Vikings
Came from Scandinavia which in modern day in Denmark, Norway or Sweden
Also known as Northman or Norse between 9th and 11th centuries, their ferocious attacks stroke fear into people around Europe
What evidence exists about Vikings?
Early written records of Viking raids
Did not read/write much until Christianity appeared
Viking writing is called runes which was inscribed on rocks
By the end of Viking age stories about them appeared in writing which is known as sagas
Archaeological Discoveries
Standing Stone: Some were carved with runes, signs and images and the outline of a boat
Viking burial: remains, treasure, boats and grave goods
Remain of settlements
Viking geography
Extensive areas of mountains and forests
lakes and fjords(long narrow intelts of sea between steep cliffs)
large groups of islands and expanses of outlines
Moraines( rocks deposited by glaciers)
areas of flat low-lying land (in Denmark)
Climate
Days were shorter in winter and 20 hours of sunlight in summer
Gulf stream helps keep temperatures mild and prevents harbours from freezing in winter
Viking Homelands
were in Northen Europe and Scandinavia
Natural features of Scandinavia helped Viking society
Big distance from central Europe helped them not become influenced
AD 790 was beginning of Viking age
Vikings travel on boat because many islands inland was densely packed with forests
Made up of different Kingdoms
Jarls
Rulers and wealthy members of the community. The title Konungre (king) was the title given to the chief Jarl
Karls
Middle class and made-up majority of the population. They could be, fishermen, shipbuilders, weavers etc. Karls were Vikings that took part in raids.
Thralls
They were slaves who had little rights who were captured in raids. If they did not obey the law, they would be beaten or killed.
Everyday life Housing
Viking houses have camouflage for protection from invaders
There are no windows or chimneys because it would get rid of the heat
There is a fire in the middle to produce heat evenly throughout the house
There is smoke all over the house to keep the humidity and is there because there are no windows
Coprolite
is fossilized poo. is direct evidence of another species, it shows whether if it is an omnivore, carnivore or herbivore. Vikings had a balanced diet but with lots of meat.
Government (the thing)
legal system kept peace, importance was placed in soicetal norms or saagas
Memorise the laws and guilty can lessen sentence if they did not remember
killing people in daytime is not murder
Announce the person you kill to get no sentance
take away weapons for no fighting
Fueds
If a man was killed family avenges his death
Duels
settled arguments. Defeated when blood touched the ground
Fines
Pay it for dispute. Paid in front of the public
Outlaw
Serious crime they live in the wilderness
Odin
one-eyed ruler Asguard known as Alfather. God of war, wisdom, poetry and has powerful magic
Figg
Wife of Odin. Goddess of women, the home, spring and immortal youth.
Thor
Son Odin. God of thunder, lighting, stroms, oak trees, fertility and hunting. Also helps saliors and farmers
Loki
God of mischief and trickery
Frey and Frega
Vanir Gods, twin sister and brother. Gods of fertility, love, harvest, prosperity and the reproduction of ancestors.
Viking Religion
Vikings made human sacrifices to appeal the gods. The sacrifices were war prisoners.
Asguard is filled halls and places. Valhalla which is the hall of the bravest slain heroes.
Slain warriors are brought from the battlefield to Valhalla on a pangasius with Valkyries
You train in Valhalla to get ready to fight in Ragnarök
Burial Customs
Old people believed that there was a place in Norse myth called Valhalla where dead heroes have banquets and feasts
Valhalla was in the palace of the greatest god Odin
only way to go to Valhalla is to die in battle. After death they would be burned with their belongings
Dead body of a Viking chief would be put aboard his boat which would be buried or burned
Life expectancy was low so believed in the afterlife
Ancestors would care for them
7 days after someone died their family would have a feats
Cremation because believed the smoke would take you to Valhalla
Viking Writing and Literature
Fathork is the runic alphabet called for the first 6 letters in the runic row
Originally had 24 letters but in 9th century it was simplified
Modern people would think of G as uppercase, but Viking can think of it in different ways
Runes are carved graffiti-like writing onto historical buildings
Sagas
-- The stories were shared verbally and were sometimes complicated narritives -Vikings were civilized and took interest in arts
Favourite arts are myths, heroic legends, folk tales, family and local history
Viking Longships
Helped conquer lands and originally made from canoes
It inspired from Roman ships but made them better
After Rome got defeated, Viking had less enemy’s and upgraded their boats to make it stronger, easier and cheaper to build
Design of the longship
Made them lighter but strong so they can carry them onto land
Sails made with dyed cotton with blood and coated with animal fat to make it water resistant
Front of the longship had a dragon head to strike fear into their enemies
Raid on Lindisfarne
It is the fist major Viking attack on Britan and Ireland
Raided and isolated but significant monastery
Attacked a holy place which shocked Christians and provoked fear in people
They killed the monks and took their treasure
They attacked monasteries because it was a place with lots of treasure with little security
Viking Weapons
Spears had a slim iron blade an can catch spears in mid air
Used a v-shape formation to quickly kill their enemies
Iron battle axe can cut through iron
Raids took place a dawn to their victims could not escape
Beserk
Out of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied.
Viking Conquest and their impact
took pleasure humiliating the Christians
Within 30 years of Viking arrival they controlled Northern and Eastern Europe
To maintain peace English had to pay taxes called Danegeld
They learnt Christian festivals so they can do raids on those dates
Dane law
It is a part of England in which the laws of the Danes held sway and dominated those of the Angelo Saxons
Viking age ended because
The raids slowly started to stop
Viking raids less effective European armies well-trained and defences strengthened
Less people able to go raiding
Against Christian morals
Because of the fewer raids the became Danes, Swedes and Norwegians etc.