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Informationen zum Autor Else Roesdahl is Reader in Medieval Archaeology at the University of Arhus! Denmark and special Professor in Viking Studues at the University of Nottingham. In 1988 she was awarded the Soren Gyldendal Prize for the Danish edition of THE VIKINGS. Klappentext Far from being just 'wild! barbaric! axe-wielding pirates'! the Vikings created complex social institutions! oversaw the coming of Christianity to Scandinavia and made a major impact on European history through trade! travel and far-flung consolidation. This encyclopedic study brings together the latest research on Viking art! burial customs! class divisions! jewellery! kingship! poetry and family life. The result is a rich and compelling picture of an extraordinary civilisation. Zusammenfassung Far from being just 'wild! barbaric! axe-wielding pirates'! the Vikings created complex social institutions! oversaw the coming of Christianity to Scandinavia and made a major impact on European history through trade! travel and far-flung consolidation. This encyclopedic study brings together the latest research on Viking art! burial customs! class divisions! jewellery! kingship! poetry and family life. The result is a rich and compelling picture of an extraordinary civilisation. Inhaltsverzeichnis Picture Credits Acknowledgements Preface Maps INTRODUCTION The Allure of the Vikings THE VIKING AGE AND ITS SOURCES The Study of the Viking Age Written sources – Place-names – Archaeological finds SCANDINAVIA Geography, Nature and Culture Norway – Sweden – Denmark The People Dress – Jewellery – Houses and feasting Language, Writing and Personal Names Society Slaves – The free – Women, sexual roles and children – Rules of conduct Kings and Kingdoms Accession to the throne and personal power – Royal power – Political developments Travel, Transport and Ships Travel on land – Winter transport – Ships and sailing Livelihood and Settlement Denmark – Sweden and Norway – Ohthere from Halogaland Exchange, Silver and Merchandise Exchange of goods – Silver and coins – Goods Trade and Towns Hedeby – Birka – Kaupang – Other trading stations and towns Fortifications, Weapons and Warfare Ramparts, fortresses and sea-barriers – The Danevirke – Royal fortresses – Weapons and warfare The Old and the New Religion The old faith – Conversion – The introduction of Christianity Art and Poetry Decorative and pictorial art – Poetry THE EXPANSION Background and Beginnings The Mainland of Western Europe Historical events – Archaeological evidence and the significance of the expeditions – Normandy Scotland and the Isle of Man Ireland The Vikings in Ireland – The excavations in Dublin England Exploitation, conquest and settlement – The Scandinavians in England – New expeditions and conquests – Cnut the Great and afterwards Iceland, the Faroes, Greenland and America The settlement of Iceland – The Faroes – Colonists in Greenland and travels to America The Baltic Region, Russia, Byzantium and the Caliphate Across the Baltic – Towards the glories of the East – The great riverways and the memorials CONCLUSION The World of the Vikings Notcs on the Translation Bibliography Indexes LIST OF FIGURES AND MAPS 1 Europe and neighbouring regions 2 Southern Scandinavia 3 Scandinavia and the Baltic region 4 Graffiti from the Oseberg ship, Norway 5 Rune-stone ornament from Tullstorp in Skane, Sweden 6 Principles of dendrochronology 7 Ornament from the Tjangvide stone, Gotland, Sweden 8 Small bronze and silver figures from Sweden 9 Reconstruction of male an...
