Nearly 600 illustrations make this one of the most imaginative and breathtaking guides to England's rich, often turbulent, history. The past has left its powerful legacy in buildings, monuments, pageantry, and landscape: these artifacts capture the shifts of time, expose the influence of diverse cultures, and reveal the impact of long-ago events on present-day language, settlements, terrain, and regional fortunes. Sift through the evidence left in battlefields and churches, bridges and castles to understand how real people once lived, worked, and died. See how new methods of excavation and sophisticated techniques for dating and identification have transformed scientists' understanding of recent discoveries. Imaginatively structured by theme rather than strict chronology, this absorbing account paints a compelling picture of England's past.