The island of England in the fifteenth century: perceptions of the peoples of the British Isles

Abstract

This article considers the perceptions which the peoples of the ‘British’ islands had of one another, as well as the perceptions which visitors from mainland Europe formed of those they encountered in ‘the island named Britain’. It focuses on the fifteenth century, and shows how regional variations in matters such as language, dress and social customs were described and judged. It emphasises the tensions and prejudices between the different peoples of Britain, fostered in part by issues of English overlordship and of international politics. It also discusses the rising interest of governments during the nineteenth century in archival collections relating to their history which were housed overseas, and shows how this affected British historical attitudes and interests.