The book tells about the Vikings, whose campaigns troubled Europe for almost three hundred years: from the end of the 7th to the 11th centuries, becoming the source of legends about the cruel and bloodthirsty “northern people”. The author, referring to reports from Western European chronicles, plots and descriptions of Scandinavian sagas, archaeological finds, examines the causes and consequences of the Viking campaigns not only for Western European peoples, but also for Scandinavia itself, talks about trade and early medieval Scandinavian cities, describes the life and characterizes the culture of the Scandinavians IX –XI centuries.