On a day in August, 1,000 years ago, a fleet of some90 viking ships sailed into the estuary of the Blackwater river in Essex. Fresh from the ravage of Ipswich, under the command (almost certainly) of the king of Denmark, they were intent no doubt on the rich spoils to be had from the royal Mint at Maldon. Facing them on the shore was Byrhtnoth, the second nobleman of the realm, with an army drawn from the households of the region. The ensuing fight was terrible in its ferocity. Byrhtnoth and many of his companions were slain, and eventually the vikings triumphed. Their victory marked the collapse of effective armed resistance to the Danes, and presaged the end of Anglo-Saxon England."

On a day in August, one thousand years ago, a fleet of ninety viking ships sailed into the estuary of the Blackwater river, Essex. Fresh from the ravage of Ipswich, under the command of the king of Denmark, they were intent no doubt on the rich spoils to be had from the royal Mint of Maldon. This is a history of the battle of Maldon.

In Scandinavia in the Age of Vikings, Jón Viðar Sigurðsson returns to the Viking homeland, Scandinavia, highlighting such key aspects of Viking life as power and politics, social and kinship networks, gifts and feasting, religious beliefs, women's roles, social classes, and the Viking economy, which included farming, iron mining and metalworking, and trade. Drawing of the latest archeological research and on literary sources, namely the sagas, Sigurðsson depicts a complex and surprisingly peaceful society that belies the popular image of Norsemen as bloodthirsty barbarians. Instead, Vikings often acted out power struggles symbolically, with local chieftains competing with each other through displays of wealth in the form of great feasts and gifts, rather than arms. At home, conspicuous consumption was a Viking leader's most important virtue; the brutality associated with them was largely wreaked abroad. Sigurðsson's engaging history of the Vikings at home begins by highlighting political developments in the region, detailing how Danish kings assumed ascendency over the region and the ways in which Viking friendship reinforced regional peace. Scandinavia in the Age of Vikings then discusses the importance of religion, first pagan and (beginning around 1000 A.D.) Christianity; the central role that women played in politics and war; and how the enormous wealth brought back to Scandinavia affected the social fabric—shedding new light on Viking society.

Josh is as brave as a Viking warrior. And not much can scare a Viking. Not even bullies. But the two littlest Vikings are so fearless they think they're invincible. When Pop takes the family to Viking World, the two littlest Vikings go berserk. Josh is in for one rocky ride as he discovers just how far he'll go to keep them safe.

Rita, a former stunt woman, can’t believe she signed up to be a female Navy SEAL. She needed the signup money to pay her mother’s medical bills. Steven, a fierce Viking warrior, is depressed over the “death” of his brother Thorfinn. Yep, even Vikings get the blues. Rita can’t believe she’s been tossed back in time to the tenth century wearing a head-to-toe wetsuit and flippers with her face cammied up. Steven can’t believe the gods have sent him a fish woman to ease his woes. Not a beautiful mermaid, but an ugly-as-death fish. How dare the brute put her in a cage! How dare the wench teach his people line dancing! Love and laughter guaranteed in this trip down Memory Lane...uh Fjord.

Josh is a timid boy until his grandpa gives him a book about Vikings and he imagines himself as Knut, fearless Viking raider.