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The Vikings

Written by: Kenneth W. Harl, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Kenneth W. Harl
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Publisher's Summary

As raiders and explorers, the Vikings played a decisive role in the formation of Latin Christendom, and particularly of western Europe.

Now, in a series of 36 vivid lectures by an honored teacher and classical scholar, you have the opportunity to understand this remarkable race as never before, studying the Vikings not only as warriors, but in all of the other roles in which they were equally extraordinary - merchants, artists, kings, raiders, seafarers, shipbuilders, and creators of a remarkable literature of myths and sagas. Professor Harl draws insights from an astonishing array of sources: The Russian Primary Chronicle (a Slavic text from medieval Kiev), 13th-century Icelandic poems and sagas, Byzantine accounts, Arab geographies, annals of Irish monks who faced Viking raids, Roman reports, and scores of other firsthand contemporary documents.

Among the topics you'll explore are the profound influence of the Norse gods and heroes on Viking culture and the Vikings' extraordinary accomplishments as explorers and settlers in Iceland, Greenland, and Vinland. And with the help of archaeological findings, you'll learn to analyze Viking ship burials, rune stones and runic inscriptions, Viking wood carving, jewelry, sculpture, and metalwork. By the end of the series, you'll have a new understanding of what it meant to be a Viking and a richer appreciation of this remarkable race - a people who truly defined the history of Europe, and whose brave, adventurous, and creative spirit still survives today.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2005 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2005 The Great Courses

What listeners say about The Vikings

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A lot of Fun

If you are interested in the Vikings this is a must listen. The narrator does a great job telling the information to keep you hooked. It was difficult to stop listening to it.

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fascinating History

the story of the Viking nations is told brilliantly but it is missing detail of the Scandinavian individual, family, women and children. daily life and local vocations.

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  • A1
  • 2018-09-19

Very thorough.

Great listen, like some of the other history lectures it’s very information heavy and sometimes I wonder if all the details are needed to get a world view of this time and its people. I’ll have to listen to it again to soak up some more.
#Audible1

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Could tolerate the speech

Unfortunately the ahhhs and ima were so frequent it became irritating. I just couldn’t keep listening.

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The Scandanavian Conquest

A broad and multi-layered history of the Scandanavian achievement extending from 1500 BC to 1400 AD, related by Professor Harl in a vigorous vernacular.

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Great history series

Really excellent history of the Scandinavian peoples. Tracing the Viking impact on Ireland Great Britain France Italy Russia Ukraine, and indeed the hall of Europe. Very well done

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long form Viking info

easy listening, definitely would recommend for anyone who is looking to binge of viking lore

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Challenging Stereotypes

Tulane University's Dr. Kenneth W. Harl states at the outset of the course that he wants to dispute the image of Horn-Helmed Berserkers pillaging and plundering everywhere they make landfall.. and in that goal, he succeeds. This 36 installment lecture series touches on cultural, economic, and political advances made by Scandinavian Germanic peoples - discussing innovations in religion, tradecraft, and art - and making the point that our concept of those peoples is colored by who recorded their actions (mainly monks & nobles who were subjugated by them).
The course is presented logically, packed with information, and has a genuine "lecture hall" feel (I could easily picture myself sitting in a classroom furiously scribbling notes).

Notwithstanding a legitimately *fantastic* set of course materials included in the appended PDF (Maps, Timelines, Glossaries, Lecture by Lecture summaries), the presentation lets the material down somewhat. Recording standards are professional (if unspectacular), but Harl's "off-the-cuff" didactic style, while feeling genuine, includes an offputting preponderance of "Uum"s and "Uuuh"s.
Additionally, Harl frequently slips off-topic and then returns too-quickly to his main point: "..and this is mentioned in the poem. You know what I mean.. that poem. The one that everyone knows.. back to shipbuilding..".
No, professor, I don't know that poem. I'm not a Graduate Student in Ancient Literature - I'm a regular dude with an interest in history.

Despite the frustrating tangents and occasionally weak lecturing in this one, I learned a ton about a fascinating group of Medieval European people that is given short shrift in modern culture. This 6/10 star lecture series was worth the time investment (and the fact that I got it for free was a big bonus).
If you can likewise get it on offer, don't hesitate to give it a listen (even if your interest is casual.. Note: serious students of Medieval history will also get a lot out of the course).
If they ask for money, you're not crazy to spend it on this offering - but there are better options available for the intellectually-curious.

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Excellent presentation of the Viking age.

I really enjoyed this one. The author / narrator really knows the material and presents it well.

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good stuff

loved it and found this very informative. some of the information was quite stunning. like the exploration with the long ship's

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