Customer Reviews (1)

'Ancient and Medieval People' is a cut above others
Marshall Cavendish's book sets are top picks for elementary-level libraries and these new releases are especially recommended as staples for any serious collection, promising lasting reference and relevance. Louise Park and Timothy Love's 'Ancient and Medieval People' is a cut above others in providing 32 pages of history for a younger audience than most would reach and in offering a multi-volume focus on different regions of the world. THE SCANDINAVIAN VIKINGS, MEDIEVAL KNIGHTS, PHARAOHS' ARMIES, ROMAN GLADIATORS, SPARTAN HOPLITES, and THE JAPANESE SAMURAI all profile warriors of history, providing timelines of events, explanations of ancient words, maps and diagrams, and plenty of color.
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Product Description
The Viking reputation is one of bloodthirsty seafaring warriors, repeatedly plundering the British Isles and the North Atlantic throughout the early Middle Ages. Yet Vikings were also traders, settlers, and farmers, with a complex artistic and linguistic culture, whose expansion overseas led them to cross the Atlantic for the first time in European history. Highlighting the latest archaeological evidence, Julian Richards reveals the whole Viking world: their history, their culture, and their legacy of overseas expansion for trade, colonization, and plunder. Viking identity is explored through what we have learned about their towns, art, shipbuilding, and religious rituals. Here the Viking story is brought up to the present, from the tales of adventure found in medieval Icelandic sagas, to their exploitation as a symbol of nationalism in the nineteenth century by Wagner, and later by Hitler and the Nazi party. The author also highlights their impact and influence on the history and people of Northern Europe. Vikings, a fascinating new look at a people and culture that have been reinvented throughout history, will take readers closer to discovering who they really were. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Summary Review
I think this book does a very good job with a very difficult task.The writer's purpose is to present the up-to-date evidence in a very brief manner, and succeeds admirably.The archaeological finds themselves tell us much about Viking life: there were swords, axes, animal sacrifices, sacred trees, shamanic instruments, chieftains halls, women held places of prominence.The list could go on.I especially liked the section on religion, which was probably one of the better pieces on Viking religion I have yet read.My only complaint is the insinuation that people reviving the religion of the Vikings are Neo-Nazis.If you are looking for a very short intro to the Vikings, then this is a good place to start.

I agree with "The Pete"
I bought this book before I read the review by "The Pete".I second his review.I would not buy this book again, nor recommend it.

How can you make Vikings boring?
The author obviously has the credentials to write on this subject, however, sometimes expertise sucks the wonder right out of people.This book is so dry it makes the Vikings seem boring!I amazes me that someone so interested in a subject could make it seem so dull.

I felt as though the book spent much more time on the Picts, the Irish, Iceland, and other lands and peoples than it did on the Vikings themselves.I wanted to learn what the Vikings were like.How did they live?How did they fight?What about their religion?How did they come to adopt Christianity?What about their literature?Who were their greatest leaders?How did they get ominous names like Erik Bloodaxe?The book addresses none of these questions.

Instead, the bulk of the book runs down a bunch of archeological sites (e.g., this grave in the UK had five swords and a necklace in it and this other one in Denmark had a spear and a helmet in it).Unfortunately, the author gives no indication what any of these finds tell us about the Vikings.I do not feel that I know anything more about the Vikings than I did before I read this book.

If interested in this subject, pick another book.There's got to be something better out there. ... Read more

Product Description
This history of the Nordic peoples in the period 750-1050 focuses on their homelands and colonies, demonstrating the fluidity and incoherence of the world in which they lived.

Customer Reviews (4)

Interesting, if cautious survey about the Norsemen
This book takes a very sceptical look at a large set of topics surrounding the Norse during the Viking age.The author is aware of how the archaeology has shed some doubt on the context and utility of textual sources, and he does an excellent job of discussing his reasons for scepticism.At the same time in my view the author may take this scepticism too far.For example he says there is no evidence of cultic associations of theBerserk rage, and notes that Iceland had a law against going Berserk, but what he fails to mention is that the section which bans this is the section which addresses pagan practices (see Laws of Early Iceland: Gragas 1 (University of Manitoba Icelandic Studies)).In many other areas, particularly relating to worldview, I think the author overlooks what the textual sources can tell us because he is over-correcting for past error.

