The 'Vikings' are the most familiar and recognisable of all the 'dark age' peoples. They have been denigrated or romanticised, portrayed as exceptionally violent and militantly pagan, or as exceptionally skilled craftsmen and peaceful farmers. Yet, how 'exceptional' were they? Through Illustrated lectures using their sagas, the chronicles of their victims, and new archaeological evidence, we will attempt to discover who the 'Vikings' actually were. Beginning with pre-Viking Scandinavia and taking their story to the early twelfth century, explore their religious beliefs (pagan and Christian), their values and ethos, the significance of violence, slavery, and women in their societies. Their world was certainly strange, and they were often very dangerous to know, but the impact the 'Vikings' had as raiders, slavers, and colonists was profound. Lecture style with question and answer time.