Historical Atlas of the British Isles
Date of publication: February 2012
Publisher: Pen and Sword
This atlas covers the history of the British Isles from earliest times to the present day. The first hunter-gatherers, who crossed into what would become our familiar islands by the ‘landbridge’, and later followed by more familiar peoples – the Celts, Angles, Saxons, Vikings and Normans, who together would create our islands’ unique history. Each contributed ideas which shaped our lands, languages and thoughts that are at the core of our identities to this day.
This story is illustrated with 150 full-colour maps and plans that range across many topics, such as agricultural, political and industrial revolutions. This book shows the expansion of our islands’ peoples across the oceans and the lasting legacy that movement left on the world and on our home islands. We show the fluctuating fortunes of the states we now identify ourselves by, from an Anglo-Scottish imperium to devolved power, independence and the often painful process by which the modern map of our islands evolved. The forces of history and religion divided the islands’ peoples but our DNA unites us much more than most would realise – the islands have gone on to embrace new cultures that have come to seek refuge, opportunity and equalitry – this is a peoples’ history.
The Historical Atlas of the British Isles is a completely unique insight into the history, formation and expansion of the British Isles, from the first settlers in 9000 BC, the Viking Invasions and the Battle of Hastings to the Wars of the Roses, the Great Fire of London and the First and Second World Wars. With a wealth of specially commissioned colour maps illustrating each iconic period of history, this book is a must for all historical enthusiasts.