"An utterly splendid book, quite the most brilliantly written, balanced, & 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 & Norway, their civilization & culture, & their manysided achievements at home & abroad. A readable narrative follows the development of these Northern peoples, the Nordmenn, from their origins & the legendary prehistory to the military triumphs of Canute & 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 & colonization--the assault on Western Christendom; the trading & military ventures to the Slav & Muslim worlds & to Byzantium; & the western voyages of discovery & settlement to Greenland, Iceland & America.
Numerous photographs, maps & drawings contribute to Jones' rounded portrait of Viking civilization & evoke the importance in their culture of religion, art & seafaring.
List of Illustrations
Note Prefatory to the Revised Edition, 1984
Acknowledgements
Introduction
The northern peoples to AD 700
The viking kindoms to the close of the tenth century
The viking movement overseas
The viking age ends
Appendices
Supplementary Booklist, 1984
Select Bibliography
Index