six centuries.

The Anglo-Saxons left a remarkable legacy in the arts, law, and language, but our understanding of who the Anglo-Saxons were and how they became a united people has changed dramatically in recent years. By using texts, artifacts, and DNA evidence, Professor Paxton reconstructs their astonishing story and the world they built. As you travel through time, you will witness the centuries of expansion and warfare, the rise and fall of rulers and kingdoms, and the sacrifices and schemes of saints and sinners. By the end of this course, you will understand the turning points that transformed a province on the periphery of the Roman Empire into a thriving medieval kingdom - and ultimately, the nation of England.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 The Great Courses (P)2022 The Teaching Company, LLC

I will never tire of coveting England's history

Jennifer Paxton provides a comprehensive and engaging journey through the historical events that shaped England during a critical period. Her meticulous research and clear explanations bring the narrative to life, making it accessible to history enthusiasts and newcomers alike. With a balanced blend of scholarly analysis and captivating storytelling, this audiobook is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to delve into the captivating history of England's formative years.

Interesting insights

Paxton surveys the diversity of cultures that came together to create Anglo-Saxon England. Anyone interested in medieval history will enjoy this series.

Left hungry for more medieval history

Wow! I’d love to hear series similar to this one for France, Hungary, Germany, Norway, etc., etc., for the same time period.
Thank you!

Excellent lecture series

This was an excellent lecture series. I learned a great deal. I had to stop and look up maps frequently and read more about some of the people, as the names and lineage can get confusing at times. I’ll probably listen to this several times before I’m done, so I can get a better handle on some parts that were confusing. But that was no fault of the lecturer.
The reader is a professor and not an actor, so don’t expect the reading to be like a regular audiobook.

Very good lectures

These are well presented, well thought out and give you a good idea of a history of early Britton.

Great lecturer

This is not a topic I was interested in but the lecturer explains it so clearly, interestingly, and entertainingly, I loved it.

Paxton is now my favorite historian.

Dauntlessly covering a mere thousand years, Paxton highlights the succession from Roman to Briton to Anglo-Saxon to Scandinavian and ending with Norman influences on the overall idea of what made a Britain foundation. It’s a fascinating and well-delivered lecture series.

Brilliant.

Anyone disappointed clearly didn't read the description. I enjoyed it immensely. very well done.

Superb opus on Anglo-Saxon England as the formative years of the UK.

Dr. Paxton is wonderful in both narration and expertise. I can’t recommend her lectures strongly enough they are so well done.

If you enjoy early medieval period, specifically post-Roman to the Norman conquest, you simply must hear Jennifer Paxtons offerings.

Learned A Lot

Jennifer Paxton covers a period that is not as familiar for England as late antiquity or the later Middle Ages and Reformation period. Great and interesting content and a pleasant and enthusiastic speaker makes the course fly by. Highly recommended.