Cover
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations and Maps
From the Author's Foreword
A Prefatory Note from the Translator
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
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
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
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 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
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
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