This problem, however, is also the book's strongest point.By attempting to sweep away as much of the textual basis for our knowledge as possible, the book presents a bare foundation for further studies.Archaeology takes precedence, texts are used sparingly.The result is a minimalist approach which adds a great deal to the field of study.

Because this book begins from a fairly sceptical approach, I think it makes an excellent introduction as well as a useful reminder that scepticism is often called for where the sources pose the problems we see with the written sources we have for the Viking Age.

Highly recommended.

serious study of all information about Vikings
A required reading book for Asatru, Heathens, Neo-Norse and the like who want an accurate picture of the state of what we know and don't know about the northern world.
The author's mastery of diverse and abundant source material on the subjects, coupled with a slightly ironic flavor of wit is quite engaging. Although not written to a audience of high school level, and needing some relevant background in the area to be understandable, the read is really enjoyable. Some common pitfalls are avoided in northern research; others pointed out and elaborated on. I especially enjoyed a bit of a rant on sociological "science" interpretive culture fictions, and the clearly well thought out critical comments on university, tourist and sociological aspects to capitalizing on northern myth and legend.Not a book for those wishing to have a light read on blood drinking sea dogs, but a serious study of all information about a long ago time and region.

Ever notice It's always the other guy who's the Viking
The word viking is beginning to mean less and less when describing the Scandanavian cultures during the 900's.Alot of viking villages are set up to protect them from the vikings?The Anglo-Saxon kings of england were one time officialy listed as "sea-raiders"and almost every tribe in europe who had acess to a river or sea engaged in trade and (piracy).This book is lively and uses alot of sources from the period some of them so ribald they rate a PG,particularly those "men at sea" tales.I hadn't known some of those jokes were that old.When I first saw a picture of a colorfully painted viking boat in the Bayeux tapestry,I thought it must have been an artists rendition,but from reading this book I realize the pictures are actual,because the vikings took such pride in their crafts that included elaborate carvings and richly colored vessels.But as the author says,it would be one thing to reconstruct a viking boat,but could one ever reconstruct a real viking crew. Not in this day and age,the best we could come up with would be a bland imitation probably."Viking" towns were really loose confederations of families and tribes and there was no mass swarm of population by apowerful Viking government (due to Scandavian lack of birth control)onto a terrorized cringing Europe.The archaeological evidence put forth by this author shatters alot of the "Viking trading centers of power" theses I've previously read.The populations of these towns were small and there were no major viking cities to rival Rome.All the populations centers were located along the coastal areas.It seemed to me that the Scandanavians really became a great people when they mixed and adapted to the indiginous cultures already established in the areas they settled.After a read of this book a person would have to be very skeptical of those miraculous conversions of pagan Viking sea -kings to Christianity and all the bells and whistles of divine ecstasy. Seems that the Norse were quick to see "a hawk from a handsaw" and could sniff out political opportunity as it arose.The conversion to Christianity was not overnight but over generations (with pagan lapses) as the European political wind blew.When the (Viking?)Northmenadapt the Roman and Frankish culture they make something unique--the Normans-such a mixture of art,industry,law, and brutality,it still astounds.

One of the best books on the norsemen
I am really amazed that no-one has reviewed this book before. Anyway, I should say that this is one of the best books on the vikings ever! It offers an updated vision on the norsemen using several approaches (archaeology, literature, anthropology). The bibliography is extensive and very recent in general. Forget the many available introductions to the vikings and buy this one instead. It really deserves it (believe an Old Norse language and literature specialist tired of introductory books saying almost the same over and over again). Be it as it may, you will check after reading this book how wrong you were about the vikings...so far. ... Read more

Product Description
Over 175 dynamic, copyright-free motifs—in a wide range of styles—.taken from the metalwork, woodwork, textiles, carving, and ceramics of the Viking homelands. Sinuously intertwined patterns, mythological animals, dragon-slaying heroes on horseback and many more. Now available in this inexpensive volume, these authentic images will provide endless inspiration and striking embellishments to graphic projects for artists, illustrators and craftspeople.
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Customer Reviews (4)

Kind of short, but still worth it
It seems like the author was a bit too selective. I would have liked a huge book of designs, not just a short book of the best ones, but for the price, I'm very satisfied with what I got.

Vikings put designs on literally everything, and in places you would never see, such as the inside of a belt buckle, or the back of a writing tablet.

