The Northern Conquest: Vikings in Britain and Ireland

Description

Most historical accounts examine the Viking Age in one part rather than the whole region of the British Isles and Ireland. Very few pay attention to the continued contact between England and Scandinavia in the post-Norman Conquest period. This book aims to offer an alternative approach by presenting a history of the Viking Age which considers the whole area up to and beyond the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Vikings have been traditionally portrayed as brutal barbarians who sailed to Britain and Ireland to loot, rape and pillage. The evidence presented here suggests a considerably less dramatic but no less fascinating picture which reveals the Vikings' remarkable achievements and their influence in shaping the political history of these islands. Katherine Holman discusses their skills as farmers, their linguistic and artistic contribution, their rituals and customs and the conflict between paganism and Christianity, showing that the Viking cultural impact was complex and often rich.... Cover Contents Front Matter Title Page Publisher Information Introduction The Northern Conquest Uncovering The Viking Past Suggested Further Reading Raiders from the North Further Reading Colonists Further Reading Viking kings Further Reading Pagan Meets Christian Further Reading Photographs Scandinavian Society Further Reading After The Norman Conquest Further Reading Legacy of the Vikings Selected Bibliography Key Dates End Matter Also Available