Known for their vicious raids, love of treasure and fierce warriors: the vikings were the most feared invaders of the Medieval period. For 300 years, they terrorized the world in their hunt for land and power, but they also had a rich culture in art, literature and law. Packed with facts, maps, infographics and photos, this is the perfect introduction to the most feared invaders of the Middle Ages. Covering where they came from and who they conquered, their commerce and culture (including their bloodthirsty stories), their travel and trade and the reasons behind their demise, this complete guide provides a comprehensive exploration of who these peoples were - and who they were not. For while there is no doubt that some Vikings launched bloodthirsty attacks in this period, pillaging communities and plundering treasure, many more were peaceful traders and settlers. Going beyond the fearsome warriors, battles and adventures we associate with Vikings, this detailed book provides an insight into the everyday life of the people, to examine how and what they traded, what Viking village life was like and how they made and sailed their famous long ships. It explores the rich culture of the Vikings, including the beautiful art they created, the legendary stories they told and the complex law systems they built to maintain a civilised society as well as how their culture and influence lives on in the world today.

 

This book is part of a book series called 50 Things You Should Know About .

There are 80 pages in this book. This book was published 2017 by QED Publishing .

Philip Parker is a professional historian specialising in the ancient world.

This book has the following chapters: The Viking raids
Early Scandinavia
Why did the raids happen?
Viking ships
The first raids
Attacks on Ireland and France
The Great Army
Alfred the Great
The Danelaw
The Kingdom of York
and the reconquest
Viking weapons and tactics
Scotland and Ireland
France and Normandy
Viking culture
Viking sagas
Runestones and writing
Viking histories
Farms and houses
Viking women
Viking art
Viking religion
Viking gods and tales
The Viking expansion
The Faroes and Iceland
Viking Greenland
Viking America
The end of the colonies
Expansion to the east
Viking Russia
Transformation of the Viking world
Unifying Denmark
The Trelleborg forts and the Danevirke
Towns and trade
Trading tales
Viking hoards
Conversion to Christianity
Growth in royal power:
Norway
Growth in royal power:
Denmark and Sweden
Viking law and government
Cnut and the North Sea Empire
The Norman conquest of England
The end of the Viking age in Ireland
Vikings in the south
Harald Hardrada
Twilight of the Viking world
The Viking legacy
Reinvention of the Vikings
Vikings in popular culture
Viking archaeology
The spread of the Vikings
WHO'S WHO?
The Viking world
GLOSSARY
INDEX