Vikings historians

Who are the historians for the Vikings? (9)

• Lund

• Coupland

• Ashby

• Barrett

• Ellis

• Sawyer

• Williams

• Raffield and Price

• Gullbekk

Who argues that although plundering and tribute taking were a hallmark of the Vikings, they were in fact simply new players in an ancient game?

Lund

Who argues that the idea that the Vikings’ aim was a quest for loot accounts for the choice of targets, avoidance of battle and eagerness to extract tribute?

Coupland

Who argues that Viking activity emerged in the context of flourishing North Sea ‘emporia’ and that there was a drive to acquire silver (either due to an abundance or scarcity) BUT that this view omits the ‘social’?

Ashby

Who argues that the Vikings were a factor in the fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire?

Barrett

Who argues that the unification of England may have been indirectly caused by Vikings either weakening the separate kingdoms or providing a motive for central defence?

Ellis

Who argues that the Vikings took advantage of political infighting in Francia and that the Franks’ willingness and ability to pay tribute may have encouraged invasions?

Sawyer

Who argues that it is probably fair to say that the Viking’s reputation on the battlefield has been exaggerated?

Williams

Who discounts the misconception that Viking raids were a coordinated venture and instead argues that the invasions (esp. at the beginning) lacked any sense of central control?

Raffield and Price

Who characterises Scandi society as a ‘gift-giving economy’ and talks about the Gotland hoard (50kg silver, mostly Islamic origins), terming the time period the ‘Age of Silver’?

Gullbekk

Who writes that contemporaries saw the Vikings as God’s instrument (Alciun) and that Christians was a battle between Christianity and paganism taking place?

Lund

Who argues that, as the Vikings began to settle for longer period on foreign soil, they began to pose an increasing political threat to local rulers and intervene in local politics, appointing puppet kings etc.?

Coupland

Who argues that population growth in Scandi, which led to increased competition for marriage, forced men abroad to find a kind of prestige not available at home? (eg.political prestige of foreign objects and knowledge → attainment of elevated social status)

Ashby

Who argues that a combination of the ‘youth-bulge’ (bridewealth) theory, and a fatalistic mentality due to their view that there was no afterlife for anyone, was the cause of Viking activity?

Barrett

Who argues that the Vikings were ‘traders, not raiders’ and that it wasn’t about how violent they were, but about what impact their violence had?

Sawyer

Who uses the large numbers of Anglo-Saxon coins present in Denmark and Sweden as evidence of trade and/or plundering by the Vikings?

Williams

Who uses the example of Hoen, Norway to remind us of the huge amounts of European material wealth that flowed North during the 9thc.? (shows economic impacts)

Raffield and Price

Who argues that what was new about the Vikings was not their actions, but their level of mobility? (no central ship levy until 11thc., thus there was no centralisation of raids)

Lund

Who talks about the testimony of a cleric in England, who says that the ‘Christian populace is being destroyed to the point of extinction’?

Coupland

Who argues that the trigger for Viking raids was fluctuations in the availability of Abbasid silver?

Barrett

Who argues that although the Vikings have been held responsible for the collapse of monasticism in England, they actually had many productive impacts, contributing to development in Europe?

Sawyer

Who notes the progression for small scale raids in the late 8thc. to larger, seasonal raids, conquest and settlement in the 9thc.? (overwintering and the Great Army)

Williams

Who discusses the archaeological evidence found at Repton (hacksilver, gold, dirhams, lead weights) as showing the processing of loot but also trade, noting that the armies also contained families, artisans and craft specialists, allowing the Vikings to create their own economies?

Raffield and Price

Who writes that the Vikings managed to reverse the flow of money within Europe, creating a tribute system that was one of submission, and that the plunder economy that they created was one of expansion?

Lund

Who notes the Rus’ trading with the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Caliphate? (mainly silver - debate over whether or not they are Vikings)

Raffield and Price

Who discusses the alliance made between the West Welsh and a band of Vikings in Cornwall, who tried to invade Wessex, but were defeated, as evidence of how Vikings got involved in local political disputes?

Lund