Conversion and Identity in the Viking Age eds. by Ildar Garipzanov with Rosalind Bonté
Hannah Burrows
Reviewed by: Conversion and Identity in the Viking Age eds. by Ildar Garipzanov with Rosalind Bonté Hannah Burrows Garipzanov, Ildar, Bonté, eds, ( Medieval Identities: Socio-Cultural Spaces, 5), Turnhout, Brepols, 2014; hardback; pp. x, 256; 36 b/w illustrations, 4 line art; R.R.P. €55.00; ISBN 9782503549248. This volume brings together ten essays that consider Scandinavia's adoption of Christianity, a particular focus on its effect identity. Garipzanov's introduction interrogates what is meant 'conversion', discussing 'top-down' 'bottom-up' models (Cusack, The Rise Christianity Northern Europe, 300–1000, Cassell, 1999) distinction between 'conversion period' moment' made Foote (in Faulkes Perkins, Revaluations, Society, 1993). points out these [End Page 201] are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but suggests 'official' conversion moments have been overemphasized previous scholarship. Taken together, this book intended, then, to depict as 'long process cultural societal transformation' which was 'of crucial importance for changing world multiple identities Age'(p. 19). Christopher Abram's essay mobilizes theories religion put forward anthropologist Harvey Whitehouse. Whitehouse polarizes two 'modes religiosity': doctrinal imagistic. While system 'par excellence' (p. 29), Abram finds paganism quite conform priori assumption it, acknowledged reliance problematic textual sources assess 'mode' Norse pre-Christian religion(s) makes thought-provoking entirely convincing application Whitehouse's theory. Haki Antonsson provides 'critical review' recent scholarship area. an extremely useful contribution might better placed first, lucid, nuanced wide-ranging overview it state-of-play. concludes warning plurality approaches concept 'Christianization' puts at risk meaningfulness term, nuance already emerging self-conscious examination 'borderlands' terms such 'acculturation, official conversion, Christianization' 73) will be illuminating. Orri Vésteinsson revisits perennial fascination medieval Iceland's remarkable literary output, rejecting insufficient 'the preferred explanation — we Icelanders amazing' 75). Instead he tackles issue via exploration North Atlantic colonies' relatively homogenous identity rapid Christianity. Rather than viewing 'individual […] problem conscience' 77), considers archaeological evidence social acceptance Christian materiality' 77). Whereas symbols 'Norseness' provided cohesion colonies, distinctiveness 90), combination allowed continuing 'Norse project' 91). Of Bonté's welcome case Faroe Islands specifically, examining both material evidence. She argues much more complex long-term Færeyinga saga suggests, speculates text's insistence Óláfr Tryggvason's may reflect intervention led Christianity's officially-recognized status islands. David M. Wilson reviews burials memorials Isle Man. use appears within generation likely arrival 'Viking' settlers Man, alongside Scandinavian ornamentation language, one quarter names runic inscriptions Celtic, pointing interactions inhabitants. paradigm-busting 202] second turns psychology sociology theorize role-based. He radical replacement identity, 'new dimension' 140) pre-existing categories gender enhanced roles interactions. emergence dominant identity-marker long process, argues. Søren Sindbæk looks diachronically imagery oval brooches. Carolingian mission ninth century did propagate new religion...
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