King Arthur. Alfred the Great. Sutton Hoo. Beowulf. We recognize these and other names from England before 1066, but the history of this wild and diverse land is shrouded in myth and legend. From the fall of Rome in the 4th century to the invasion of the Normans in the 11th century, England offers an incredible story of social, cultural, religious, and political change. This captivating tale can help us answer one of the great questions of history: How did this small island, far from the centers of Western civilization, become the great and powerful nation we know from the history books?