Northmen

The Viking Saga AD 793-1241

By: John Haywood

Narrated by: Michael Page

In AD 800, the Scandinavians were just barbarians in longships. Though they held sway in the north, their power meant little more than the ability to pillage and plunder, which they did to bolster their status at home. But as these Norse warriors left their strongholds to trade, raid, and settle across wide areas of Europe, Asia, and the North Atlantic, their violent and predatory culture left a unique imprint on medieval history. The twist that no one predicted, however, was a much slower, insidious takeover than any the Vikings would execute, and by a turn of the tide, they themselves became its target. For as they made their mark on Europe, Europe made its mark on them. By the year 1200, what remained of the Vikings' Pagan origins floated beneath the surface and the strong, strange territories of the north had become a part of Latin Christendom.

Northmen is there to tell the tale, to pay homage to what was lost and celebrate what was won. Focusing on key events, including the sack of Lindisfarne in 793 and the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, medieval history expert John Haywood recounts the saga of the Viking Age, from the creation of the world through to the dwindling years of halfhearted raids and elegiac storytelling in the 13th century.

©2015 John Haywood (P)2021 Tantor

A Full Tapestry of the Viking Age

I appreciated this book for weaving together all the disparate, half-remembered Viking stories and individuals I’d heard over the years into a mostly chronological history of the era. Lindisfane, the Danelle, St Brice’s Day Massacre, the Varangian Guard, Iceland, Greenland, the first European steps onto North America, Harald Bluetooth, Eric Bloodaxe, Sweyn Forkbeard, Vladimir I, and a whole lot more get their moment in the sun.
Highly recommend for anyone interested in Norse historical events and people

Excellent review

A very detailed review of the northern history in the Middle Ages. It is broken by the regions or, if you wish, the directions of the expansion of Viking civilization into the World. It illuminates the depth of influence the West experienced from their pressure and western responses that define today’s western identity. I thoroughly recommend this book.

A Very comprehensive history of the Viking impact on their world.

John Haywood gives a very comprehensive history of the Viking impact on their world. From their pagan beginnings as pirates from Denmark in the 6th Century all the way to the Scandinavian nation states of the 14th and 15th centuries and everything in between from Russia, France, Constantinople, Sicily and let’s not forget Ireland and England. 

Very informative

An in depth look at Scandinavian history. With specific anecdotes and general overview and information that may come as a surprise. Covers all traditional topics in addition to tangents on other subjects related as well.

Boring 😴

I struggled to finish because it was incredibly dry as was the narration. Also I could've swar I heard him say there were no female viking warriors and yet I've read about archeological digs of female viking warriors and other books that talk about Shield Maidens. I hope I miss heard but if I didn't, that's a big error