A History of the Vikings

Description

An utterly splendid book, quite the most brilliantly written, balanced, and explanative general work on the Vikings ever to appear in English or in any language.-- Scandinavian Studies The subject of this book is the Viking realms, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, their civilization and culture, and their many sided achievements at home and abroad. A highly readable narrative follows the development of these Northern peoples--the Nordmenn--from their origins and the legendary pre-history to the military triumphs of Canute and the defeat of Harald Hardr�di at Stamford Bridge in 1066, which symbolically ended the Viking age. The book recounts the Vikings' exploits in war, trade, and colonization: the assault on Western Christendom; the trading and military ventures to the Slav and Muslim worlds and to Byzantium; and the western voyages of discovery and settlement to Greenland, Iceland, and America. Numerous photographs, maps, and drawings contribute to Gwyn Jones's rounded portrait of Viking civilization and vividly evoke the importance in their culture of religion, art, and seafaring. Contents Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction I. The Northern Peoples to A.D. 700 1. From the Beginnings to the Age of Migrations 2. The Legendary History of the Swedes and the Danes II. The VIking Kingdoms to the Close of the Tenth Century 1. The Scandinavian Community, i: Diversity and Unity 2. The Historical Traditions of Norway to 950 3. Denmark to the Death of Gorm the Old 4. Denmark and Norway from the Accession of Harold Bluetooth to the Death of Olaf Tryggvason (c. 950-1000) III. The Viking Movement Overseas 1. The Scandinavian Community, ii: Aspects of Society 2. Causes of the Viking Movement Overseas 3. The Movement South and South-West to 954: the British Isles, the Frankish Empire, the Mediterranean 4. The Movement East: The Baltic Lands, Russia, Byzantium 5. The Movement West: Iceland, Greenland, America IV. The Viking Age Ends 1. The Scandinavian Community, III: Culture and Image 2. Svein Forkbeard, Saint Olaf, and Knut the Great 3. The Viking Kingdoms to the Death of Harald Hardradi, 1066 Appendixes I. Runes II. The Danelaw III. A Rus Ship-Burial on the Volga Select Bibliography Index