Showing titles in Scandinavia

The Vikings were exceptional boat builders, seafarers, adventures, and explorers. They not only raided and attacked settlements across Europe and Britain, but they also sailed far and wide, discovering and colonizing new lands. Their impact on history is far-reaching and the mark that they made on the world, especially during the Viking Age, can still be seen today. In this audiobook, you will learn about the world that shaped Leif Erikson and made him into an adventurous man who was not afraid to sail into the unknown to discover new lands.

Discover the fascinating story of the beautiful country of Iceland. Iceland is an amazing country with a rich history and a unique story to tell. Originally settled by Vikings and the location of countless natural wonders, Iceland is a brilliant place to explore because of its language and culture, making a popular tourist destination for all kinds of people. Now, this book uncovers the history of Iceland, offering an insightful account of everything from the first settlers to this country’s place in the modern world.

Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, award-winning historian Ewan Butler writes, struggled through unions and separations with both outsiders and each other, developing their own personalities and languages yet retaining their ancient connections.

This audiobook examines the meteoric rise of Sweden as the pre-eminent military power in Europe during the Thirty Years War during the 1600s, and then follows its line of warrior kings into the next century until the Swedes finally meet their demise, in an overreach into the vastness of Russia. A small Scandinavian nation, with at most one and a half million people and scant internal resources of its own, there was small logic to how Sweden could become the dominant power on the Continent.

De jaren van de Nederlandse Opstand (1566-1648) waren één van de belangrijkste periode in de Nederlandse Geschiedenis. Zonder die opstand zou de staat Nederland er immers nooit gekomen zijn. De Opstand en de tachtig oorlogsjaren die er op volgden laten zich lezen als een spannend verhaal: met echte helden en schurken, vol onbedoelde wendingen en met onverwachte uitkomsten. Ook na bijna 450 jaar geschiedschrijving blijven er belangrijke vragen. Waarom was de uitkomst zo onverwacht? Waarom vielen de Nederlanden uit elkaar? En waarom duurde het conflict zo lang?

Broadcaster Richard Fidler and author Kári Gíslason are good friends. They share a deep attachment to the sagas of Iceland—the true stories of the first Viking families who settled on that remote island in the Middle Ages. These are tales of blood feuds, of dangerous women and people who are compelled to kill the ones they love the most. The sagas are among the greatest stories ever written, but the identity of their authors is largely unknown. Together, Fidler and Gíslason travel across Iceland, to the places where the sagas unfolded a thousand years ago.

It is true that the Vikings were, without a doubt, brutal men living in a brutal age. They did use their skills as warriors to relentlessly attack Europe and the British Isles to increase their wealth and territory, but that is not all the Vikings were, and their contribution to world history is far more than warmongering. In this captivating history audiobook, you'll not only learn about heroic warriors in battle but you'll also discover the remarkable achievements made by the Vikings.

Though the world came to know of the Norse and their legends through Roman interaction at about the time of Christ, most of what we came to know were handed-down from folk tales gathered by native writers like Snorri Sturluson (c. 1179 - 1241). This was from a time when the Norse had already been converted to Christianity.

Runes—the cryptic letters of an Old Norse alphabet—are more than just a collection of dusty symbols from a bygone era. They're powerful forces that have long been associated with magic and divination. Since ancient times, people have used them for guidance, and they're still being used today. In fact, more and more people are discovering the mysterious power of runes and are incorporating them into their daily spiritual practices.

Finnish mythology is filled with stories from northern gods and goddesses, magical animals and feisty forest spirits. Finland was an agricultural society for hundreds of years and before that the inhabitants were hunter-gatherers. Our mythology and folktales are intertwined with the surrounding nature, clear lakes, northern lights and the forest, which was the home of all kinds of mysterious events. In this book you will become familiar with old Finnish gods and goddesses and ancient festivals.

A fascination with the history and life of the Norse is growing. Movies and television series about their way of life have surged in popularity. What makes it so fascinating is not the stories in themselves, although some are truly a feast to the eyes, but how they came to be and what they mean for the people that live by them.

Ever wondered why people in the Nordic countries are said to be the happiest in the world? Nordic Lifestyle has been praised as the antidote to modern day busyness. Understand how the Nordics have managed to keep it all together, even through hardship and freezing temperatures.

Finland is a beautiful yet often overlooked country, famous for its windswept landscapes, icy temperatures, hardy people, and thousands of crystal-clear lakes. From its earliest inhabitants at the end of the last ice age, Finland has carved out a place for itself in the far north, creating a thriving economy, resilient culture, and a unique way of life that makes it a truly awe-inspiring place to visit. Now, this book sheds light onto Finland’s diverse and vibrant history.

Dive into the epic saga of the Vikings, the fierce and fearless seafarers from the North who forever changed the course of history. This comprehensive two-book collection, *The History of the Vikings*, chronicles the incredible journey of the Norsemen as they emerged from their Scandinavian homelands to leave an indelible mark on the world.

Valkyries: the female supernatural beings that choose who dies and who lives on the battlefield. They protect some, but guide spears, arrows, and sword blades into the bodies of others. Viking myths about valkyries attempt to elevate the banality of war - to make the pain and suffering, the lost limbs and deformities, the piles of lifeless bodies of young men, glorious and worthwhile. Rather than their death being futile, it is their destiny and good fortune, determined by divine beings.

Despite certain distinctions and differences, the lands of Scandinavia, or Norden—Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, and the Faroe Islands—are united by bonds of culture, language, and geography, and by a shared history that comes richly to life in this landmark work. Now in an expanded, updated edition, this definitive chronicle of five centuries of Scandinavian history incorporates the geopolitical developments and momentous events that have marked the Nordic world in recent decades.

Unveil the legacy and history of Sweden like never before. Sweden is a remarkable place, famous for its happy population, its fearsome Viking history, and the beautiful fjords and landscapes that mark this far-flung land. But the true story of Sweden goes far deeper than that, imbued with mighty tales of kings and devastating wars, a rapid and life-changing industrialization, and a journey to the peaceful, happy, and wealthy place that it is today.

The Battle of Jutland, fought near Denmark’s Jutland peninsula in 1916, was unique in the first World War as the only major battle to be fought at sea. In this audiobook, you will hear about these battles, the personalities of the men involved, the planning, and the skirmishes that finally led to the confusion and devastating loss of life at the Battle of Jutland.

Five hundred years before Columbus, a Viking woman named Gudrid sailed off the edge of the known world. She landed in the New World and lived there for three years, giving birth to a baby before sailing home. Or so the Icelandic sagas say.

Two manuscripts in one audiobook: The Viking Age for Kids: A Captivating Guide to the Vikings, Their Raids, and Everyday Life and Anglo-Saxons for Kids: A Captivating Guide to the People of Early Medieval England and Their Battles Against the Vikings.