An Alternative History of Britain: The Anglo-Saxon Age (2 reviews)
by Timothy Venning
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Found in: Ancient History Books
Hardback
224 pages
ISBN: 9781781591253
Published: 21 January 2013
by Timothy Venning
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Found in: Ancient History Books
Hardback
224 pages
ISBN: 9781781591253
Published: 21 January 2013
Taking a similar approach to his successful If Rome Hadn't Fallen, Timothy Venning explores the various decision points in a fascinating period of British history and the alternative paths that it might have taken.
Dr Timothy Venning starts within an outline of the process by which much of Britain came to be settled by Germanic tribes after the end of Roman rule, so far as it can be determined from the sparse and fragmentary sources. He then moves on to discuss a series of scenarios which might have altered the course of subsequent history dramatically. For example, was a reconquest by the native British ever a possibility (under 'Arthur' or someone else)? Which of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms might have united England sooner and would this have kept the Danes out? And, of course, what if Harold Godwinson had won at Hastings?
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 British history and help to shed light upon them. In so doing they help the reader to understand why things panned out as they did, as well as what might have been.
Dr Timothy Venning starts within an outline of the process by which much of Britain came to be settled by Germanic tribes after the end of Roman rule, so far as it can be determined from the sparse and fragmentary sources. He then moves on to discuss a series of scenarios which might have altered the course of subsequent history dramatically. For example, was a reconquest by the native British ever a possibility (under 'Arthur' or someone else)? Which of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms might have united England sooner and would this have kept the Danes out? And, of course, what if Harold Godwinson had won at Hastings?
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 British history and help to shed light upon them. In so doing they help the reader to understand why things panned out as they did, as well as what might have been.
Timothy Venning is a historian who is fascinated by 'what ifs' and near misses, by those moments when events hung in the balance, and he seeks to explore all the alternatives. This book is part... [read full review]
The Good Book Guide
His (the author's) speculation is interesting, enjoyable and in parts persuasive. This is a book that may encourage some heated debate, some disbelief and some enthusiastic followers.Firetrench Reviews
How the Survival of Rome Might Have Changed World History
by by Timothy Venning
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About Timothy Venning
Dr Timothy Venning is a freelance researcher and author. Among his previous works are If Rome Hadn't Fallen (Pen & Sword, 2011), A Chronology of the Roman Empire (2010) and A Chronology of the Byzantine Empire (with Jonathan Harris, 2005). His fascination with the 'what ifs' of history was first kindled by a comic strip he read in Ranger while at primary school in the late '60s and has endured ever since.
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