The Birth of Modern Britain: A Journey Into Britain's Archaeological Past, 1550 to the Present. Francis Pryor Book

List of Plates ix

List of Text Illustrations and Maps xi

Acknowledgements xv

Table: Dates and Periods xvii

Introduction: Archaeology and Modern Times 1

1 Market Forces: Fields, Farming and the Rural Economy 19

2 'Polite Landscapes': Prestige, Control and Authority in Rural Britain 56

3 The Rise of the Civil Engineer: Roads, Canals and Railways 86

4 Rapid Expansion: The Growth of Towns and Cities 119

5 Dynamic, but Diverse: The Development of Industrial Britain 151

6 Capitalism Triumphant: Markets, Trade and Consumers 186

7 The Big Society: Faith, Justice and Charity 217

8 The First Superpower: Defence and Security 245

Notes 271

Index 285