Reference Work
I bought this book as a source of inspiration for tattoos with a Norse cultural feel. It provided that and more. With hundreds of illustrations sourced from real life examples (rune stones, sword guards, jewellery etc) and from multiple developmental stages in "Norse" artwork, it provides an easy to use reference for those wishing to explore their Norse heritage. Well worthwhile for those Asatruar or re-enactors looking for real life examples to base their craft or tattoo work on.

Should have known better
I was very disapointed with this book.But I should have known, Dover Publications tends to produce shoddy material.I was not impressed with the quality of the art work.I expected to see clearer designs.It looked to me like they let a five year old trace some pictures from a history book.
All though it is from a different culture I would recomend Celtic Designs by Chris Down.The artwork is amazingly clear and very reproducable! If you see this book then you will know exactly why Viking Designs is such a let down!

Good Art and Well Sourced
This book was everything I wanted it to be.The artwork is clear Black and White linework, with notations on each page about where the design came from and what it was used on.I would recommend this to anyone interested in Historical Reproductions. ... Read more

Product Description
The story of the Vikings is one of the most dramatic in European history. From their base in Scandinavia, Viking warriors and settlers spread across northern Europe, into Russia and across the Atlantic. After their first impact as fearsome raiders, destroying monasteries and plundering coastal settlements, the Vikings turned to conquest in England, Ireland and Normandy. In their longships, they also penetrated into the Mediterranean and as far as Byzantium, as well as establishing settlements in Iceland and Greenland and discovering Vinland, or America. This book is a concise and clear survey of who the Vikings were, what they did, why they did it and how we know about them. It includes an account of their remarkable saga literature and is likely to become a standard work on the subject. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Discovering the truth about the Vikings
The Viking world of legendary exploration into the life and art of people as represented in the achievements of a lost culture.

Did you know because of their conquests modern Europe's political
map can trace its origin to a three hundred year period in history
{8th to 11th centuries}?

The evidence as expounded by Martin Arnold is very thought provoking to be sure!

Dag Stomberg
St. Andrews, Scotland ... Read more

Product Description
This tabloid-style work contains illustratio ns and photographs of Vikings which aims to present a wealth of accurate historical material in an irresistible fashion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Educational and very funny
An educational and very funny read. The facts are all true, but have been presented in a consistely funny and readable tabloid style. Maps, pictures, and fact boxes (and some very funny ads) support the text. Highly recommended.

Forgotten history
My name is Maelle and I am in 4 th grade. This was a fun book and I really enjoyed it because it was presented in an easy way to learn and understand how some civilisations lived in the old old days, not the usual way ofsometimes boring history books. This book make me want to learn moredetails about the Vikings. ... Read more

Product Description
Each book in the "Insights" series provides children with a broad range of topics in history, natural history and science. Six pages with fold-out flaps allow children the opportunity to discover historical facts or animal physiology, such as the exact movement an animal makes when it runs, jumps, flies or crawls. This volume explores the lives of the Vikings, describing what they ate, how they traded, their mastery of sailing craft and their hierarchy. Individual warriors and explorers of renown are mentioned, as is the demise of their empire. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Best Single Source on Vikings for Children
I have spent the last year reading books about the Classical World to my seven year old son.It is now time to move onto the Middle Ages and Renaissance.On the way to the Middle Ages, we need to touch on the Dark Ages.I have purchased a number of children's books on the Vikings and Usborne's "Viking World" is the single best book that I have seen on the topic.It is a relatively thick for a children's book and it covers all the important topics.In addition, the book is filled with wonderful illustrations which will help bring the period alive.This is the first Usborne Illustrated World History book that we have read and I have recently purchased all the other books in the series.Highly recommended.

An interesting overview of the Vikings.
The book covers a little of every thing, the viking culturegods and myths, and important vikings, not to forget somehistory.It is full of many colorful illustrations. It does not go into alot of detail. ... Read more

Product Description
Viking raids, and the subsequent Scandinavian settlements in the ninth and tenth centuries, had a major effect on many parts of Britain and Ireland. These impacts can best be seen in a wide variety of archaeological discoveries, primarily from distinctive pre-Christian burials, which contain weapons, tools, jewellery and metal, wood and bone artefacts. Written by an expert in the field of Viking and Norse archaeology, this book examines the distinctive archaeology of each phase, aspect or area of Norse impact in turn, with sufficient historical background to put the archaeological discoveries into context. ... Read more

