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Viking Law and Order: Places and Rituals of Assembly in the Medieval North

Viking Law and Order: Places and Rituals of Assembly in the Medieval North

Author: Alexandra Sanmark
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
ISBN: 9781474402293
Published In: July 2017
Format: Hardback
Jurisdiction: Scotland ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

HKD 1,170.00

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The Vikings are well-known for their violent raids and pillage, but they also had a well-organised system for political decision-making, legal cases and conflict resolution.

These activities took place at outdoor assembly sites, such as Thingvellir in Iceland, which were carefully selected for their characteristics and then maintained and rebuilt over time. Whilst not neglecting or denying the violent elements of the Norse people, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of their well-ordered culture of law and assembly. It is demonstrated that these two elements formed an integral part of Norse life and identity, to the extent that the assembly institution was brought to all Norse settlements.

Chapter 1: Researching assembly sites

I. Brief introduction

II. The Contents of this book

III. Previous research: the state of knowledge in 2004

IV. A new interdisciplinary approach

V. Assembly sites in this book: complex and layered

Chapter 2: Norse assembly organisation within its European context

I. Assembly organisation on the Continent

II. Norse administrative organisation

Chapter 3: Assembly sites in Scandinavia: overview of sites, traits and features

I. Sites and case study areas: Sweden; Denmark; Norway

II. Royal and elite presence and involvement

Chapter 4: Assembly sites in Scandinavia: Activities and Rituals of the Elite

I. Mounds

II. Thing ‘peace’ and sacred space

III. Symbolic islands

IV. Rituals of motion

V. The ritual theatre

VI. Spectacle

VI. Conclusion

Chapter 5: Assembly sites in Scandinavia: Activities and Rituals of the Community

I. Time

II. Communication and travel

III. Hearths and cooking pits

IV. Entertainment

V. Building the assembly sites

VI. Communal land

VII. Trade

VIII. Conclusion

Chapter 6: The constantly evolving assembly site: the effects of Christianity and Urbanisation

I. Thing sites – short lived and long lived

II. Top-level assemblies and markets

III. The amalgamation of Assemblies, Towns and Bishoprics: Sweden; Denmark; Norway

III. Conclusion

Chapter 7. The Norse westward expansion: Thing sites in Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland

I. Iceland: Location and communication; Water; Booths; Site markers; Churches

II. The Faroe Islands: Location and communication; Water; Booths; Site markers; Shifts

III. Greenland: Brattahlíð; Garðar; Greenland summary

IV. Discussion and Conclusion

Chapter 8: Thing sites in Scotland

I: The top-level assemblies

I. Introduction

II. Administrative organisation: Units; Hierarchy

III. Top-level sites in Scotland: Shetland; Orkney; Caithness and Sutherland; Rosshire; Kingdom of Man and the Isles; Ireland

IV. Conclusions

Chapter 9: Thing sites in Scotland II: Local assembly sites

I. Water location: Islands, Isthmuses and Streams

II. Mounds

III. Boundary locations

IV. Churches

VI. Conclusions

Chapter 10: Assemblies in the longue durée

I. ‘Barbarians’ v. Romans

II. Power of the past

III. The Legacy of the thing institution

Abbreviations

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