The struggle for mastery cover

The struggle for mastery

by David Carpenter

"The years from 1066 - marking the Norman conquest of England - to 1284 - when the English conquered Wales - were momentous ones in the history of Britain. In this comprehensive synthesis canvasing the peoples, economics, religion, languages and political leadership of medieval Britain, David Carpenter weaves together the histories of England, Scotland, and Wales. Arguing that English domination of the kingdom was by no means a foregone conclusion, Carpenter analyzes the multiple struggles for mastery of Great Britain. He explains why English monarchs focused on continental landholdings more than the British islands and narrates the loss of Normandy, Anjou, and Acquitaine. In the process, the creation of a new English identity from the Norman and Anglo-Saxon peoples emerges. He recounts how the Welsh kings strove to recover areas lost to the Normans and to assert dominion over one another, and how the kings of Scotland expanded their realm to create a united Scotland."--BOOK JACKET.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?