The Vikings, Prof. Kenneth W. Harl,
(36 Lectures / 30 Minutes Per Lecture /  6x DVD - The Great Courses)
 
Professor Kenneth W. Harl is recognized as one of the most prolific and popular lecturers for The Great Courses. The first section of this course delves into the origins and cultural landscape of the Viking Age, beginning around 790. Professor Harl explores the profound influence of Norse gods and heroes on their warrior ethos and utilizes archaeological evidence—such as ship burials and rune stones—to explain how breakthroughs in shipbuilding turned Scandinavians into a formidable maritime force. You will learn about their extraordinary navigation skills and the social structures of the Jarls, Karls, and Thralls that defined their hierarchy.
 
The second half of the series tracks the Viking expansion across the globe, from the settlement of Iceland and Greenland to the discovery of Vinland. Harl details their impact on European kingdoms, including the founding of Normandy in France and the creation of the Danelaw in England. The lectures also follow their eastern routes through the Russian Steppes to Byzantium, where they served as the elite Varangian Guard. The course concludes with the Christianization of Scandinavia, marking the end of the Viking Age and the birth of modern Northern European states.
 
Enhance your collection with a resource that bridges the past and the present, reflecting the essence of Book Archaeology’s passion for education and history.