From A.D. 790, Viking raiders struck fear into the coastal communities of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, northern Germany, western and southern France, and the Low Countries (now Holland and Belgium). Using rivers, Vikings struck deep inland to attack monasteries, towns, even walled cities. The very fabric of the Christian Church in northern Europe was threatened with extinction. Settlers followed the raiders. Eventually, the pillaging diminished as the Vikings became Christians. By the late 11th century, Viking settlers, merchants, and even armies had become intermingled and indistinguishable from the populations of northern Europe. Those Vikings who settle around the Seine estuary in France became Normans, adopted the Frankish feudal system and formed the backbone of the new medieval era. But who were the Vikings? Why did they suddenly burst beyond the confines of their Scandinavian homeland? How and why did the Viking era come to an end? How did these people live? How did they acquire such a fearsome martial reputation? And what did they believe in? Angus Konstam's Historical Atlas of the Viking World traces the story of this vibrant European culture from the mists of its mythology to its culmination as one of the most powerful trading cultures of the early Middle Ages. The book also emphasizes that even today we live with the cultural and judicial legacy of these amazing people - the Vikings. ANGUS KONSTAM has written over a dozen books on piracy, shipwrecks, and exploration for the Atlas series. He has made a lifelong study of maritime history and archaeology, and the history of early European development. He is a museum professional with experience in both Britain and the United States, and holds degrees in history and archaeology.