Battles of the Dark Ages

by Peter Marren

Overview

A look at what world history might have been like if not for the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
 
This is a fascinating exploration of how the history of Europe, and indeed the world, might have been different if the Western Roman Empire had survived the crises that pulled it apart in the fourth and fifth centuries.
 
The author starts by showing how that survival and recovery might plausibly have happened if several relatively minor things had been different. He then moves on to discuss a series of scenarios which might have altered the course of subsequent history dramatically. Would the survival of a strong Western Empire have assisted the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire in halting the expansion of Islam in the Middle East and North Africa? How would the Western Roman Empire have handled the Viking threat? Could they even have exploited the Viking discovery of America and established successful colonies there? While necessarily speculative, all the scenarios are discussed within the framework of a deep understanding of the major driving forces, tensions, and trends that shaped European history and help to shed light upon them. In so doing they help us understand why things panned out as they did, as well as what might have been.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848847064
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	01/24/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Peter Marren is an author and historian.

Table of Contents

List of Maps vi

Preface vii

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Chapter 2 The Saxon Conquest 25

Chapter 3 Mount Badon and Arthur 44

Chapter 4 The Battles for Northern England 59

Chapter 5 Dunnichen: Destiny in the North 81

Chapter 6 King Ecgbert and the Vikings 95

Chapter 7 The Battles of King Alfred 112

Chapter 8 Brunanburh: The Greatest Battle 132

Chapter 9 Spears as Tribute: The Battle of Maldon 147

Chapter 10 Calamity under Aethelred 161

Gazetteer 182

Notes 193

References 201

Index 205