Vikings At War

Features of Vikings at War

Well illustrated with excellent maps drawings and photos it deserves a place on the bookshelf of any Viking enthusiast Current World ArchaeologyVikings at War presents a sumptuous depiction of how the Vikings waged war their weapons technology offensive and defensive warfare military traditions and tactics their fortifications ships and command structure It also portrays the Viking raids and conquest campaigns that brought the Vikings to virtually every corner of Europe and even to America Viking ships landed on almost every shore in the Western world during the 350 years that followed the introduction of the sail into the region from the 9th to the 11th century Viking ravages united the Spanish kingdoms and stopped Charlemagne and the Franks advance in Europe Wherever Viking ships roamed enormous suffering followed in their wake but the encounter between cultures changed both European and Nordic societiesEmploying unorthodox and unpredictable strategies which were hard for more organized forces to respond to the most crucial element of the Vikings success was their basic strategy of evading the enemy by arriving by sea then attacking quickly and with great force before withdrawing quickly The warrior class dominated in a militarized society Honor was everything and breaking promises and ruining ones posthumous reputation was considered worse than death itself If a man offended another mans honor the only way out was blood revengeVikings at War provides a vivid account of one of Europes most exciting epochsTable of ContentsForewordBeaduheard Meets His Fate1 THE VIKINGSWho were the VikingsViking societyThe Viking warriors religion2 THE ART OF WARViking troopsViking military techniques3 VIKING FORTIFICATIONSViking fortifications4 VIKING SHIPSThe Viking ship5 VIKING WEAPONSThe Vikings and their weapons6 VIKING INVASIONSThe world of the VikingsThe Islands in the WestIrelandEnglandThe Frankish Empire and FranceThe Iberian peninsulaThe lands in the EastByzantiumGreenland and Americanotesbibliographyindiceslist of mapsimage credits