The age of the Vikings - it was a time of conquest and exploration. It was a clash of civilizations that changed the course of history in ways that persist today. Emerging from the frozen fjords of Northern Europe, the Viking Age spanned from the 8th century to the 11th century. This is the period of time that is the subject of this book.
The Vikings were a collective group of people from modern day Sweden, Norway, and Denmark - then known as the North Men. They were skilled on the water, and their strength lay in their ships. As such, they were known to invade much of England and western Europe all the way to Constantinople, modern day Russia and the Middle East.
At the beginning of their reign of prominence in history they were known for their wild independence and lack of centralized authority structure. However, as they advanced on conquests throughout the civilized worlds, they gradually coalesced under several main kingdoms.
Throughout this period of history the Vikings were in near constant conflict with the various kingdoms in England and the British Isles as well as the European mainland. They conquered and settled gradually adding a Norse influence to the lands they invaded.
The Viking age was not only characterized by plundering and pillaging. They also engaged in significant exploring and settling particularly across the Northern Atlantic Ocean. They discovered and settled Iceland. Further westward exploration took them to the desolate glacier covered island of Greenland. Though they attempted to colonize Greenland, their settlements struggled more than the Icelandic settlements due to the harsher environment. However, the Greenland colony served as a launching point for the exploration and discovery of the North American continent, specifically Newfoundland. There they met with resistance from native tribes. Though they did not settle in North America, the Vikings were the first Europeans to discover the continent.
This book is a fascinating accounting of a half century of Viking prominence. I discovered this book as part of a search for books on Viking history. It was borne partly out of my desire to learn more about my own Scandinavian heritage as well as a desire to learn more about the Viking period because of some Norse music that I enjoy.
So, who should read this book? Well, the easy answer is you! But more specifically, this is a good book for anyone interested in Norse history in particular or the history of Western Civilization in general.
I had several take aways from this book. First, it provided a better understanding of the Viking era and how it fits into the broader story of European History. Much of my previous study of this era of history has been from a Roman, English or continental European perspective. The Vikings were previously known merely some of the barbarian hoards given passing mention during the waning years of the Roman Empire. This book was a fascinating perspective from the other side of the battlefield.
Second, reading history is a humbling affair. The narrative arc of the book was not what I was expecting. Initially I was disappointed as most of the discussion was about how the Vikings invaded the water accessible regions of England, Scotland and France, looting towns and pillaging churches and monasteries. But as the book progressed, the author began to show how some of the influences brought by the Vikings were instrumental in the development of the region with echoes rippling through history – even to today. From our perspective 1000 years later it is easy to cast judgement on the nefarious aspects of Viking history. Certainly, some things need judgement. But a wise student of history not just learns from the lessons but also realizes that the same judgment that we apply to previous civilizations will one day be applied to ours. As we appreciate the progress that we have made as a civilization, we should therefore seek not to aim our compass based on cultural trends and norms, but rather identify that which is true, good and beautiful – and pursue that!
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