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The last fifty years have seen a significant change in the focus of
saga studies, from a preoccupation with origins and development to
a renewed interest in other topics, such as the nature of the sagas
and their value as sources to medieval ideologies and mentalities.
The Routledge Research Companion to the Medieval Icelandic Sagas
presents a detailed interdisciplinary examination of saga
scholarship over the last fifty years, sometimes juxtaposing it
with earlier views and examining the sagas both as works of art and
as source materials. This volume will be of interest to Old Norse
and medieval Scandinavian scholars and accessible to medievalists
in general.
This book is the history of the Eastern Vikings, the Rus and the
Varangians, from their earliest mentions in the narrative sources
to the late medieval period, when the Eastern Vikings had become
stock figures in Old Norse Romances. A comparison is made between
sources emanating from different cultures, such as the Roman
Empire, the Abbasid Caliphate and its successor states, the early
kingdoms of the Rus and the high medieval Scandinavian kingdoms. A
key element in the history of the Rus and the Varangians is the
fashioning of identities and how different cultures define
themselves in comparison and contrast with the other. This book
offers a fresh and engaging view of these medieval sources, and a
thorough reassessment of established historiographical grand
narratives on Scandinavian peoples in the East.
The last fifty years have seen a significant change in the focus of
saga studies, from a preoccupation with origins and development to
a renewed interest in other topics, such as the nature of the sagas
and their value as sources to medieval ideologies and mentalities.
The Routledge Research Companion to the Medieval Icelandic Sagas
presents a detailed interdisciplinary examination of saga
scholarship over the last fifty years, sometimes juxtaposing it
with earlier views and examining the sagas both as works of art and
as source materials. This volume will be of interest to Old Norse
and medieval Scandinavian scholars and accessible to medievalists
in general.
This book is the history of the Eastern Vikings, the Rus and the
Varangians, from their earliest mentions in the narrative sources
to the late medieval period, when the Eastern Vikings had become
stock figures in Old Norse Romances. A comparison is made between
sources emanating from different cultures, such as the Roman
Empire, the Abbasid Caliphate and its successor states, the early
kingdoms of the Rus and the high medieval Scandinavian kingdoms. A
key element in the history of the Rus and the Varangians is the
fashioning of identities and how different cultures define
themselves in comparison and contrast with the other. This book
offers a fresh and engaging view of these medieval sources, and a
thorough reassessment of established historiographical grand
narratives on Scandinavian peoples in the East.
Iceland demonstrates most of the characteristics of a modern
liberal democracy. It has maintained political stability through a
democratic process which enjoys universal legitimacy. Rapid
economic modernization has also secured its inhabitants one of the
highest living standards in the world, and a comprehensive and
highly developed health system has ensured them longevity and one
of the lowest rates of infant mortality in the world. Icelanders
face, however, formidable challenges in maintaining their status as
an independent nation. First, the Icelandic economy is fairly
fragile, as overexploitation threatens the fish stocks that remain
among Iceland's principal economic resources. Second, the country
is rich in unused energy resources, because many of its rivers are
still not harnessed, and geothermal power is abundant. But using
these resources will necessarily damage the pristine nature of the
country, forcing the politicians and the Icelandic public to choose
between environmental protection and industrial expansion. Finally,
it remains to be seen if a country with just over 329.740
inhabitants will be able to manage its foreign relations in a
complex and constantly changing world. This third edition of
Historical Dictionary of Iceland contains a chronology, an
introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section
has over 200 cross-referenced entries on important personalities,
politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This
book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and
anyone wanting to know more about Iceland.
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