Northmen: The Viking Saga, 793–1241

In his ambitious new book, Haywood, an expert on the Dark Ages in Europe, (The New Atlas of World History; The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings) attempts to provide broader geographical and historical context for the Vikings. The Norsemen were distinct in that no other early Europeans interacted and expanded their territory as early in history as they did, despite not being the most technologically advanced Europeans at the time. The author asserts that the Viking Era extends beyond the conventional period of 790–1066 CE, beginning earlier and culminating around 1240 when Viking seafaring and conquest began its inevitable decline. Haywood delves briefly into the Norse mythology that drove them, and covers a full chronology of Norse conquest, which has left a lasting impact on Europe, Asia, and North America. This meticulously researched book includes extensive maps, a full chronology, a comprehensive list of Viking kings and rulers, and resources for further reading and research including primary-source materials.