| Examines the Scandinavian culture and society that produced arguably the most feared and respected warriors of the medieval period: the Vikings. Beyond the infamous swift ships and brutal reputations of these raiders, the Norse themselves were farmers, settlers, artisans, and traders, whose hardscrabble lives were much richer than once thought. We will examine many aspects of those lives, from homestead to settlement, from work to pastime, from pagan to Christian, beginning in the late Iron Age and ending with the emergence of Christian kingdoms in Norway, Denmark and Sweden (c. 700-1100). In the process, we will engage with sources ranging from sagas and myths to material objects and archaeological finds, as well as the words of those who fought and traded with the peoples of the North. |
