First off, i'd like to know what exactly were the OTL conditions that resulted in the aggressive expansion of the Pagan Scandinavians during the High Middle Ages. How can they be butterflied away so we're left with a scenario in which the Viking invasions never happen, saving much of Europe from continuous raiding for a few centuries but also preventing the spread of Norse culture to places such as northern England, Ireland, Normandy, etc.?
Secondly, what would be the effects of no Viking expansion on the areas that were IOTL affected by them?
What would Scandinavia itself look like politically?
What about the Anglo-Saxons to the west? Could their language be preserved in a better form or would it just be more quickly supplanted by French? Would the kingdoms remain divided for longer with no external threat to cause them to consider otherwise?
On continental Germany and France, would there be any noticeable effects besides Normandy not existing as a distinct geographical entity and Denmark being possibly integrated into Germany/East Francia?
What about the Slavs? Would the Kievan Rus still coalesce ITTL without the Rurikid Dynasty?
Any other details that might have slipped past?
Secondly, what would be the effects of no Viking expansion on the areas that were IOTL affected by them?
What would Scandinavia itself look like politically?
What about the Anglo-Saxons to the west? Could their language be preserved in a better form or would it just be more quickly supplanted by French? Would the kingdoms remain divided for longer with no external threat to cause them to consider otherwise?
On continental Germany and France, would there be any noticeable effects besides Normandy not existing as a distinct geographical entity and Denmark being possibly integrated into Germany/East Francia?
What about the Slavs? Would the Kievan Rus still coalesce ITTL without the Rurikid Dynasty?
Any other details that might have slipped past?