Viking Gotland was a quasi-democratic independent republic with
its own parliament dominated by merchants and farmers.
 
   Gotland was the wealthiest place in the Scandinavian world at
   the time. It was the major entrepot for trade between Sweden in
   the West and Russia, and what is now the Latvia - Estonia - 
   Lithuania region in the East.
   
   A large section of the population, estimated at up to 30,000 in
   the 9th century, was involved in iron, bronze and silver metal 
   working and shipbuilding as well as trading."

   By David Keys, Archaeology Correspondent 
   4 September 2000
   "The Viking 11 centuries ago"
   "The "Independent" - English broadsheet

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  refs 
  http://www.perceptions.couk.com/laworjustice.html#Some
  Viking jury - an actual example

  http://www.perceptions.couk.com/reactions.txt 
  Viking jury - its ancient roots

  http://www.perceptions.couk.com/viking.txt 
  http://www.perceptions.couk.com/vikingnote.txt    
  http://www.perceptions.couk.com/vikingnote2.txt

  Viking divorce / `democracy', early towns / trade

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              FURTHER REFERENCES

  GO - "search perceptions" - in SEARCH-ENGINE


file-ID www.perceptions.couk.com/vikingnote.txt