Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-This video of the PBS television broadcast portrays Viking brutality and ruthlessness through live-action re-enactment that is juxtaposed with scholarly discussions of Vikings. The organization is clear and primarily chronological within each geographical region explored. Archeologists shown at digs in England, Canada, and Russia speak on-camera about their findings, and historians provide explanations of what Viking life entailed. Evidence of Viking habitation of Ireland, England, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, the Arab world, and Russia is considered. In addition, visuals that include paintings, sculpture, jewelry, tapestry, longship replicas, Rune stones, and Hollywood film clips show other aspects of their civilization. Two of the more interesting discoveries involved the Northmen convincing local tribes to portage Viking boats over miles of land in the Russian forests, and the Vikings' use of a sun compass that was more accurate for their purposes than today's magnetic ones. The film meets its goal of showing that Vikings were more than just the pagan invaders depicted by storytellers and moviemakers. The NOVA Web site address is flashed on the screen at various times to indicate where to look for more information. Corporate funding sources for the production are included as part of the narration. The length of the production should be weighed if purchasing for school use.-Joanne K. Hammond, Chambersburg Area Middle School, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
