Whilst it is not essential to do any background reading before the course begins, you may find it useful to do so. The reading list below contains books that you can read. You don’t have to read all of these. Indeed, we don’t specify any that you must read. Instead, these are readings you can use to gain a preliminary understanding of topics, as well as to study in more depth those parts of the course you are particularly interested in. You may also want to take a look at magazines such as British Archaeology, World Archaeology and Current Archaeology.
Further suggestions about ways you can extend your understanding of topics through books, television etc may also be posted as appropriate here on the tutor’s personal blog as well as on the WEA East Midlands Region History Space.
Asbridge, T. 2005. The First Crusade: A New History. Free Press.
Bartlett, R. 2002. England under the Norman and Angevin Kings: 1075-1225. New Oxford History of England Series. Oxford University Press.
Bates, D. 2013. The Normans and Empire. Oxford University Press.
Frankopan, P. 2013. The First Crusade: The Call from the East. Vintage Press.
Garnett, G. 2009. The Norman Conquest: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
Morris, M. 2013. The Norman Conquest. Windmill Books.
Norwich, J. J. 2010. The Normans in the South, 1016-1130. The Normans in Sicily: Part 1. Faber & Faber.
Norwich, J. J. 2010. The Kingdom in the Sun, 1130-1194. The Normans in Sicily: Part 2. Faber & Faber.
Tyerman, C. 2005. The Crusades: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
Tyerman, C. 2011. Chronicles of the First Crusade. Penguin Classics.
