In this episode we explore the offices and institutions which made up the Icelandic Free State. Through comprehensive legal codes, accepted traditions and customs and regular, predictable assembly the Icelanders were able to govern themselves for over three centuries without a king, head chieftain or any other executive authority to speak of.
How did they do it? Well, that’s what we are going to talk about today.
This week’s recommended reading is near and dear to my heart. Viking Age Iceland by Jesse Byock is the definitive single volume history of the Icelandic Free State in English. Moving topically, Professor Byock explores all aspects of life in Iceland during the Viking Age. For anyone interested in learning more about Iceland during this period this book is a must read. Plus, you can see first hand just how often I have turned to Viking Age Iceland while researching these episodes.
For more information and to see the works cited for this episode please visit: http://vikingagepodcast.com/icelandic-free-state
MOKVII - I Honor with Words of Truth that Lady
Mother of Kings Supplement - Maiden Kings
Mother of Kings VI - The Mother of Kings
Mother of Kings V - I Lay This Curse on You
Mother of Kings IV - A Woman of Great Dignity
Mother of Kings III - Cold are the Counsels of Women
Mother of Kings II - A Woman Small of Stature yet Great of Counsel
Mother of Kings I - The Threshold
Eastern Way IV - Gamla Uppsala
Eastern Way III - Catastrophe and Opportunity
Eastern Way II - Gods and Kings
The Eastern Way I
COA16 - Snorri Sturluson, Big Farmers & the End of the Icelandic Free State
COA15 - Poetry and Remembrance
COA14b - Creating the Icelanders
COA14a - Tithes they are a Changin'
COA13 - The Christianization of Iceland
COA12 - The Conversion of the Icelanders
COA11 - Christ Comes to Iceland
COA10 - Law and Belief in Pagan Iceland
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