The Vikings, Prof Kenneth W. Harl (36 Lectures / 30 Minutes Per Lecture / 6x DVD - The Great Courses)
The Vikings, taught by Professor Kenneth W. Harl, is a comprehensive 36-lecture series that challenges the common perception of Vikings as mere pillaging warriors by examining their multifaceted roles as merchants, artists, and state-builders. The course begins by tracing the evolution of a distinct Scandinavian civilization from its prehistoric roots and Norse mythological foundations to the transformative breakthroughs in shipbuilding that launched the Viking Age in the late 8th century. Drawing from diverse primary sources—including Icelandic sagas, Byzantine records, and archaeological evidence—Professor Harl meticulously details the expansion of Norse influence across Europe, from the settlement of Iceland and Vinland to the establishment of the Danelaw in England and the Duchy of Normandy in France. 

The latter half of the series focuses on the profound political and cultural legacy left by the Vikings as they transitioned from raiders to permanent fixtures of European society. The lectures explore how the consolidation of territorial kingdoms in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, combined with the gradual adoption of Christianity, integrated Scandinavia into the broader framework of Latin Christendom. Beyond their military conquests, the course highlights the Vikings' enduring impact on modern Western civilization, particularly through their contributions to the English language, the formation of the Russian state from the Varangians, and their innovative legal and social structures. Ultimately, the series presents the Vikings as a creative and adventurous people whose "Scandinavian centrality" was essential to the shaping of medieval Europe.
 
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.