Medieval History
Tomorrow morning (Thursday 11th November) at 9am, Dr Elizabeth Ashman Rowe, lecturer in Scandinavian History in ASNC, will be one of the guests on Melvyn Bragg's Radio 4 programme 'In Our Time', where the topic of discussion will be the 'Volga Vikings'.
- Giant Squid Spotted In Iceland?
ASNC lecturer in Scandinavian History, Dr Elizabeth Ashman Rowe, recently found the following notice in a medieval Icelandic annal: 1345: A strange thing appeared east in Lagarfljót and the Fljóts Dale district, and people know that it was alive. Sometimes...
- ?vicious? Vikings Were Not As Horrible As History Suggests
The Viking ?invasion? of the Northern Isles of Scotland may not have been the sudden violent takeover of the lands as previously believed. The perception of Scandinavian warriors suddenly arriving in their longships ? raping and pillaging their...
- Historian Uncovers Cases Of Ransoms Paid To Vikings In The 11th Century
How much were two women worth in 11th century Iberia? For the Vikings the price was a blanket of wolf skin, a sword, a shirt, three scarves, a cow and some salt. This fascinating story is part of research done by Helio Pires from the New University of...
- Viking Fortress Discovered In Ireland
A Viking fortress of major importance has been discovered at Annagassan, County Louth in Ireland. The extensive site, which was uncovered following targeted research excavation, is believed to be the infamous Viking base of Linn Duchaill. A defensive...
- Vikings: Melbourne Symposium
*VIKINGS AND THEIR ENEMIES* http://home.vicnet.net.au/~medieval/vikings/ *A symposium at the University of Melbourne, 24 November 2007* *Supported by the ARC Network for Early European Research* Most peoples of early Europe had contact with vikings...
Medieval History
ASNC on Radio 4
Tomorrow morning (Thursday 11th November) at 9am, Dr Elizabeth Ashman Rowe, lecturer in Scandinavian History in ASNC, will be one of the guests on Melvyn Bragg's Radio 4 programme 'In Our Time', where the topic of discussion will be the 'Volga Vikings'.
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Volga Vikings.
Between the 8th and the 10th centuries AD, fierce Scandinavian warriors raided and then settled large swathes of Europe, particularly Britain, Ireland and parts of northern France. These were the Vikings, and their story is well known today. Far fewer people realise that groups of Norsemen also travelled east.
These Volga Vikings, also known as the Rus, crossed the Baltic into present-day Russia and the Ukraine and founded settlements there. They traded commodities including furs and slaves for Islamic silver, and penetrated so far east as to reach Baghdad. Their activities were documented by Arab scholars: one, Ahmad ibn Fadlan, recorded that the Volga Vikings he met were perfect physical specimens but also "the filthiest of God's creatures". Through trade and culture they brought West and East into regular contact; their story sheds light on both Scandinavian and early Islamic history.
With:
James Montgomery
Professor of Classical Arabic at the University of Cambridge
Neil Price
Professor of Archaeology at the University of St Andrews
Elizabeth Rowe
Lecturer in Scandinavian History of the Viking Age at Clare Hall, University of Cambridge
Producer: Thomas Morris.
- Giant Squid Spotted In Iceland?
ASNC lecturer in Scandinavian History, Dr Elizabeth Ashman Rowe, recently found the following notice in a medieval Icelandic annal: 1345: A strange thing appeared east in Lagarfljót and the Fljóts Dale district, and people know that it was alive. Sometimes...
- ?vicious? Vikings Were Not As Horrible As History Suggests
The Viking ?invasion? of the Northern Isles of Scotland may not have been the sudden violent takeover of the lands as previously believed. The perception of Scandinavian warriors suddenly arriving in their longships ? raping and pillaging their...
- Historian Uncovers Cases Of Ransoms Paid To Vikings In The 11th Century
How much were two women worth in 11th century Iberia? For the Vikings the price was a blanket of wolf skin, a sword, a shirt, three scarves, a cow and some salt. This fascinating story is part of research done by Helio Pires from the New University of...
- Viking Fortress Discovered In Ireland
A Viking fortress of major importance has been discovered at Annagassan, County Louth in Ireland. The extensive site, which was uncovered following targeted research excavation, is believed to be the infamous Viking base of Linn Duchaill. A defensive...
- Vikings: Melbourne Symposium
*VIKINGS AND THEIR ENEMIES* http://home.vicnet.net.au/~medieval/vikings/ *A symposium at the University of Melbourne, 24 November 2007* *Supported by the ARC Network for Early European Research* Most peoples of early Europe had contact with vikings...