The Viking Age: History and Cultural Insights

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and historical figures from the Viking Age, aiding in the understanding of the era and its cultural impact.

Viking Age

The period from the late 8th century to the early 11th century, marked by extensive raiding, trading, and settlement by Norse peoples.

A-viking

Means to go raiding; refers to the act of raiding, especially in the context of Viking culture.

Heathen Army

A term used in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to describe Viking raiders, denoting non-Christians.

Longship

A type of ship used by the Vikings, known for its speed, shallow draft, and agility in navigation.

Guerrilla tactics

A form of irregular warfare that relies on small groups using ambushes and surprise attacks.

Berserkers

Elite Viking warriors who were believed to have fought in a trance-like fury, sometimes attributed to the use of psychedelics.

Danelaw

A historical name for the part of England under the control of the Danes during the Viking Age.

Danegeld

A tax paid by the English to Viking raiders to prevent attacks.

Syncretism

The merging of different religious beliefs or practices, such as Christianity with Norse paganism.

Shieldmaidens

Female warriors in Norse mythology who fought alongside male warriors.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

A collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons.

Alfred the Great

The King of Wessex who defended England against Viking invasions and reformed the English government.

Ethelred the Unready

An Anglo-Saxon king noted for his conflicts with the Danes and controversial decisions, including the Saint Brice's Day massacre.

King Cnut

A Viking king who ruled over England, Denmark, and Norway, known for his attempts to consolidate power.

Sigrun

A powerful Viking woman who could ask for divorce and was responsible for her household.

Tara

A sacred hill in Ireland, associated with ancient kings and significant battles, including the Battle of Tara.

Rulers and Warfare

The study of leadership among Norse-Gaels, including the rulers Ui Imair and their military strategies.

Havlock the Dane

A significant figure representing the Viking invasions and their integration into British culture.

Viking Age

The period from the late 8th century to the early 11th century, marked by extensive raiding, trading, and settlement by Norse peoples.

A-viking

Means to go raiding; refers to the act of raiding, especially in the context of Viking culture.

Heathen Army

A term used in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to describe Viking raiders, denoting non-Christians.

Longship

A type of ship used by the Vikings, known for its speed, shallow draft, and agility in navigation.

Guerrilla tactics

A form of irregular warfare that relies on small groups using ambushes and surprise attacks.

Berserkers

Elite Viking warriors who were believed to have fought in a trance-like fury, sometimes attributed to the use of psychedelics.

Danelaw

A historical name for the part of England under the control of the Danes during the Viking Age.

Danegeld

A tax paid by the English to Viking raiders to prevent attacks.

Syncretism

The merging of different religious beliefs or practices, such as Christianity with Norse paganism.

Shieldmaidens

Female warriors in Norse mythology who fought alongside male warriors.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

A collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons.

Alfred the Great

The King of Wessex who defended England against Viking invasions and reformed the English government.

Ethelred the Unready

An Anglo-Saxon king noted for his conflicts with the Danes and controversial decisions, including the Saint Brice's Day massacre.

King Cnut

A Viking king who ruled over England, Denmark, and Norway, known for his attempts to consolidate power.

Sigrun

A powerful Viking woman who could ask for divorce and was responsible for her household.

Tara

A sacred hill in Ireland, associated with ancient kings and significant battles, including the Battle of Tara.

Rulers and Warfare

The study of leadership among Norse-Gaels, including the rulers Ui Imair and their military strategies.

Havlock the Dane

A significant figure representing the Viking invasions and their integration into British culture.

Lindisfarne Raid

The Viking attack on the monastery of Lindisfarne in 793 AD, commonly considered the beginning of the Viking Age in England.

Runestones

Large stones with runic inscriptions, often commemorations of individuals or events, serving as important historical sources from the Viking Age.

Norse Sagas

Prose narratives, mainly written in Iceland, that chronicle the histories, legends, and mythologies of the Norse peoples, especially during the Viking Age.

Vinland

The name given by the Norse explorer Leif Erikson to an area of North America, believed to be modern-day Newfoundland, Canada.

Longhouse

The typical dwelling of the Vikings, a long, narrow building housing both people and livestock, central to Viking daily life and social structure.