Product Description
'From the Fury of the Northmen deliver us, O Lord'. Between the eighth and eleventh centuries, the Vikings surged from their Scandinavian homeland to trade, raid and invade along the coasts of Europe. Their influence and expeditions extended from Newfoundland to Baghdad, their battles were as far-flung as Africa and the Arctic. But were they great seafarers or desperate outcasts, noble heathens or oafish pirates, the last pagans or the first of the modern Europeans? This concise study puts medieval chronicles, Norse sagas and Muslim accounts alongside more recent research into ritual magic, genetic profiling and climatology. It includes biographical sketches of some of the most famous Vikings, from Erik Bloodaxe to Saint Olaf, and King Canute to Leif the Lucky. It explains why the Danish king Harald Bluetooth lent his name to a twenty-first century wireless technology; which future saint laughed as she buried foreign ambassadors alive; why so many Icelandic settlers had Irish names; and, how the last Viking colony was destroyed by English raiders.Extending beyond the traditional 'Viking age' of most books, "A Brief History of the Vikings" places sudden Scandinavian population movement in a wider historical context. It presents a balanced appraisal of these infamous sea kings, explaining both their swift expansion and its supposed halt. Supposed because, ultimately, the Vikings didn't disappear: they turned into us. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Painfully dull
How you can take a subject as brutal and intriguing as the Vikings, and write a book this dull is beyond me.It was a chore to finish.

Searching for your Viking Relatives
Having visited Viking sites in Norway and read about their trading expeditions into Russia and Turkey, I was curious to learn more about these adventurers of the Middle Ages. I think the author does an excellent job of writing an informative history with some degree of humorous story telling.While it is easy to get lost in the similar names and the violent exploits of different Viking leaders, the reader will be struck by the wide spread influence these raiders had on civilisations in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Those of us who have European relatives should not be surprised if we find a little Viking DNA in our genome!This is an enjoyable book that provides a great introduction to Scandinavian history.

A little dry
This book starts off great and I enjoyed the end.But somewhere around the middle of the book it is rather dry and kind of fizzles off.This guy beat up this guy, this guy married this guy.This guy pushed Christianity, Viking, Christianity, Viking...It is interesting, don't get me wrong, but kind of difficult to trudge through.What I found interesting is that the general idea of the Viking way, the plundering and the voyages (actually more trading than plundering), is how they lost their heritage.That they would leave their spouses behind and not really pass along the tradition. Also it is interesting that they were in N. America long before Columbus self-advertised his voyage.

Fresh Ideas
The author's conversational style and sense of humor make this book easy and enjoyable to read. Adding recent DNA evidence cements up areas concerning which peoples settled the various parts of Britain and the world. Viking history has been told in many books, yet this one adds new slants to old history. In concluding, the author reminds us that we might respond as lawlessly as the "barbarian" Vikings in similar hardship conditions, their warmer climate, and without our modern supports of government, welfare and insurance. Indeed, he says, other people now exploit the resources of distant lands for us.

A solid introduction
I had always been casually interested in Viking history, and while browsing at my local bookstore, this book seemed to provide an easy-to-read introduction to the Vikings. It definitely lived up to its potential. The author conducts a wide survey of the Vikings and their voyages from Greenland and North America all the way to the Middle East and the Black Sea. The text is entertaining and the author writes with a dry sarcasm that I found to be comedic. The only negative was that it was sometimes difficult to keep up with all the different names of various Scandinavian rulers and raiders. Overall, highly recommended for casual Viking enthusiasts. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first book-length study in English to investigate what women did in the Viking age, both at home in Scandinavia and in the Viking colonies from Greenland to Russia. Evidence for their lives is fragmentary, but Judith Jesch assembles the clues provided by archaeology, runic inscriptions, place names and personal names, foreign historical records and Old Norse literature and mythology. These sources illuminate different aspects of women's lives in the Viking age, on the farms and in the trading centres of Scandinavia, abroad on Viking expeditions, and as settlers in places such as Iceland and the British Isles. Women in the Viking Age explores anunfamiliar aspect of medieval history and offers a new perspective on Viking society, very different from the traditional picture of a violent and male-dominated world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Women in the Viking Age
I found this to be rather dry, tho informative, with an irritating theme running through about 'not having enough evidence to really know for sure'. I appreciated her use of multiple disaplines to explore these women's lives... however, I find myself believing that MS. Jesch has much more knowledge to share on Viking women than was presented in her book, and so would have prefered that her conclusion, at least, reflected so. I would have appreciated(and expected) a section with her conclusions about daily life in the differing circumstances of these women. Such as fibre arts, foods, clothing, armor, weapons, homes, homesites, disease/wound cause of deaths, etc. This to flesh out discoveries hinted at in her work. I would be willing to explore further Viking women writings of hers, especially if co-authored and with even more informative pictures.

