In this week's episode we explore the growing number of challenges faced by the Icelanders as the landnám period drew to a close in the 930s. We will then take a long look at the key components of the institution the Icelanders turned to in order to solve that problem - the thing.
Along the way we will talk about beheadings over fish, witness a chieftain get given a bloody nose by a silver-wielding farmer and we will even examine the ever dodgy - if very helpful - writings of Cornelius Tacitus.
This week's recommended reading is Debating the Thing in the North - a collection of papers edited by Alexandra Sanmark, Frode Iversen, Natascha Mehler and Sarah Semple. Covering a wide range of topics, including the origins of the thing, its religious and cultural significance and even its spacial organization, this is a must read for those interested in the legal and political history of Scandinavia. And even better - it’s available for free online.
For all of your Viking Drinking Horn Needs - please consider checking out https://www.thefroggyviking.com/. And you can use the promocode vikingage for 10% off!
Finally, for works cited and more information checkout our website: http://vikingagepodcast.com/conflict-and-things-in-early-iceland
29 - Denmark at the Dawn of the Viking Age - Viking Worlds II
28 - Viking Worlds I - Myth and Midgard
27 - Charlemagne and the Saxon Wars Pt 2 - Carolingian Viking Age V
26 - Charlemagne and the Saxon Wars Pt 1 - Carolingian Viking Age IV
25 - The Carolingians get a Crown - Carolingian Viking Age III
24 - The Rise of Charlie the Hammer - Carolingian Viking Age II
23 - Carolingian Viking Age I - The Rise of the Franks
22 - The Heathens still at Duhblinn: Of Viking Longphorts
21 - The Life and Legend of Turgeis
20 - Swords and Ships
19 - Armagh
18 - Into the Unknown: Silver and Status in the Viking Age
17 - The Martyrdom of Blathmac
16 - Law & Order: Viking Unit
15 - A Viking Kingdom in Scotland?
14 - The Viking Age Heats Up
13 - My Big Fat Viking Wedding
12 - Iona
11 - The Devastation of all the Islands of Britain
10 - Viking Age Ireland
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