Now playing: The Viking Age: New Perspectives on History and Culture

Ranked for listeners who want the whole story: The Viking Age: New Perspectives on History and Culture in misc. non-fiction, read by Jennifer Paxton.

The Vikings evoke striking images of horned helmets, battle axes, and merciless coastal raids. Remembered for their shocking brutality and impressive naval prowess, these marauding pirates from the North have inspired poetry, fantasy novels, plays, symphonies, and even comic recording heroes over the last 12 centuries. But do any of these enduring tropes reflect reality? Who were the Vikings really? What do we know about the period that bears their name?

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