The Normans (The Peoples of Europe)

ThisbookexaminestheemergenceoftheNormans,theircharacteristicsasagroup,andtheirvariousachievementsinwar,culture,andcivilization.TheNormanswereaproductofhistoryratherthananaturalethnicorregionalgroup.Thisbookexploreswhattheybelievedmadethemadistinctpeopleandhowtheyconstructedtheiridentity.MarjorieChibnallexaminestheenigmaoftheNorthmenwhofirstsettledaroundtheSeineestuaryandbuiltaprincipalitythattooktheirnameandbecamethespringboardforwiderexpansionandtheconquestofEngland.ThebookmovesontostudytheriseofNormandy,andtheintegrationandinfluenceofothergroupsincludingtheSaxons,theFranksandnewScandinavianleaders.TheNormans'remarkablewarfareandmaritimesuccessesarerevealedindetailincludingtheirconquestofEngland,infiltrationofWalesandScotland,andassimilationinIreland;andtheircampaignsintheSouthofEuropeincludingsouthernItalyandtheMediterraneanregion.ThebookalsoexaminesthedevelopmentofNormanculture;thewritingoftheirownhistory;Normanmyth;andtheirachievementsinbringingtogethervariousracialandculturalelementstoformasinglepeople.ThisbookprovidesthemostcomprehensiveexaminationoftheNormansavailableandwillbeinvaluableforstudentsandallthoseinterestedinEuropeanhistory.