The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings

by Peter H. Sawyer (editor)

With settlements stretching across a vast expanse and with legends of their exploits extending even farther, the Vikings were the most far-flung and feared people of their time. Yet the archaeological and historical records are so scant that the true nature of Viking civilization remains shrouded in mystery.

In this richly illustrated volume, twelve leading scholars draw on the latest research and archaeological evidence to provide the clearest picture yet of this fabled people. Painting a fascinating portrait of the influences that the "Northmen" had on foreign lands, the contributors trace Viking excursions to the British Islands, Russia, Greenland, and the northern tip of Newfoundland, which the Vikings called "Vinlund." We meet the great Viking kings: from King Godfred, King of the Danes, who led campaigns against Charlemagne in Saxony, to King Harald Bluetooth, the first of the Christian rulers, who helped unify Scandinavia and introduced a modern infrastructure of bridges and roads. The volume also looks at the day-to-day social life of the Vikings, describing their almost religious reverence for boats and boat-building, and their deep bond with the sea that is still visible in the etymology of such English words as "anchor," "boat," "rudder," and "fishing," all of which can be traced back to Old Norse roots. But perhaps most importantly, the book goes a long way towards answering the age-old question of who these intriguing people were.

From sagas to shipbuilding, from funeral rites to the fur trade, this superb volume is an indispensable guide to the Viking world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Reference, Medieval History, Anthropology, European History

344 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 1997

About the author

Peter Hayes Sawyer was an English historian. His work on the Vikings was highly influential, as was his scholarship on Medieval England. Sawyer's early work The Age of the Vikings argued that the Vikings were "traders not raiders", overturning the previously held view that the Vikings' voyages were only focused on destruction and pillaging.

Sawyer is particularly known for his annotated catalogue of Anglo-Saxon charters. Anglo-Saxon charters are referenced by "Sawyer" numbers (abbreviated 'S' as for example in charter "S 407") according to his catalogue.

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The judgement of medieval accounts and some modern historians is "that the Vikings caused 'political disintegration and social chaos in the Atlantic coastlands of Europe'...". This books provides a more balanced view: "The Vikings undoubtedly destroyed much and caused widespread disruptions, but there is no reason to believe that they were any more brutal and ruthless than the peoples of Western Europe." (251) It largely succeeds in this effort, but the individual contributions vary widely in style and substance.

Simon Keynes contribution on Vikings in England from 790-1016 was my favorite. A late comment in his section illustrates his approach: "In order to understand the impact of the Viking raids on the course of affairs during King Æthelred's reign, it would be necessary to relate each phase of activity to the changing patterns of domestic politics over the same; and one has to say this would not make very edifying reading." Instead he focuses on certain aspects of the "English response to the Viking threat." (76) There's less a list of kings and successors, which does seem like an apt description of some of the other chapters. The chapter on religion was good in a similar way.

The written records of Vikings interactions in Western Europe, in Russia, and in the Atlantic Islands are vastly different, and they reflect the kind of history that can be written about each.

[Dimitri · Rating 4 out of 5]

a beautiful synthesis of archeology and text reconstruction, with illustrations to match. The entire Viking World passes the revue, from Scandinavia over the British Isles to Rus & Vinland. The absence of Viking warfare stands out.

[Bernhard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Buch ist umfassend und informativ geschrieben, da es einen weiten Überblick über verschiedene Aspekte der Wikingerzeit bietet, und das in zweierlei Hinsicht. 1. nämlich geografisch (Großbritannien und Irland, Skandinavien, in Osteuropa, im Atlantik etc.) und 2. thematisch von Schiffbau und Handel bis hin zu Bestattungsritualen und Sagas.
Was die Ordnung und die Bandbreite angeht, ist es für mich immer noch eines der Standardwerke zum Thema Wikinger. Formalistisch ist es sehr gut.

Die Beiträge selbst sind ebenfalls interessant, aber nicht gerade fesselnd geschrieben. Und dann in der Tiefe nicht so ergiebig, wie sie sein könnten. So wird nicht das gesamte kulturelle Spektrum bedient und auch die geografischen Zuordnungen sind nicht vollständig, wenn auch umfassend genug. Viele Querverweise - bspw. auf die Waräger - lassen sich nur dann einordnen, wenn man sich bereits mit der Geschichte der Wikinger/Skandinavier beschäftigt hat. Methodisch verweist das Buch noch auf eine alte Generation von Forschern, die v.a. (männliche) Personengeschichte macht. Auf die Spitze getrieben ist das im Beitrag von Irland, Wales, Isle of Man und die Hebriden von Donnchadh Ó Corráin. Es ist ein Endlosband von Fakten und Personennamen sowie Schlachten, die kaum in einen gedanklichen Zusammenhang gebracht werden können und den Text unfassbar schwer lesbar machen.

Der Band ist aus dem Jahr 2000 und damit natürlich schon etwas in die Jahre gekommen, aber auch zur Jahrtausendwende hat es durchaus schon struktur- und sozialgeschichtliche Forschung im Bereich der Wikinger gegeben, und freilich auch kulturgeschichtliche Forschungen, die über Sagas, Edda und Runensteine hinausging. Das Buch ignoriert das und die doch sehr stark vertretende, archäologische Forschung, was die materielle Geschichte der Skandinavier angeht, soweit das den Autoren möglich ist. Sehr ergiebig ist der Sammelband hingegen religionsgeschichtlich, weil der Christianisierung viel Raum gegeben wird, und zwar durch alle Beiträge.

