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#266843 in Books Else Roesdahl 1999-01-01 1999-01-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.80 x .70 x 5.20l; .56 #File Name: 0140252827368 pagesThe Vikings
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Vikings age of expansion from 700s to 1066 is perhaps the greatest emigration and integration story ever!By ChiekA great first book to begin ones journey with the ancient Vikings fascinating age of expansion from the 700s to 1100s. Thanks to their Vikings ships; they covered great geographical areas by crossing oceans and sailing up river routes. Sure they were ferocious warriors to start with when exploring new lands; but they loved peace and harmony as well as evidenced by their successful integration with natives through matrimony; conversion to Christianity; peaceful trading and adopting local customs and assuming local names. Thanks to archeology and artefacts scattered in all the lands they covered; we know today they were so well integrated in the lands they ventured to that their graves intermingled with the graves of the natives.An insight into the ancient Vikings will throw great light onto what we witness of Scandinavian societies today. Their pride and joy is deeply rooted in their path to Christianity and the bridges they built with the natives of many lands.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great as a General Introduction to the Viking AgeBy NordixI was looking for a good introduction to the Viking Age; having been interested in the Vikings since I was a kid I knew a lot of sporadic information on the Vikings but I lacked a general understanding of the Viking Age. The Vikings provides a broad and engaging introduction to the period. At times it may feel like a somewhat scholarly read but I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the Viking Age. However; the entire Viking Age is a very wide subject and hard to cover in a single volume and due to this the author must decide where to go into detail and where to brush over subjects with a broad stroke. I was slightly disappointed that it seemed to focus more on Denmark than the other Scandinavian countries. It went into substantial detail about various Danish expeditions and settlements but provided less information on Norwegian and Swedish activities. Despite that; I found it to be a comprehensive guide to the period.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. A great summaryBy Maurice A. RhodesThere was a lot in this book that I didn't know about the Vikings - of course; I knew the usual stuff - Normandy etc; but it was a revelation to read how extensive their travels were into Asia and the Med. The story is supported by plenty of pictures of artifacts recovered from burial sites; but more impressive from the "hoards" of silver; gold; and coins being dug up even after this book was published. Two disappointments: I didn't think the author did more than touch upon the fact that the Vikings were in what is now Newfoundland long before John Cabot or Christopher Columbus. Nor does she seem knew of or understood the real reason for the outsurge of the Vikings and the eventual slowdown and withering of their colonies in Greenland and the failure to make a foothold in what is now Canada. The most probable cause; I have been led to believe from climate studies; is because of the growth of population which demanded expansion in the period of warmer weather in the higher latitudes. And the most likely reason for the withering is probably the onset of the Little Ice Age in the 12th-13th Century. Nor is there a satisfactory explanation why the landings in Newfoundland did not mature into a colony. Once again; the most likely explanation is not mentioned - the Vikings were probably outnumbered by "skraelings" as they called the native inhabitants. Both sides were vigorous fighters with approximately the same level of weaponry - bows arrows; spears. The natives probably did not have metal weapons but the must have outnumbered the Vikings who strayed into their territory. I am not sure what the real answer is but the author gives little consideration to what would have been a momentous colonization had it succeeded. By the time the white man came again he was equipped with weapons that outclassed any the native Americans had.