Scandinavia in the Middle Ages 900-1550 Between Two Oceans

Introduction

1. Coming of the Kingdoms

2. Coming of Christ

3. Tilling the Land – The Local Economy

4. Cultural Tradition and Transition

Part II: 1200–1400: Consolidation and Restructuring

5. Dominion over the Seas

6. Consolidation of the Church

7. Economic Growth and Fall – Urbanisation and Agrarian Crisis

8. Cultural Universalism

Part III: 1400–c. 1550: Power in Crises

9. Rise and Fall of the Kalmar Union

10. Fall of the Church

11. Economic Expansion – The International Market Economy

12. A Revolution in Communication

Biography

Kirsi Salonen is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Bergen, Norway. Her previous publications include Papal Justice in the Late Middle Ages. The Sacra Romana Rota (2016); and she is the co-editor of Scandinavia and the Vatican Archives (2022).

Kurt Villads Jensen is Professor of Medieval History and Director of the Centre for Medieval Studies at Stockholm University, Sweden. His previous publications include Crusading at the Edges of Europe. Denmark and Portugal c.1000–c.1250 (2017); and he is the co-author of The Rise and Fall of the Danish Empire (2022).

"How to cover centuries of medieval life, habits, and events in Scandinavia, with illustrations and maps, and all this very comprehensively, but in just 300 pages? With elegance, when done by two professors of medieval history, Kirsi Salonen from the University of Bergen, Norway and Kurt Villads Jensen from the University of Stockholm, Sweden. Their recent book, Scandinavia in the Middle Ages 900—1550: Between Two Oceans (2023), is a real treasure for every medievalist. (...) It is a general and well-structured medieval history and archaeology handbook for students and scholars alike. Their book not only draws a picture of how things were in medieval Scandinavia, but what is more, it also portrays the various connections and links from Europe to Scandinavia and from Scandinavia to all the known medieval world. Scandinavia in the Middle Ages was not some isolated northern region, but an area having impact on a large scale also outside its borders. It deserves to be known by every history student and scholar alike."

Elise Pihlajaniemi, The Journal of Medieval Religious Cultures, Volume 50, Number 1, 2024 pp. 135-137.

"a condensed, balanced, holistic, and readable account of Scandinavian history in the Middle Ages that avoids the traps of national trajectories and situates the region in the frame of broader Europe. Truly this is no small feat, and I think it is safe to say that this book is the first of its kind."
Hans Jacob Orning, University of Oslo, Scandinavian Studies, Volume 96, Number 3, 2024, pp. 120-123.

Kirsi Salonen and Kurt Villads Jensen have produced an essential resource that will be particularly useful for students and anyone who is looking for an English-language introduction to medieval Scandinavia.

Natalie M. Van Deusen, Medium Aevum 92:2 (2023).

“(...) the book succeeds in producing a work that is both scholarly and accessible, blending rigorous analysis with engaging storytelling. Their ability to contextualise Scandinavian history within the broader European framework makes this book an invaluable resource for understanding the region’s medieval past. By illuminating the interconnectedness of political, social, and environmental forces, the authors provide a compelling narrative that underscores the relevance of medieval history to contemporary discussions of identity, culture, and resilience.”

Hasrat Ifolala Zebua (10 Mar 2025): Scandinavian Economic History Review.

”Scandinavia in the Middle Ages serves its purpose well, as a concise and lucidly written introduction on the history of the northernmost region of Europe in the Middle Ages, which nevertheless manages to contain diverse material.”

Sverrir Jakobsson, University of Iceland, Iceland. 

“This book will prove useful in the class­room, especially in a survey course, along­side articles which provide more details on the many of the topics presented in brief in this volume. Taken as a whole, the book is an admirable and useful contribution to the field, especially for those studying the political and economic history of medieval Scandinavia.”

Sara Ellis-Nilsson Scandia 91:2.