The Vikings and Their Origins

by David M. Wilson

Describes the history and culture of the Vikings, and discusses their influence on European civilization

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Research

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Sir David Mackenzie Wilson is an English archaeologist, art historian, and museum curator, specialising in Anglo-Saxon art and the Viking Age. He lives on the Isle of Man.

Wilson was the director of the British Museum from 1977 to 1992, and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In 1985 he was Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Cambridge.

Reviews

[Lee Hutchinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is called The Vikings *and Their Origins* - I learnt a lot about Viking domestic life and Nordic military and mercantile expansion, but very little about the Vikings' Germanic origins. I was hoping (perhaps unfairly given when it was written) that the author would have attempted to trace their ancestry back to Proto-Indo-European times. There is no mention, for example, of Scandinavian Battle Axe Culture, nor the Corded Ware culture that preceded it, nor the Yamnaya culture of the Pontic-Caspian steppe. It is also thin on Old Norse religion, and Viking activity during the Roman Iron Age and in the British Isles during the Early Middle Ages. On the plus side, the chapters are clear, concise and well-organized, and the book contains a wealth of well-chosen illustrations. I would recommend it as an introductory text.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading old books is always interesting because you can see what information is true. If the information stays the same. At the same time, the reader can understand what theories or hypotheses were proven wrong years later. This book was written in 1975. I studied Medieval literature in college. I also have Scandinavian ancestry and am Pagan. For those reasons, I am critical of this book. For a beginner it is fine. But if you're doing research find a more current book about Viking society.

[belacqua · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Church landed pen in hand and, as the North became part of the literate European Christian community, its vitality was strangely sapped and the Viking Age came to an end." <- disappointed but not surprised... "strangely", riiiiight... lol

[Frida Dillenbeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know anything about Vikings and their explorations. This book lines out their routes and influences over hundreds of years. A well done summary for general knowledge.

[Selim Karagöz]

It gives information not only about the Viking age, but also before the Viking age and thus we are able to learn about the Roman existence in Scandinavia, the effect of the age of the migrations in Scandinavia, The Vendel Age and of course the Viking Age. The book is written in 1970, so it is a good choice to start reading about the Vikings.