A concise history of medieval Scandinavia Christianity and
European-style monarchy—the cross and the scepter—were introduced
to Scandinavia in the tenth century, a development that was to have
profound implications for all of Europe. Cross and Scepter is a
concise history of the Scandinavian kingdoms from the age of the
Vikings to the Reformation, written by Scandinavia's leading medieval
historian. Sverre Bagge shows how the rise of the three kingdoms not
only changed the face of Scandinavia, but also helped make the
territorial state the standard political unit in Western Europe. He
describes Scandinavia’s momentous conversion to Christianity and the
creation of church and monarchy there, and traces how these events
transformed Scandinavian law and justice, military and administrative
organization, social structure, political culture, and the division of
power among the king, aristocracy, and common people. Bagge sheds
important new light on the reception of Christianity and European
learning in Scandinavia, and on Scandinavian history writing,
philosophy, political thought, and courtly culture. He looks at the
reception of European impulses and their adaptation to Scandinavian
conditions, and examines the relationship of the three kingdoms to
each other and the rest of Europe, paying special attention to the
inter-Scandinavian unions and their consequences for the concept of
government and the division of power. Cross and Scepter provides an
essential introduction to Scandinavian medieval history for scholars
and general readers alike, offering vital new insights into state
formation and cultural change in Europe.
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The Rise of the Scandinavian Kingdoms from the Vikings to the Reformation
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781400850105
Publisert
2014
Utgiver
Vendor
Princeton University Press
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Antall sider
336
Forfatter