Few ancient cultures arouse as much interest as the culture of the Vikings. In just three centuries, from about 750 to 1050, the peoples of Scandinavia transformed the northern world, and the consequences are still felt today. The Vikings reshaped the political and cultural map of Europe, reshaping trade, economics, settlement and conflict, spreading from the East Coast of America to the Asian steppes. In addition to aggression, raids and robberies, the Scandinavians brought new ideas, technologies, beliefs and customs to the lands they discovered and the peoples they encountered. An outstanding archaeologist with many years of experience, Neil Price, based on the results of archaeological excavations and field research, analyzes the life and worldview of the Vikings and discards deeply rooted stereotypes. Accompanied by a scientist and a tireless practitioner, we will penetrate through the centuries into the distant past to see the Vikings with their own eyes: the descendants of the first pair of people, the children of Ash and Elm. Translated into several languages, with maps, black-and-white illustrations and a color insert, this book provides excellent overview and analysis of the sources and reminds us that the past is both similar and different from the reality we know. “In this book we try to look the world through the eyes of the Vikings. We will look at their lives as an inextricable whole, fusing religion, politics, the search for a livelihood and all other aspects of existence into an overall picture of reality - that is, we will see how the world around them seemed to them. What for some serves only as historical scenery, against the backdrop of which all the conquests and achievements of the Vikings in the big world unfolded, here constitutes the very essence of the story.” (Neil Price)