Making a Living in the Middle Ages: The People of Britain, 850-1520

A comprehensive social and economic history of medieval Britain, focusing on how ordinary people sustained themselves across six centuries. Dyer, a leading medieval historian and emeritus professor at the University of Leicester, draws on archaeological evidence, legal records, and literary sources to explore the lives of peasants, artisans, merchants, and elites, challenging romanticized views of the period.

The narrative explores diverse livelihoods: peasants’ tillage and livestock, artisans’ skills (e.g., weavers, blacksmiths), and merchants’ long-distance trade. Dyer emphasizes social mobility—some serfs became free tenants—and the role of women in brewing, spinning, and trade. He also covers the Church’s economic influence (e.g., tithes) and the elite’s consumption patterns, reflected in manor houses and luxury goods.

At 408 pages, the book includes maps, illustrations, and a bibliography, making it accessible yet scholarly, with a focus on primary evidence like wills and court rolls.