Our modern conception of the Renaissance has been changed substantially by the scholarship of the last fifty years, and the British contribution to this research has been enormous. An essential part of this scholarship is contained within this lavishly illustrated selection of lectures delivered by distinguished historians to the British Academy. The lectures cover the period circa 1400 to 1520 and illustrate two aspects of Italy in this period, the political background to the great cultural flowering, and the art of Florence and Rome.

English life in the thirteenth century was characterized by: a single Christian Church owing allegiance to Rome and living on the revenues of its estates; kingship with difficulty kept intact in the face of scheming magnates jealous of their privileges; a countryside divided into thousands of small estates, tilled by peasants--some of them serfs--and owned by lords with considerable power over their tenants; armies of knights fighting on horseback; Gothic cathedrals; monasteries; castles; town gilds. Professor Holmes describes this medieval society and its evolution, after the Black Death,...

This book provides a classic introduction to a key period in the history of Europe - the transition from medieval to Renaissance Europe.

In this updated edition, Professor Holmes traces the main political events as well as describing broader changes in social structure and culture. He reveals the interactions between politics, society and ideas that contributed to the problems and changes of this period.

The book addresses the crises of the medieval world. At the start of the period, Europe was dominated by the institutions of the church, monarchy, armies of knightly...

This vintage book is a detailed treatise on the history and development of wooden ships from the earliest times to the twentieth century. Detailed and profusely illustrated, this book is highly recommended for those with an interest in the fascinating history of seafaring, and would make for a fantastic addition to any home collection. Contents include: "Ancient Ships in the Mediterranean and Red Seas," "Ancient Ships in the Seas of Northern Europe," "Mediaeval Ships," "Modern Wooden Sailing-Ships," and "Description of an Archaic Greek Bireme." Many vintage books such as this are becoming...

Sustainability: Key Issues is a comprehensive introductory textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate students doing courses in sustainability. Highly original, it covers the very broad spectrum of ideas covered under sustainability, from participation, resilience, growth, ecological modernism through to culture, sustainable communities and sustainable consumption. Each chapter covers one key idea, and has been written by an expert in that field. This book makes key issues approachable, with each chapter containing:

• a definition of the key concept...