Good book on a little study topic.
This is a good history of Norse women. The writer has no noticable political agenda so it is just straight history. It is not just P.C. "women studies" like some books on the topics. So it is worth your money. Wyatt Kaldenberg

Women in the Viking Age
I just recently purchased this book and read it in 2 days.It seems to keep to facts, not opinions (unless stated).It was fairly easy to read (only a few "dry" places) and it gave it's sources for everything so more reading on the subject is possible.I found it fascinating.

A Much Needed Resource for Women's History
I first got this book as a source for a paper in my Viking history class.I had had trouble finding decent resources and this book was a life-saver!There is so little information on Viking women, largelybecause of thestereotypes that many people have about the Vikings.In reality, Vikingwomen enjoyed many rights and privileges that women in other parts of theworld did not have.My only regret is that there is not more info aboutthis subject.Thank you, Judith Jesch, for writing a much needed resourcefor info on Viking women.

highly informative, great illustrations
This is a very readable yet scholarly book. Jesch uses a large number of diverse sources to help us gain an understanding of women in the Viking Age, and has organized the book according to these sources. Archaeologicalevidence from grave sites gives us much information about wealthy women inparticular, and evidence from house-sites tell us more about ordinarywomen's lives. Evidence from runes is especially fascinating, as runicinscriptions are often short and cryptic. Yet here we often find what womenactually wrote or accomplished, for example memorial stones they raised tohonour dead relatives, or stones raised in honour of them building abridge. Jesch looks at Scandinavian women travelling abroad (e.g. evidencefrom place names in England) and women mentioned in foreign writings, andhow other cultures viewed them. She also looks at how they are portrayed inart, myths and poetry.

Finally Jesch extracts some common themes fromthese sources, and identifies some common female types, for example thewarrior woman and the inciter. (For this, however, I would recommend"Old Norse Images of Women" by Jenny Jochens.)

There arenumerous excellent photos and illustrations in this book, which really helpbring it to life. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested inViking/Norse history. ... Read more

Product Description
Take to the seas with the vicious Vikings, and get a whiff of life aboard their famous longships packed with animals and seasick sailors. You'll need a strong stomach for this stormy voyage. Watch their bloody battles and the gruesome disemboweling of their defeated enemies, then delight in the fragrant feasts they hold to celebrate their victories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A fresh start!
This small paperback has a surprising amount of information. There are "vile" scratch and sniff areas (and some pleasant ones as well) in this book, but they also serve to show that the "Vikings" are not as vile as everyone else makes them out to be- they also made important contributions to history and civilization as we know it.It's a wonderful book to introduce young (or old) readers to Norse culture. You will find it an (almost entirely) accurate account which will encourage you to learn more. I also recommend the treasure chest "The Vikings" by Fiona MacDonald as a companion to this book. Both were definitely worth the money I paid for them, and will become part of my private research collection. ... Read more

Product Description
A best-selling study of the Vikings' genius for war explodes myths and reveals the facts behind their fearsome reputation . . .

Customer Reviews (10)

A present enjoyed
Bought this game as a present for Christmas.For my part, I bought it because it was priced the least amount I could find.It came very quickly and in excellent shape.Am told it was enjoyed alot.Amazon always seems to come through with the best all around service.

Clearing the muddy waters
The first thing I would like to say is that I disagree with a couple of the previous reviewers. I did not get the feeling that Mr Griffith "seems not to care about his subject", that he did not "thoroughly learn his subject", or that it was a "unprofessional rant on Scandinavian culture". In fact I thought the book a reasonably researched exploration of the knowledge (more precisely our lack of knowledge) on the era. The main problem with studying this topic is the lack of data. I thought Mr. Griffith did a fine job of presenting what little we do know and giving his interpretation of those 'facts', being careful to point out what were his conjectures vs. what was actually said in the historical record.

Vikings were neither boogeymen nor supermen; they were men. I think Mr. Griffith has done an amirable job in iluminating their 'Art of War' through the murky lens of the available record.

