The Untold History of the Vikings

In this accessible book, the whole narrative of the Viking story is examined from the eighth to the 11th century. Beginning in 789 A.D., the Vikings raided monasteries, sacked cities and invaded western Europe. They looted and enslaved their enemies. That is only part of their story. In long boats they discovered Iceland and America and also sailed up the Seine to Paris. They settled from Newfoundland to Russia, founded Dublin and fought battles as far afield as the Caspian Sea. A thousand years after their demise, traces of the Vikings remain all the way from North America to Istanbul. They traded walruses with Inuits, brought Russian furs to Western Europe and took European slaves to Constantinople. Their graves contain Arab silver, Byzantine silks and Frankish weapons. Arranged thematically, this narrative examines the Norsemen from exploration to religion to trade to settlement to weaponry to kingdoms to their demise and legacy. Today, questions remain: what prompted the first Viking raids? What stopped their expansion? How much of the tales of murder, rape, and pillage is myth? Give your readers the answers.