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Vikings: History of Vikings: From The History of "Rune Stones" to "Norse Mythology"

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Who were the Vikings? Did they earn the reputation of remorseless raiders and greedy pirates? Where they more than the mere barbarians and plunderers that history makes them out to be? Find out the truth about the Vikings with History of From The History of "Rune Stones" to "Norse Mythology" by Michael J. Stewart. Stewart takes you beyond rumor and speculation and into the real world of the Scandinavian seafarers known as the Vikings. You’ll get the true story, not an oversimplified Hollywood myth.

You’ll

Who the Vikings were and why they raided their neighbors How the Vikings used runestones to tell stories about the gods and themselves What life was like in the Viking Age for an ordinary Viking family What Vikings at war fought with and lived and died for About their myths and their pantheon of gods including Freyja, Odin, Thor, and Loki With History of From The History of "Rune Stones" to "Norse Mythology" by Michael J. Stewart, you get more than a simple history. This quick dip uses the study of archeological findings and surviving collections of prose and poetic works to paint an accurate picture of these famous people. Stewart presents the facts; it’s up to you to draw your own conclusions.

Don’t dismiss the Vikings as heretical barbicans. Learn how they really lived.

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82 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2017

77 people are currently reading
109 people want to read

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Michael J. Stewart

22 books4 followers

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5 stars
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16 (30%)
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15 (28%)
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5 (9%)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Vicki.
1,206 reviews176 followers
June 16, 2017
Great information and discoveries

There is so much about the Vikings I did not know. The runestones were such a varied concept. I did. Of realize that they were used to convey history and legends about Viking's past deeds. To see how the Gods were at interacting with each other and the monsters of the time were fascinating. This was a great read. Of course, I would have lived it to be longer. I want to know more about these mysterious people from the North.
Profile Image for TBM Horror.
93 reviews19 followers
June 16, 2017
Vikings. History of Vikings by Michael J. Stewart is a short but yet complete study about Viking’s like myths, lies and truths.

This book starts with a brief introduction and localization of the Viking culture. “In European history, the Viking Age spanned roughly from AD 700 to 1100”. Establish their relation with England and explains how they interacted. “Vikings were sent by God, to punish those in England for their petty political feuds”.

The author, along his explanations, takes an impartial perspective, just giving objectively the facts to the reader, and letting them choose what theory they prefer. When, in the same first part of the book, Stewart tells us about “why” the Vikings became the wolves of the sea, presents two possible reasons. First, due to the need of expanding their land, so they lived in little islands and soon they had no room left for their fields and residence, so it was merely practical or, underlines the point that “Charlemagne “used force and terror to Christianize all pagans,” leading to aggressive campaigns that offered many pagan tribes and clans”, so Vikings were just defending themselves.

Then the author mentions how important was for them to die in battle, fighting like a proud warrior to be able to get into Valhalla, next to Odin. He also stops to tell a bit about the runestones which “tell glorious tales of those Vikings who perished on voyages to foreign lands, but the vast majority were dedicated to men who died at home.”, like the important Hunnestad Monument in Scania, and how Christianity often interfered in their tales and traditions.

The next chapters develop art, weapons and mythology. Stewart marks the importance of understanding that the Vikings weren’t just barbarians. They had accurate beautiful art and crafting men, which leads us to the weapons sections. Shields, spears, axes and swords were the main possessions they proudly wore. The author stops in this section to create a delicate and detailed description of those weapons as how and who owned them, making the difference between the rich and the poor.

After that section, we jump to mythology. “The Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda are arguably two of the most important tools for our understanding of Norse mythology”, from Thor (Champion of the Gods Central) to Odin, (God of Gods, wise and noble, owner of Valhalla), Freyja (“goddess often associated with sex, fertility, beauty and love, wealth, war, and death.”) and the controversial Loki (Father of Monsters).

The last chapter of the book is basically a conclusion, which I appreciated because of the tone, demystifying any kind of prejudice or pre-thought about this beautiful and passionate Scandinavian culture. “Vikings are much more than mere barbarous thugs and pillagers that modern stereotypes might make them out to be.”

Personally, I loved the book. It’s quick, fresh, easy to read. Very interesting to the readers in those subjects. Very detailed but yet not boring. I’m very into history and military studies so I use to read this kind of material. And I have to say I enjoyed it. I will for sure recommend it. Congratulations to the author.
Profile Image for Julie Barrett.
9,245 reviews206 followers
February 21, 2020
Vikings: History of Vikings, from the history of "rune stones" to "Norse Mythology" by Michael J. Stewart
Starts with a table of contents where each chapter has more detailed items of interest about the Viking and how they lived and why they did things.
Signup for author's newsletter. Started watching Templar's and viking shows on the streaming devices and found the things they did fascinating.
The sea and why they went that way and also the rune stones I am familiar with even some of the characters in the books were depicted in shows I watched.
Love learning about their farming methods and who was in charge of what jobs.
Fascinating learning so much and where techniques used today came from originally.
Profile Image for Join the Penguin Resistance!  .
5,664 reviews331 followers
June 13, 2017
Review: VIKINGS: HISTORY OF VIKINGS by Michael J. Stewart

A fascinating, even exciting, look at the history, culture, nature, and mythology, of the early Scandinavians or Norse: the Vikings. This compact yet inclusive history is one I expect to return to often. Well-written and succinct, this book us a great introduction as well as a refresher review of the culture of old which gave us the Runic Alphabet, raids, and an interwoven mythology.
1 review
February 21, 2017
really generic info

This felt more like a high school history paper than a fully researched historical study. Still, an interesting read for any unfamiliar with the viking age Scandinavians.
95 reviews1 follower
September 20, 2018
If you like Vikings or just want to know enough information about this subject this book is good place to start.Great reference book. A compilations of historical facts.Very useful for those who study history.
Laura
2 reviews
December 30, 2017
Worth reading.

I give 5 stars. Its so good. The details are quite informational and the writing is easy to understand. Not a waste of time reading this book
Profile Image for Joshua Cordrey.
1 review
January 15, 2022
Good book, only problem was a lot of grammar and spelling mistakes throughout. Pretty easy to figure out what was meant to be said just a bit annoying.
Profile Image for Jane Hearne.
7 reviews
April 25, 2017
Boring although factually correct. They did

Boring although factually correct...I wanted some action not just history. I already knew about most of their gods
I would have more on the female duties
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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