The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings (Oxford Illustrated Histories)

With settlements stretching across a vast expanse--from Newfoundland in North America to Kiev in the heart of the Ukraine--and with legends of their exploits extending even farther, the Vikings were the most far-flung and feared people of their time. Yet the archaeological and historical records are so scant that the true nature of Viking civilization remains shrouded in mystery. Who were these seafaring warriors from the North? Were they, as their southern enemies claimed, "a wrathful, foreign, purely pagan people" who swept in from the sea to plunder and slaughter? Or were they remarkably successful merchants and explorers forced into war out of geographic necessity? In __The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings__, twelve leading scholars draw on the latest research and archaeological evidence to provide the clearest picture yet of this fabled people. Painting a fascinating portrait of the influences that the "Northmen" had on foreign lands, the contributors trace Viking excursions to the British Islands, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and the northern tip of Newfoundland, which the Vikings called "Vinlund." We also meet the great Viking kings: from King Godfred, King of the Danes, who led campaigns against Charlemagne in Saxony; to King Harald Bluetooth, the first of the Christian rulers, who helped unify Scandinavia and introduced a modern infrastructure of bridges and roads; to King Knut, who invaded England and proved a dangerous adversary to William the Conquerer. The volume also looks at the day-to-day social life of the Vikings, describing for instance their almost religious reverence for boats and boat-building, a deep bond with the sea that is still visible in the etymology to English words for "anchor," "boat," "rudder," "ship," and "fishing," all of which can be traced back to Old Norse roots. But perhaps most important, the book goes a long way towards answering the age-old question of who these people were. Were they, as their contemporaries asserted, just a motley assortment of savage pagans, to be reviled by the Church and society? The contributors show that the Vikings did indeed control the Northern Seas with the viciousness of pirates and that they pillaged Christian towns with relentless ferocity. And yet we also discover that they were shrewd traders whose dealings in fur in Russia and walrus tusks in Iceland were the envy of Europe. Attractively illustrated with 24 color plates, 16 maps, and over a hundred black-and-white pictures, __The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings__ is a superb account of this rugged maritime culture. From sagas to shipbuilding, from funeral rites to the fur trade, this superb volume is an indispensable guide to the Viking world. Were The Vikings, As An Early Description Had It, A 'valiant, Wrathful, Foreign, Purely Pagan People' Who Swept In From The Sea To Plunder And Slaughter? Or In The Words Of A Manx Folksong, War-wolves Keen In Hungry Quest', Who Lived And Died By The Sea And The Sword? Or Were They Unusually Successful Merchants, Extortionists, And Pioneer Explorers? This Book Considers The Latest Research And Presents An Authoritative Account Of The Vikings And Their Age. Excavations As Far Apart As Dublin And Newfoundland, York And Russia, Provide Fascinating Archaeological Evidence, Expertly Interpreted In This Extensively Illustrated Book. The Age Of The Vikings And Before / Peter Sawyer -- The Frankish Empire / Janet L. Nelson -- The Vikings In England, C. 790-1016 / Simon Keynes -- Ireland, Wales, Man, And The Hebrides / Donnchadh Ó Corráin -- The Atlantic Islands / Sveinbjörn Rafnsson -- Scandinavians In European Russia / Thomas S. Noonan -- The Danish Empire And The End Of The Viking Age / Niels Lund. Ships And Seamanship / Jan Bill -- Religions Old And New / Preben Meulengracht Sørensen -- The Vikings In History And Legend / Lars Lönnroth -- The Viking Legacy / Peter Sawyer. Edited By Peter Sawyer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 263-271) And Index. This work considers the latest research on Viking life and presents a picture of the Vikings and their age, from sagas to shipbuilding technology, from fur-trading to funerals. Excavations as far apart as Dublin and Newfoundland provide archaeological evidence. Covers the different geographical areas of the Viking world, and traces the Viking story from the first raids on isolated coastal communities toward the end of the eighth century to the establishing of permanent settlements 147,351 Includes bibliographical references (p. 263-271) and index http://archive.org/details/oxfordillustrate00sawy