For many, the Normans epitomise the medieval period: known today for their actions as conquerors, castle-builders, kings and warriors, our perceptions of this most prominent of medieval peoples continue to shape our understanding of European history between 900 and 1200.
Historians have long attempted to understand Norman identity. In Judith Green’s new book, she employs a narrative structure that echoes previous histories of the Normans, outlining the foundation of the Norman duchy in the tenth century, followed by the first constructions of ‘Normanness’ from the 11th century onwards. She then moves on to examine the actions of the Normans beyond the duchy in the Mediterranean and in Britain and their various contributions to the Crusades. Green is excellent on Norman governance, its relationship with the Catholic Church, its interactions with neighbouring cultures and its peoples, as well as their role as builders of the many monuments that observers may still encounter across the European landscape.
