Even within the British Isles, the difficulties still inherent in transportation over primitive roads made villages worlds unto themselves. Europe, for most practical purposes, was a distant and alien continent-one in which the average Anglo-Saxon Englishman had no interest. The 200 years that had passed since the dawn of the second millennium in 1000 had seen social and economic changes that were, in their own way, as dramatic and influential as the limitations on royal power embodied in the Great Charter. To be sure, the final two chapters deal at length with the history and myth that surround the Great Charter, and the book includes the complete text of the document. 1215 is not so much a book about Magna Carta, or even about the eponymous year as a whole, as it is about the mores, beliefs and lifestyles of the early 13th century. Take note, though: This book proves that it is sometimes no wiser to judge a book by its title than by its cover. Now, unwilling to wait two centuries for another epic anniversary, Danziger has gotten a jump on the calendar and penned, along with John Gillingham, 1215: The Year of Magna Carta, another lively retrospective journey through medieval England. The result was his timely book, The Year 1000. Half a decade ago, the groundswell of anticipation leading up to the arrival of a new millennium spurred author Danny Danziger to take a nostalgic look back in time to the last generation to experience a similar historical landmark. 1215: The Year of Magna Carta (Book Review) Close
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