A History of the Vikings

by Jones, Gwyn

• ISBN13: 9780192801340
• ISBN10: 0192801341
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-07-19
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

"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 Hardradi 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.

Author Biography

Gwyn Jones is Emeritus Professor of English Language and Literature, University College, Cardiff

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	vii
Note Prefactory to the Revised Edition, 1984	xv
Acknowledgements	xvii
Introduction	1	(16)
The Northern Peoples to A.D. 700
From the Beginnings to the Age of Migrations	17	(17)
The Legendary History of the Swedes and the Danes	34	(25)
The Viking Kingdoms to the Close of the Tenth Century
The Scandinavian Community, I: Diversity and Unity	59	(19)
The Historical Traditions of Norway to 950	78	(19)
Denmark to the Death of Gorm the Old	97	(21)
Denmark and Norway from the Accession of Herald Bluetooth to the Death of Oalf Tryggvason (c. 950--1000)	118	(27)
The Viking Movement Overseas
The Scandinavian Community, II: Aspects of Society	145	(37)
Causes of the Viking Movement Overseas	182	(22)
The Movement South and South-West to 954: the British Isles, the Frankish Empire, the Mediterranean	204	(37)
The Movement East: The Baltic Lands, Russia, Byzantium	241	(28)
The Movement West: Iceland, Greenland, America	269	(46)
The Viking Age Ends
The Scandinavian Community, III: Culture and Image	315	(39)
Sevein Forkbeard, Saint Oalf, Knut the Great	354	(33)
The Viking Kingdoms to the Death of Harald Hardradi, 1066	387	(32)
Appendixes
I. Runes	419	(2)
II. The Danelaw	421	(4)
III. A Rus Ship-Burial on the Volga	425	(5)
Supplementary Booklist, 1984	430	(1)
Select Bibliography	431	(14)
Index	445