Continue your study of Alfred the Great, who in addition to being a great military leader also tended to the spiritual and intellectual well-being of his people. Review Alfred's efforts at educating the populace, and then watch as he tries to extend the power of Wessex and position himself as the English Charlemagne.

Watch as the one- or two-boat raids of the late 8th century grew into vast armies of 50 ships or more by the middle of the 9th. Intent on settling permanently, the invaders' influence in eastern England would be profound, with patterns of landholding, legal institutions, and even language altered forever.

Continue your study of northern England with an exploration of the so-called Northumbrian Renaissance. Review some of the major literary manuscripts from the period, including early translations of the Gospels into Old English. Then shift your attention to the Venerable Bede, one of English history's most important scholars.

Learn why the 10th century is often referred to as the Golden Age of the Anglo-Saxons. It produces not only vernacular literary masterpieces like "Beowulf" and "The Battle of Maldon" but inspiring sermons, monastic reform, and an artistic renaissance encompassing book production, metalwork, and needlework.

Grasp how both religious frustrations and economic grievances stemming from the dislocations of the Black Death combined to bring about the most significant event in Richard II's early reign: the Middle Ages' most serious revolt against the English crown.

North and west of what today is England, where the Romans held far less influence, a paradoxical era of both peaceful immigration and rebellion added to the melting pot of Britain in the first millennium A.D. Discover Cornwall, Wales, and parts of Scotland with a quick appearance of one of Britain's noblest legends: King Arthur.

Investigate how the relationship between Edward the Confessor and William the Bastard put England and Normandy on a collision course when the childless King Edward had to plan the succession to the English throne. You'll focus on Edward's plans for succession, meet the contenders to the throne, and learn how Harold Godwinson achieved victory at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

It took several years for William the Conqueror to consolidate the gains he made at the Battle of Hastings. Learn how he used a combination of diplomacy and clever military tactics to take control of London without a fierce battle; how he won over the church; how he responded to various rebellions in the northern part of the country; and more.

Delve into the Northumbria region in the 7th century. Here, you will start by considering the ebb and flow of Anglo-Saxon hegemony in the north and northwest. Find out about some of Northumbria's great leaders, the economy around livestock and herding, and the importance of the city of York.

Appreciate the extraordinary turns history can often take. Richard II's reign, which once seemed so promising, disintegrates in factional fighting and disputes so bitter they ultimately led not only to his deposition but to judicially sanctioned murder.