An insight to consider, nothing more...
In this volume, the author proclaims to examine the military capabilities of the early Medieval Scandinavians. Although this book appears to be a bit contemtuous of the Vikings, it does contain some interesting insights. In general, the only sources of information we have on Nordic warfare, are the Icelandic Sagas, and some mostly biased chronicles written from the view-point of cultures which were in conflict with the Scandinavians. The nature of the conflict varied from overt states of warfare, economic and political rivalry, to cultural supremecy, and this has to be taken into account. Beyond the ancient literature, we have only the findings of modern-day archeologists.
The author has utilized the available information in his analysis, in conjunction with his academic skills as Senior Lecturer in War Studies at the Royal Military Academy, to give us his interpretation. Of course, the written word can tell you only so much, and surely there is a vast amount of information that has been lost to time, information one could only know by actually experiencing the time and place.

In regard to British authors, we see many books of the highest academic standard, and we also see publications reflecting blatant bias. This book is really niether one entirely. An admirer of Nordic culture may find some aspects of the author's perspective mildly irritating, but there is a lot of interesting information within. The author has included much material that will inspire the reader to research other topics related to the theme.

Biased, revisionist history, but interesting nonetheless
The title of this book is misleading. I expected to find a detailed analysis of Viking warfare, but found a rather unprofessional rant on Scandinavian culture in the Viking Era. It is easy to see how a perception of history can be slanted, based upon the bias of the author. This insight is useful, however, in the review of latter-day protagonist saga writers or antagonist monks. Little more can be learned from this text.

Great book, but not intentionally
Although this is definitely a five-star book, it actually fails horribly at its objective, which is to piece together Viking battle plans and fighting abilities. There are two reasons for this:

1. The author himself openly admits that there's essentially nothing to work with (as opposed to, say, well-documented Roman battles), as these things were generally never recorded during the Viking Age

2. The Vikings didn't have anything even remotely approaching a strategy, apart from sailing solid boats to likely hotspots for pillage. And once there, it was more trial & error than any kind of real plan. Even the "Great Army" was more of a hodgepodge of like-minded marauders than any kind of seriously coordinated force

But then this book outdoes not only its own goal, but outshines every other Viking book I've ever read: it brings the Vikings to life. It brings these people right out of the exaggerated world of "Norse supermen" that so many people want them to have been, and leaves you instead with a powerful vision of real human beings living day-to-day life. People want to believe anything and everything about the Vikings, that they sailed all the way to Australia for no reason, or that they got all the way to the North American midwest, the kind of "theories" that anyone even jokingly educated knows to be ridiculous.

The author chronicles and examines where the actual Vikings travelled and why, and the sometimes shocking rate of failure these people experienced, even as master sailors. For every successful pillage or new discovery, the Vikings lost several entire boatloads of people and supplies, and you begin to wonder just what kind of willpower could keep driving them to explore so much when they never really had to. By the end of the book you'll have a real feeling of awe for these people who did so much, because you'll see by what haphazard means they did such extraordinary things.

I very highly recommend this "sleeper" of a book. ... Read more

Product Description
In Goodbye to the Vikings, Richard Hodges uses new archaeological evidence to re-read the familiar history of the early Middle Ages. Taking his examples from the 5th to the 10th centuries, he re-examines many familiar themes, including the identity of King Arthur, the Pirenne thesis, Marc Bloch on feudalism, the significance of nationalism in early medieval archaeology and the place of the Vikings in European history. Some of the studies are wide-ranging, while others re-examine the archaeology of the monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno (Italy) in detail. The book shows how archaeology is making us appreciate the changing rhythms of early medieval Europe, especially in terms of the contacts made by traders, pilgrims and travellers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

More on Dark Age Europe
"Goodbye to the Vikings" is a collection of essays by Richard Hodges that updates the pioneering work that he did in the 1980s in applying archaeological data and economic anthropological theory to issues in the history of early medieval Europe.The essays were originally published as articles in various venues between 1991 and 2005.
Hodges is a major contributor to the emerging picture of early medieval Europe as an economically active and prosperous time, particularly in certain local areas such as 10th-century England.This volume is aimed at readers who already are familiar with the "conversation" on the subject of early medieval economic and political development.However, it might possibly serve also as an introduction to some of the key issues for readers who are ready to move from a more popular to a more scholarly approach to medieval history.

