The history of the Vikings is bloody and eventful, and Viking warriors continue to capture the popular imagination to this day. Their adventurous spirit saw them look far beyond their own borders, and the iconic Viking longship allowed them to navigate their way through the most treacherous waters. Viking raids reached from Norway to North Africa, but it was not just destruction they left in their wake. They also made history, establishing the dukedom of Normandy, providing the Byzantine Emperors' bodyguards, and landing on the shores of America 500 years before Columbus. Gain a greater understanding of the Viking way of life through the authors' detailed analysis, complete with studies of the Hersir, the raiding warrior of the Viking world, and the legendary Viking longship, all beautifully illustrated with original artwork.