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
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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