pbInbbi Scandinavia in the Age of Vikingsibb, J n Vi ar Sigur sson returns to the Viking homeland, Scandinavia, highlighting such key aspects of Viking life as power and politics, social and kinship networks, gifts and feasting, religious beliefs, women's roles, social classes, and the Viking economy, which included farming, iron mining and metalworking, and trade.bppDrawing of the latest archeological research and on literary sources, namely the sagas, Sigur sson depicts a complex and surprisingly peaceful society that belies the popular image of Norsemen as bloodthirsty barbarians. Instead, Vikings often acted out power struggles symbolically, with local chieftains competing with each other through displays of wealth in the form of great feasts and gifts, rather than arms. At home, conspicuous consumption was a Viking leader's most important virtue the brutality associated with them was largely wreaked abroad.ppSigur sson's engaging history of the Vikings at home begins by highlighti