Allies of God or Man? The Viking Expansion in a European Perspective
Niels Lund
"Allies of God or Man? The Viking Expansion in a European Perspective." western reaction to the appearance Vikings has come down posterity through pens ecclesiastical writers who regarded them as fulfillment prophecies divine punishment. This bias impeded our understanding important aspects period. If we leave out account fact that Christians were now being attacked by pagans brought little new Europe. They plundered and ravaged, they took tribute extorted ransoms, made captives sold slaves: early medieval Europe was familiar with all this-it only an embarrassing novelty so successful able take from those normally tribute-takers themselves. And did not spurn them; more than one Christian emperor king welcomed allies for both internal external purposes, served mercenaries several countries, either bands individuals. Age Vikings, which saw steep increase contacts between Scandinavia Europe, is very much period when effectively became part paper draws attention some process.
Viator