Everyday Life in Viking-Age Towns: Social Approaches to Towns in England and Ireland, c. 800-1100

This book explores the current state of knowledge about Viking-Age towns (c. 800–1100) from both sides of the Irish Sea, focusing on everyday life in and around these emerging settlements. The emphasis is on archaeological material, paying homage to the wealth of new material since the 1960s.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 272 pages
\n Publication date: 05 January 2021
\n Publisher: Oxbow Books
\n

The study of early medieval towns has often focused on urban beginnings, the search for broadly applicable definitions of urban characteristics, and the chronological development of towns. Far less attention has been paid to the experience of living in towns.

The thirteen chapters in this book bring together the current state of knowledge about Viking-Age towns (c. 800–1100) from both sides of the Irish Sea, focusing on everyday life in and around these emerging settlements. What was it really like to grow up, live, and die in these towns? What did people eat, what did they wear, and how did they make a living for themselves? Although historical sources are addressed, the emphasis of the volume is overwhelmingly archaeological, paying homage to the wealth of new material that has become available since the advent of urban archaeology in the 1960s.

The book begins with an introduction that sets the scene for the chapters that follow. It provides an overview of the Viking-Age towns and their significance in the early medieval period. It also highlights the challenges of studying these towns and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches.

The first chapter provides an overview of the archaeological evidence for Viking-Age towns in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It discusses the types of sites that have been identified and the methods used to excavate them. It also provides an introduction to the key periods of settlement and the types of buildings that were constructed.

The second chapter focuses on the social and economic structures of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the role of the chieftain in the community and the organization of labor. It also explores the trade networks that linked these towns to other parts of Europe and the impact of these networks on the development of the towns.

The third chapter examines the material culture of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the types of objects that have been found and the methods used to analyze them. It also explores the significance of these objects in understanding the daily lives of the people who lived in these towns.

The fourth chapter explores the religious practices of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the types of buildings that were used for religious purposes and the evidence for religious practices and beliefs. It also explores the role of religion in the social and economic structures of the towns.

The fifth chapter examines the political structures of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the role of the chieftain in the political system and the organization of government. It also explores the relationships between these towns and other political entities in the early medieval period.

The sixth chapter explores the urban landscape of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the layout of the towns and the types of buildings that were constructed. It also explores the impact of the urban landscape on the daily lives of the people who lived in these towns.

The seventh chapter examines the health and welfare of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the evidence for disease and illness in the towns and the methods used to treat them. It also explores the social and economic factors.

The eighth chapter examines the role of women in Viking-Age towns. It discusses the evidence for women's participation in the labor force. It also explores the social and economic structures of the towns and the impact of these structures on women's lives.

The ninth chapter examines the legacy of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the impact of these towns on the development of medieval Europe and the ways in which they have been remembered and interpreted in the modern era. It also explores the potential for future research in this field.

The tenth chapter examines the methodological challenges of studying Viking-Age towns. It discusses the challenges of working with archaeological evidence and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches. It also explores the potential for new technologies and techniques to be used in this field.

The eleventh chapter examines the significance of Viking-Age towns in the broader context of early medieval Europe. It discusses the role of these towns in the development of urbanism and the spread of Christianity. It also explores the potential for interdisciplinary approaches to be used in this field.

The twelfth chapter examines the potential for future research in Viking-Age towns. It discusses the areas of research that remain open and the potential for new discoveries and insights to be gained. It also explores the challenges that researchers will face in the future.

The thirteenth chapter provides a conclusion that summarizes the key points of the book. It highlights the importance of studying Viking-Age towns and the wealth of new material that has become available since the advent of urban archaeology in the 1960s. It also emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches to be used in this field to gain a deeper understanding of the past.
The study of early medieval towns has often focused on urban beginnings, the search for broadly applicable definitions of urban characteristics, and the chronological development of towns. Far less attention has been paid to the experience of living in towns.

The thirteen chapters in this book bring together the current state of knowledge about Viking-Age towns (c. 800–1100) from both sides of the Irish Sea, focusing on everyday life in and around these emerging settlements. What was it really like to grow up, live, and die in these towns? What did people eat, what did they wear, and how did they make a living for themselves? Although historical sources are addressed, the emphasis of the volume is overwhelmingly archaeological, paying homage to the wealth of new material that has become available since the advent of urban archaeology in the 1960s.

The book begins with an introduction that sets the scene for the chapters that follow. It provides an overview of the Viking-Age towns and their significance in the early medieval period. It also highlights the challenges of studying these towns and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches.

The first chapter provides an overview of the archaeological evidence for Viking-Age towns in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It discusses the types of sites that have been identified and the methods used to excavate them. It also provides an introduction to the key periods of settlement and the types of buildings that were constructed.

The second chapter focuses on the social and economic structures of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the role of the chieftain in the community and the organization of labor. It also explores the trade networks that linked these towns to other parts of Europe and the impact of these networks on the development of the towns.

The third chapter examines the material culture of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the types of objects that have been found and the methods used to analyze them. It also explores the significance of these objects in understanding the daily lives of the people who lived in these towns.

The fourth chapter explores the religious practices of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the types of buildings that were used for religious purposes and the evidence for religious practices and beliefs. It also explores the role of religion in the social and economic structures of the towns.

The fifth chapter examines the political structures of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the role of the chieftain in the political system and the organization of government. It also explores the relationships between these towns and other political entities in the early medieval period.

The sixth chapter explores the urban landscape of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the layout of the towns and the types of buildings that were constructed. It also explores the impact of the urban landscape on the daily lives of the people who lived in these towns.

The seventh chapter examines the health and welfare of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the evidence for disease and illness in the towns and the methods used to treat them. It also explores the social and economic structures.

The eighth chapter examines the role of women in Viking-Age towns. It discusses the evidence for women's participation in the labor. It also explores the social and economic structures of the towns and the impact of these structures on women's lives.

The ninth chapter examines the legacy of Viking-Age towns. It discusses the impact of these towns on the development of medieval Europe and the ways in which they have been remembered and interpreted in the modern era. It also explores the potential for future research in this field.

The tenth chapter examines the methodological challenges of studying Viking-Age towns. It discusses the challenges of working with archaeological evidence and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches. It also explores the potential for new technologies and techniques to be used in this field.

The eleventh chapter examines the significance of Viking-Age towns in the broader context of early medieval Europe. It discusses the role of these towns in the development of urbanism and the spread of Christianity. It also explores the potential for interdisciplinary approaches to be used in this field.

The twelfth chapter examines the potential for future research in Viking-Age towns. It discusses the areas of research that remain open and the potential for new discoveries and insights to be gained. It also explores the challenges that researchers will face in the future.

The thirteenth chapter provides a conclusion that summarizes the key points of the book. It highlights the importance of studying Viking-Age towns and the wealth of new material that has become available since the advent of urban archaeology in the 1960s. It also emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches to be used in this field to gain a deeper understanding of the past.

\n Weight: 598g\n
Dimension: 241 x 170 x 16 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781789255461\n \n