An in-depth and insightful study of the historical recordings of the Vikings during the early Middle Ages of European history
Goodbye To The Vikings?: Re-reading Early Medieval Archaeology by Richard Hodges (Director of the Institute of World Archeology, School of World Art Studies, University of East Anglia and Scientific Director of the Butrint Foundation) is an in-depth and insightful study of the historical recordings of the Vikings during the early Middle Ages of European history when Vikings had their largest impact as explorers, traders, raiders, and settlers. Drawing from examples of the fifth and tenth centuries, Hodges addresses such intriguing subjects as the identity of King Arthur, the Pirenne thesis, feudalism, nationalism in the early medieval history, the Viking's position in European history, and archeological findings related to Viking settlements, technologies, and culture. Goodbye To The Vikings? is very strongly recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in Viking culture and medieval history.
... Read more

Product Description
Young readers make their way up winding rivers, solve the puzzle of the mysterious ruins, and track down the evil Erik Backstabber in a fascinating look at the life and times of Viking explorers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great interactive format.
I have used the Mystery History series for several years to help my students with reading difficulties.I have never had a student who did not absolutely love these books.Even my advanced readers enjoy them. As both a reading instructor and secondary social studies teacher, I find most children will stay with these books for long periods.They do not seem to feel they are practicing sustained reading because the interactive aspects of the books break up the text, eliminating the monotony of reading that the students usually feel.I use these books with kids of all grade levels. I usually use them to augment regular instruction but sometimes as stand alone texts.The books have lots of information and discussion often is expanded beyond what is contained in the books. There are puzzles, games and other activities for kids of all ages.I like to combine the reading with a related craft.For example, with the Mystery History of a Viking Longboat, we make 3 dimensional longboats out of brown craft paper.For my non-readers, I read and they listen and do the activities.I have bought many of these books through Amazon.com and other suppliers.I wish they were still in print so I could buy them and give them to the kids to keep. The students always ask to be allowed to keep them.I highly recommend the series.Be aware, however, that The Mystery History of a Pharoah's Tomb and The Mystery History of the Trojan Horse are a little more difficult reading than the other books in the series. ... Read more

Product Description
The warfare of the late Anglo-Saxon period had momentous consequences for the development of the English state following Alfred the Great's reign. This book provides a comprehensive guide, with extracts in translation from the principal sources for our knowledge, accompanied by the most important interpretations by scholars through the ages. Divided into separate sections, each with its own, new introduction, it looks at every aspect of the topic, from land and sea forces to logistics and campaigning, from fortifications and the battlefield to the final peacemaking. ... Read more

Product Description
The Isle of Man provides a microcosm of Viking settlement in the West. Set in the northern part of the Irish Sea, it was a major player in the economic and political life of this Norse region from the beginning of the tenth century until the end of the Scandinavian overlordship of the Hebrides and Man in the middle of the thirteenth century.This book presents, for the first time, for both specialist and general reader, a major survey of the Island in the period from the early tenth century to the middle of the eleventh century. The rich archaeological material pagan grave-goods, silver-treasures, headland fortifications, farm-sites, inscribed and carved Christian memorial stones and the wealth of evidence provided by runic inscriptions, place-names and institutions, provide a unique picture of a vibrant society striving to be ever more politically and economically powerful. The story tells of the gradual change from paganism to Christianity and of the absorption of a native population into a society dominated by incoming land-owners and a king owing allegiance to Norway. ... Read more

Product Description
The classic history of one of the world’s most extraordinary peoples. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Disorganized Knowledge
While it is clear that Mr Magnusson knows what he is talking about when it comes to Viking history, his narrative skills leave much to be desired. The books randomly jumps from one piece of history or epic poem to the next with no coherent organization or order that I could discern. But do not take me at my word, try reading two or three paragraphs and you will see what I mean.

Presents a lively discourse
The Viking people hold a solid place in the history of the West, and Magnus Magnusson's study of them presents a lively discourse in The Vikings of a people who were both pillagers and raiders and great pioneers and traders. The Vikings is a 'must' for any college-level personal or academic library Viking Studies or World History collection. ... Read more

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The purpose of this volume is to define the rune-inscribed objects found during the Dublin excavations of the 1970s and 1980s at Christchurch Place and Fishamble Street. It also includes accounts of all the runes known to survive in Ireland. ... Read more