The Cambridge History of Scandinavia

A comprehensive and comparative study of the prehistory and medieval history of Scandinavia.

Knut Helle (Edited by)

9780521472999, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 September 2003

892 pages, 70 b/w illus. 15 maps 7 tables
23.5 x 16.2 x 5.3 cm, 1.414 kg

"...a significant addition to the growing literature on Nordic history...an indispensable reference book for every major library. Thanks to good editing, it is highly readable and flows seamlessly from chapter to another. It is a volume not only for professional historians, but also a valuable research tool for college students and the general adult reading public." History

This volume presents a comprehensive exposition of both the prehistory and medieval history of the whole of Scandinavia. The first part of the volume surveys the prehistoric and historic Scandinavian landscape and its natural resources, and tells how man took possession of this landscape, adapting culturally to changing natural conditions and developing various types of community throughout the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages. The rest - and most substantial part of the volume - deals with the history of Scandinavia from the Viking Age to the end of the Scandinavian Middle Ages (c. 1520). The external Viking expansion opened Scandinavia to European influence to a hitherto unknown degree. A Christian church organisation was established, the first towns came into being, and the unification of the three medieval kingdoms of Scandinavia began, coinciding with the formation of the unique Icelandic 'Free State'.

Introduction Knut Helle
Part I. The Geography and Prehistory of Scandinavia: 1. The Scandinavian landscape and its resources Ulf Sporrong
2. The Stone and Bronze Ages Ari Siiriäinen
3. The Iron Age Bjørn Myhre
4. Languages and ethnic groups Michael Barnes
Part II. From Vikings to Kings: 5. The Viking expansion Peter Sawyer
6. Viking culture Else Roesdahl and Preben Meulengracht-Sørensen
7. Scandinavia enters Christian Europe Birgit Sawyer and Peter Sawyer
8. Early political organisation
8(a). Introductory survey Thomas Lindkvist
8(b). The making of the Danish kingdom Inge Skovgaard-Petersen
8(c). The early unification of Norway Claus Krag
8(d). The Norse communities of the western ocean Magnús Stefánsson
8(e). Kings and provinces in Sweden Thomas Lindkvist
Part III. Material Growth (to c. 1350): 9. Demographic conditions Ole Jørgen Benedictow
10. Rural conditions Eljas Orrman
11. Urbanisation Hans Andersson
Part IV. The High Medieval Kingdoms: 12. Towards nationally organised systems of government
12(a). Introductory Survey Knut Helle
12(b). The Danish kingdom
consolidation and disintegration Inge Skovgaard-Petersen
12(c). The Norwegian kingdom: succession disputes and consolidation Knut Helle
12(d). Sweden under the dynasty of the Folkungs Herman Schück
12(e). Growing inter-Scandinavian entanglement Knut Helle
13. Church and Society Eljas Orrman
Part V. High and Late Medieval Culture: 14. Ideologies and mentalities Sverre Bagge
15. Literature Lars Lönnroth, Vésteinn Ólason and Anders Piltz
16. Art and architecture Anna Nilsén
17. Music Ingrid De Geer. Part VI. Late Medieval Society: 18. Population and settlement Jouko Vahtola
19. The condition of the rural population Eljas Orrman
20. The towns Göran Dahlbäck
21. The nobility of the late Middle Ages Erik Ulsig
22. Church and clergy Lars Hamre
Part VII. Scandinavian Unions (1319–1520): 23. The political system Herman Schück
24. Inter-Scandinavian relations Jens E. Olesen
Conclusion Knut Helle
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], European history [HBJD]