Prerequisites: None.

Vikings and Sagas is a course designed as an introduction to Old
Norse history, culture, and literature, focusing on the Viking Period
(ca. 793-1066).
In the course of the semester we shall explore the nature and
expansion of Viking activities during that period (e.g., on the
Continent, in the Mediterranean, in the British Isles, Ireland,
Greenland, North America, as well as within Scandinavia itself) and
examine the validity of the source-material (archaeological evidence,
place names, written records {annals, medieval histories}) and the
different theories formulated to explain the onset of the Viking Age.
The discussion of the cultural aspects will deal with such issues as
law and legal systems, pagan religion, the conversion to
Christianity, social customs, etc.
During the course we shall read three sagas that not only will serve
as an introduction to Old Norse literature (prose and poetry), but
also bring first-hand information about the socio-historical aspects
of the Viking Age. I have tried to choose the sagas not only for
their literary qualities, but so as to create a natural progression,
both geographically and chronologically. These sagas will also
provide the background for a broader discussion of Norse literature
and the problems involved in using literature as historical sources.

Texts:  Sturluson, Storri. King Harald’s Saga. Penguine Books, New
York: 1966.
The Sagas of Icelanders: A Selection. Penguin Books, New
York: 2001.