S. H. Rigby is Reader in History at the University of Manchester. His previous publications include Engels and the Formation of Marxism (1992), English Society in the Later Middle Ages (1995), Chaucer in Context (1996) and Marxism and History (second edition, 1998).

"It remains an immensely valuable summation of the state of mainstream scholarship at the beginning of the twenty-first century, from which students coming to these national histories for the first time will still derive immense benefit." (Speculum, 2010) Succinct and stimulating" English Historical Review "A handsome, informative and scholarly volume" Medieval Archaeology"Admirably comprehensive and warmly to be recommended" History"No scholar, student or general reader could ask for a better guide" Economic History Review"A fine book with a stellar cast of contributors" Continuity and Change "Among the better, most nuanced and thought-provoking introductions to its field" Journal of Ecclesiastical History "An extremely important contribution to medieval British scholarship" Albion "This is a very impressive product from an ambitious project." Welsh History Review

• List of Figures x List of Plates xiList of Maps xiiList of Contributors xiiiIntroduction xviPart I Economy and Society in Town and Country 11 England: Land and People 3Bruce M. S. Campbell2 England: The Family and the Village Community 26Phillipp R. Schofield3 England: Towns, Trade and Industry 47Richard H. Britnell4 England: Popular Politics and Social Conflict 65Jane Whittle and S. H. Rigby5 England: Women and Gender 87Judith M. Bennett6 Scotland: Economy and Society 107Nicholas J. Mayhew7 Wales: Economy and Society 125A. D. Carr8 Ireland: Economy and Society 142Brian GrahamPart II Politics, Government and Law 1639 The British Perspective 165Seán Duffy10 England: Kingship and the Political Community, c.1100–1272 183Ralph V. Turner11 England: Kingship and the Political Community, 1272–1377 208Scott L. Waugh12 England: Kingship and the Political Community, 1377–c.1500 224Rosemary Horrox13 England: Law, Society and the State 242Robert C. Palmer14 England: The Nobility and the Gentry 261Christine Carpenter15 Scotland: Politics, Government and Law 283Hector L. MacQueen16 Wales: Politics, Government and Law 309J. Beverley Smith and Llinos Beverley Smith17 Ireland: Politics, Government and Law 335James LydonPart III The Church and Piety 35718 England: Church and Clergy 359David Lepine19 England: Piety, Heresy and Anti-clericalism 381Matthew Groom20 Scotland: Religion and Piety 396D. E. R. Watt21 Wales: Religion and Piety 411Huw Pryce22 Ireland: Religion and Piety 430Henry A. JefferiesPart IV Education and Culture 44923 England: Education and Society 451Jo Ann H. Moran Cruz24 England: Art and Society 472Veronica Sekules25 England: Literature and Society 497S. H. Rigby26 Scotland: Culture and Society 521Louise O. Fradenburg27 Wales: Culture and Society 541Susan L. Aronstein28 Ireland: Culture and Society 558Edel Bhreathnach and Raghnall Ó FloinnBibliography of Secondary Sources 596Index 649