| Title | Chapter 4. Volcanic Vulnerability in Medieval Iceland |
|---|---|
| Contributor | Carina Damm(author) |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.63308/63881023874820.ch04 |
| Landing page | https://www.whpress.co.uk/publications/2025/05/02/nordicclimatehistories/ |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.en |
| Copyright | Carina Damm |
| Publisher | The White Horse Press |
| Published on | 2025-08-15 |
| Long abstract | This article explores the impact of volcanic activity on medieval Icelandic society, focusing on both external shocks and community adaptations. Utilising the vulnerability framework established by Robert Chambers, it examines Iceland’s susceptibility to eruptions in pre-modern times, with particular attention to the Eldgjá (c. 939) and Hekla (1104) events. These eruptions had a profound impact on Icelandic society, disrupted settlements, shaped landscapes and influened cultural and religious narratives. While sagas rarely mention volcanic events, annals, legal texts such as Grágás, and vow contracts reveal practical coping strategies that included church relocations and community rituals. Archaeologi- cal evidence highlights resilience through the reconstruction of settlements on tephra-covered land, and written accounts such as the Norwegian King’s Mirror portray eruptions as a form of divine judgment by blending spiritual interpreta- tions with pragmatic responses. This interdisciplinary framework underscores medieval Iceland’s adaptability to environmental hazards and offers valuable insights into socio-environmental resilience in volatile landscapes that remain relevant for modern disaster management. |
| Page range | pp. 103–122 |
| Print length | 20 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
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Carina Damm is an Assistant Professor and Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Nordic and Old English Studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice. She obtained her MA in History and Scandinavian Studies from the University of Göt- tingen and her Doctorate from Leipzig University. Her research interests focus on the environmental history of northern Europe, Scandinavian-Slavic interrelations in the Viking Age, and early medieval economies.