A History of the Old Icelandic Commonwealth ; Islendinga Saga (U of M Icelandic Series)

Cover
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations and Maps
From the Author's Foreword
A Prefatory Note from the Translator
DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT
	Thule
	Did the Romans Reach Iceland?
	Papar
	The Norsemen Arrive in Iceland
	Landnámabók (The Book of Settlements)
	Chronology
	The Origin of the Icelanders
	Reasons for the Settlement
	Early Methods of Establishing Settlements
	Pattern of Settlement and Population
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
	The Founding of the Althing
	The Site of the Althing
	The Dates of the Annual Sessions of the Althing
	The Hallowing of the Althing and its Prorogation
	The Lawspeaker
	The Division of the Country into Quarters
	Chieftains — Their Power and Jurisdiction
	The Court of Legislature
	The Quarter Courts
	Skapti the Lawspeaker and the Fifth Court
	District and Midsummer Assemblies
	'Hreppar' and Guilds
	The Codification of the Secular Law
VOYAGES AND EXPLORATIONS
	Icelandic Ocean-Going Vessels and the Icelandic Language
	The Discovery and the Settlement of Greenland
	The Discovery of the North American Continent
	A Part of the Icelanders' 'Imago Mundi'
	The Art of Navigation
	The Treaty between the Icelanders and King Ólafr the Saint of Norway
CHURCH AND RELIGION
	Heathenism and Irish Christianity
	Historical Sources on Christian Missions and the Introduction of Christianity
	Christian Missionary Work and the Christianization of Iceland
	Missionary Bishops from Abroad
	Bishop Ísleifr
	Bishop Gizurr Ísleifsson and his Contemporaries
	The Founding of the Episcopal See of Hólar — Bishop Jón Ögmundarson
	Schools and Foreign Influences
	The Code of Church Law and the Administrative Structure of the Icelandic Church
	Assets and Income of Churches and Clergy
	The First Steps towards Ecclesiastical Autonomy — Bishop Thorlákr Thórhallsson
	Disputes over the Patronages of Churches and Church Property
	Reforms
	Icelandic Saints
	Monasteries
	Bishop Guðmundr Arason
	Foreign Bishops
	Celibacy of the Clergy
	The Resolution of the Court of Legislature in 1253
THE DEATH THROES OF THE COMMONWEALTH
	The Acquisitiveness of the Kings of Norway
	The Development of the Power of Chieftains until ca. 1220
	Feuds between the Oddaverjar and the Norwegians — Snorri Sturluson
	Sturla Sighvatsson's Attempt to Obtain Power over the Whole of Iceland
	The Fate of Snorri and Órækja
	Thórðr Kakali
	A Struggle over Thórðr Kakali's Territory
	Earl Gizurr and the End of the Commonwealth
	Gizurr's Covenant
ECONOMIC HISTORY AND MATERIAL CULTURE
	Animal Husbandry
	The Cultivation of Grain — Climate
	A Few Ancient Branches of Industry
	Fishing
	Imports
	Exports
	Administrative Control over Trade
	Navigation and Trade
	Standards of Value and the Calculation of Prices
	Improvements in Communications
	Housing
	Class Division
The Author
Genealogical Tables
Lawspeakers during the Commonwealth Period
Bishops during the Commonwealth Period
A Select Bibliography of Works by Dr. Jón Jóhannesson
Bibliography of Works Cited
Index of Names
	A
	B
	C
	D
	E
	F
	G
	H
	I
	J
	K
	L
	M
	N
	O
	P
	R
	S
	T
	U
	V
	W
	Y