Wer sich aber durch die teilweise sehr trockenen Beiträge kämpft, wird mit einem guten und verwertbaren Überblick belohnt. Wer das Buch als Arbeitsmappe nutzt und weniger als Lesevergnügen, kann diesem Werk sogar noch mehr abgewinnen.

[Paul Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Viking History will be written by an historian, a Viking descendant and someone not beholden to the popular view. It will be well-researched (Or best on the same) and should be controversial. It will be an outstanding. This is next to that work.

Pleasure to read and cross-check historic references. Not many books on Vikings like thi. Read it , you will realize Scandnavian culture richly impacted all major European players of its heydey. No wonder, the could not fathom Ultima Thule.

[Costanza Miccichè · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful introduction to the Viking Age and a refreshing summary for who knows already the context. Many concepts are to be revisioned because of the new academic approaching but is a good companion. Sawyer was a really good professor of the matter.

[Kylie Briggs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reads like a junior high textbook.

[Riversue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and clearly written but far from comprehensive.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wavering back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. 4 for now. Review to come soon, rating may or may not change.

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Review stays 4 Stars; the essays about England and Russia and religion helped tip the scale. See my book blog for photos -------------> http://allthebookblognamesaretaken.bl...

I really enjoyed this collections of essays for a number of reasons. My primary level of interest in is Anglo-Saxon England and the Wessex kings especially - Alfred the Great is great for a reason (and the only king of England with this descriptor!) I also enjoy learning about the Vikings, as so much of the history of Norway, Iceland, and Greenland was only passed down from one generation to the next by word of mouth. What we do have written is truly a treasure, as these people and cultures can come alive to us once again by these words.

The text is a series of essays. Each author focused on their own area of interest, ranging from the Vikings in England, the end of he Viking age, Vikings in Russia, the ships, and so on. While I am not really interested in the ships themselves, or learning about maritime travel, that essay still help valuable information. One essay I found especially interesting was 'Religions Old and New', which discusses the old religion of the Vikings and their gods and the advent of Christianity. Greenland and Iceland were of particular interest too, not only because it is amazing that the ships were able to travel that far, but even beyond to reach North America - long before Columbus and his germ warfare. I would love to see the settlement ruins someday, and it is definitely on my bucket list. The essay focusing on Ireland, etc. was of great interest as well, as I have been to Dublin. Upon my visit with Mom in 2010, I had no idea that the Vikings had ruled Dublin for so long and that it was an area of focus for them. When visiting Dublin Castle on one of our tours, we were able to go below street level to see what remained of not only the medieval castle from the 13th century, but the earthen bank/stone wall of the original Viking town.

Overall, while some of the essays were a bit more dry than others, I enjoyed this collection. Certainly recommended for those interested in various aspects of life as a Viking.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't get a thrill when they think "Vikings"? Adventure, far traveling, exploration, treasure, all are associated with these Norse seafarers. Then there is looting, pillaging, plundering and taking slaves. Whatta buncha guys! However, a serious look at the civilization of the Vikings reveals much more than jolly adventurers, or pirates in long ships. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings will give you a look at the trading networks, land-holding practices, physical environment and governing systems that produced the Vikings. You get an overview of present day archeological digs that reveal what they wore, ate, traded for and brought home to Mrs. Viking. From Greenland to Byzantium, these guys rocked their world, and this book will tell you all about how they did it. It is full of great color illustrations that really take you there. If you love history, gory, romantic, colorful and otherwhen, this is a must read.

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book as an introduction to viking raids, but it does not really work as a general introduction to vikings as a people and the viking age. There really isn't any chapters about who the vikings were, why they were vikings and why the viking age is an era. It was, however, a really good book if you're only interested in vikings raids as the defining aspect of the vikings, then this book is what you're looking for.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A broad overview of the Viking Age, this often reads like a mix between a coffee table book and a text book. But you know what? I'm down with that. There's a wealth of interesting things to be learned in this book, and it is full to bursting with complimentary images and maps. Since I am American, these things make reading seem happier. Anyway, a good place to start if you want to wade into the historical accounts of the Vikings.

[H. P. Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings is a compendium of essays by a number of scholars on various times and aspects of Viking culture. So there is some repetition of facts, if not of inferences drawn from those facts. The authors are clear writers, the illustrations are interesting but the book as a whole didn't hang together.

[Sarah Schanze · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a while to get through this, but there were some interesting chapters. I especially liked the one about religion, which didn't make the Vikings seem dumb for being pagan and didn't make the Christians seem evil for trying to convert them. It felt like a pragmatic and balanced chapter. Some interesting stuff, if a bit dry at parts.

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a terribly satisfying or enjoyable book. It's an anthology, so there's quite a lot of unevenness in the authors. Admittedly, this brings varying experts to diverse Viking topics, but the book feels halting and jagged. For an illustrated history, the illustrations are dated and sparser than one would hope.

[Kellee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview. Especially appreciated that the book made estimates of how many ships/warriors landed at some of the raids, which gave a sense of scale I was previously having trouble grasping.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

an introduction to the Vikings - good for a first book

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched overview of Viking life and the remnants still around today.