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After Rome (Short Oxford History of the British Isles)

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After Rome attempts to draw the history of the British Isles from the fifth to the end of the eighth century. Six chapters contributed by five different historians discuss in turn the political history of the period, economic aspects, the conversion to Christianity, the arts, and lastly the written languages and their role in societies in formation. A useful chronology and maps are presented at the end.

This manual is detailed about primary sources and strong on their exegesis. It is pointed in showing the interconnectedness between the kingdoms of Britannia and Ireland, while it carefully differentiates the `native' British, Irish, Pict and `English' kingdoms. Finally, it is scrupulous in its aim to avoid misinterpretations based on hindsight. This also means it is very guarded in its conclusions, though, and sometimes comes out as of the `the more we learn, the less we can say for sure,' school of history.

The multiple-contributor format also makes the chapters unequal. The chapter on the arts is too long for its limited scope. Conversely, the book says very little on law and the socio-political structures of the various competing societies; it isn't explained whether this is for lack of material (the book does say law codes have been found), nor are tentative or competing theories alluded to. Indeed, for all its caution, After Rome falls foul of its period's perennial problem: disproportionate space is dedicated to religious history because that is what is best documented. The salient fact of the period remains that a ragtag collection of Jute, Angle and Saxon mercenaries took over three-quarters of Britain and established what was culturally the closest thing to a nation in these times. If you are looking for explanations, even speculative, this book will leave you hungry.