Enemy and ancestor : Viking identities and ethnic boundaries in England and Normandy, c.950-c.1015
This thesis is a comparison of ethnicity in Viking Age England and Normandy. It focuses on the period c.950-c.1015, which begins several generations after the initial Scandinavian settlements in both regions. The comparative approach enables an investigation into how and why the two societiesâ inhabitants differed in their perceptions of viking heritage and its impact on ethnic relations in this period. Written sources provide the key to these perceptions: genealogies, histories, hagiographies, charters and law codes. The thesis is the first study to juxtapose and compare these sources and aspects of Viking Age England and Normandy. The approach to ethnicity is informed by the social sciences, especially Fredrik Barthâs Ethnic Groups and Boundaries. The emphasis here is on ethnic identity as a social construct and as a product of belief in group membership. In particular, this investigation treats ethnic identity separately from cultural markers such as names, dress, appearance, and art. In doing so, it presents a new perspective in discussions of assimilation after Scandinavian settlement. For the purpose of analysis, âethnicityâ has been divided into three strands: genealogical, historical and geographical
Cross, K. C.
Enemy and ancestor : Viking identities and ethnic boundaries in England and Normandy, c.950-c.1015. This thesis is a comparison of ethnicity in Viking Age England and Normandy. It focuses on the period c.950-c.1015, which begins several generations after the initial Scandinavian settlements in both regions. The comparative approach enables an investigation into how and why the two societiesâ inhabitants differed in their perceptions of viking heritage and its impact on ethnic relations in this period. Written sources provide the key to these perceptions: genealogies, histories, hagiographies, charters and law codes. The thesis is the first study to juxtapose and compare these sources and aspects of Viking Age England and Normandy. The approach to ethnicity is informed by the social sciences, especially Fredrik Barthâs Ethnic Groups and Boundaries. The emphasis here is on ethnic identity as a social construct and as a product of belief in group membership. In particular, this investigation treats ethnic identity separately from cultural markers such as names, dress, appearance, and art. In doing so, it presents a new perspective in discussions of assimilation after Scandinavian settlement. For the purpose of analysis, âethnicityâ has been divided into three strands: genealogical, historical and geographical
enemy ancestor viking identity ethnic boundary england normandy comparison ethnicity viking_age england normandy focus period_c begin several_generation initial scandinavian_settlement region comparative enables investigation society inhabitant differ perception viking heritage impact ethnic relation period written source provide_key perception genealogy history hagiography charter law_code first study juxtapose compare source aspects viking_age england normandy ethnicity inform social_sciences especially barth ethnic groups boundaries emphasis ethnic_identity social construct product belief group membership particular investigation treat ethnic_identity separately cultural_marker name dress appearance art present_new perspective discussion assimilation scandinavian_settlement purpose analysis ethnicity divide_three strand genealogical historical_geographical