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Short Notices 295 Raban, Sandra, England under Edward I and Edward II (A History of Medieval Britain), Oxford, Blackwell, 2000; paper; pp. xii, 204; 9 b/w illustrations, 7 maps; R R P £16.99; ISBN 0631223207. Raban notes that medieval studies have tended to concentrate upon economic a politicalfactors,providinga 'top-down' view oftheperiod. However shehas employed a 'bottom-up' approach, seeking to establish an understanding of the worldview prevailing at the time (p. 5). She states that whilst 'the profusion ofwritten evidence makesthethirteenthand fourteenth centuries amost excitingtime to study' (p. 3), we know very little about the individuals w h o compiled the extant records. Therefore, studies ofthe period should recognize that the influence of temporal and religious authorities and the impact of social and economic conditions upon the medieval individual could well be at considerable variance from our contemporary mindsets. In art, for example, 'The modern world sees colour primarily as a matter of hue, while our medieval predecessors saw it in terms of brightness' (p. 84). Raban observes that a society reliant upon oral and visual communications and educated to seek meaning within the symbolic structure ofmedieval art will have viewed life differently. Raban uses the chapter headings to emphasis her 'bottom-up' approach. Progressively, she deals with the land and 'its acquisition and retention' (p. 37); a compelling preoccupation for both rural and urban dwellers of the time, the predominant presence of the Church, medieval culture, government administration , politics and England's international role during this period. Raban stresses the overwhelming influence ofthe Church upon the medieval population. In comparison with modern western society, 'life was unpredictable . . . most natural phenomena were inexplicable ... and the promise of protection and salvation offered by Christian teaching proved infinitely comforting' (p. 62). I t is noteworthy that such a widespread acceptance ofthe ecumenical is at variance with current attitudes. The inevitable comparisons between the reigns ofEdward I and Edward H, are reserved for the closing chapters, with Raban concluding that as a youth, the father 'was prone to the same weakness as his son' (p. 173). This is a concise and well-presented book. The structure of the work is cogent and relevant, providing a balanced and comprehensive study of medieval England during the period 1259 to the early fourteenth century. The Bibliography i s comprehensive and the maps and illustrations support the text. Graeme Cronin Ardross, Western Australia ...

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