Assembly Organisation in the Longue Durée: The Scandinavian Thing Institution in its European Context

The aim of this paper is to examine the main traits of the Scandinavian þing (thing, assembly) institution, which was in place from the Viking Age onwards, and to demonstrate that this system was not unique, but rather fits into the longstanding assembly traditions identified in both preliterate and literate Germanic societies in Mainland Europe. Even though the written sources are sparse and at times rather problematic, it is demonstrated that the assembly as a form of early government, conflict resolution and court system existed across a wide geographical region and time span.