The History of London

A chronological account traces the development of London from prehistoric and Roman foundations through Saxon and Norman settlement into the medieval and early modern city. It reconstructs Roman urban life, the building of the city wall and bridge, and subsequent urban transformations, while describing churches, religious houses, the Tower, St Paul’s, palaces, streets, and civic institutions. Social and economic topics include trade, merchants, guilds, crafts, public amusements, and theatrical pageants, and recurring crises such as plague, famine, leprosy, fire, and vagrancy receive close attention. Individual lessons examine notable benefactions, municipal government, legal and political power across different reigns, everyday neighborhood life, and include concluding notes and illustrations.