Review: The Vikings that Stayed
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2014
The NormansA popular history that chronicles the rise and fall of the Normans, the powerful early European rulers descended from Viking raiders. Concise and delivered in an easy to follow chronology, with each chapter outlining contributions of major Norman rulers and knights, such as Tancred and William the Conqueror.This is not a scholarly work, and is not as in-depth as an undergrad history text, but the author does a fine job of explaining the importance of Norman rule in Medieval Europe, making this an excellent beginning for those who wish to move on to more specific aspects of the Norman Dynasty, or for those who simply would like to familiarize themselves with an important aspect of European history.There is much written here concerning the politics of early Europe, such as the interplay between the Normans and the Holy Roman Empire, Islam, The Byzantine Empire, and the Papal State. This book is highly recommended for its easy to follow style, and abundant historical information, and I believe that the Normans should be the first book assigned to History undergrads who are learning about the Normans, as it offers a concise, to the point introduction to this important era in medieval European history.