Highlights: Viking Age - Week 6

Notes:

- Who Were the Vikings?

- Vikings were Norse peoples from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark active from the late 8th to the 11th century. The term "Viking" means "raider," though not all were raiders.

- They were polytheistic, worshiping many gods, including Odin, and lived in various forms ranging from small towns to rural areas.

- Their advanced ship technology, characterized by shallow keels and ornate designs, allowed for extensive travels, from Baghdad to North America.

- Viking Age in Scotland

- Viking raids began in the late 8th century, targeting wealthy monasteries like Iona. Long-term impacts included significant settlement, mainly on Scotland's west coast.

- Impact on Orkney

- Orkney, inhabited by Pictish peoples, saw violence and raiding, but archaeological evidence suggests cultural intermingling rather than outright destruction.

- Viking longhouses were built from local resources, and conversion to Christianity occurred rapidly after settlement.

- Impact on Shetland

- In Shetland, Vikings settled and established a thriving community, building infrastructure that included smithies and barns. They became a ruling class without eliminating other cultures.

- Viking Age in England

- Viking activity in England progressed through several phases: sporadic raiding, colonization, coexistence, tribute-taking, and political conquest.

- A key raid occurred at Lindisfarne in 793, marking a significant escalation in Viking activity.

- The Great Army

- During King Alfred’s reign, the "Great Army" weakened various English kingdoms, and Alfred established defensive measures, including fortified burhs to protect Wessex.

- The Danelaw

- The Danelaw was the region where Viking settlements flourished, influencing place names and leading to the formation of a more unified England.

- Significant figures included Alfred’s descendants who shaped early English monarchy and law structure, leading to the first kingdom of England under King Edgar.

- King Cnut

- Cnut became a noteworthy figure as a Christian king of both England and Denmark. His reign followed a period of Viking dominance, with his sons later failing to maintain stability, leading to Edward the Confessor's rise to power.

Primary Sources:

-King Alfred's Peace Treaty with King Guthrum

1. Land Boundaries:

- The treaty clearly defines territorial boundaries, stating they extend from the Thames River, following the Lea River to its source, continuing to Bedford, and up the Ouse to Watling Street.

2. Compensation for Homicide:

- It establishes a compensation system for murder, valuing all individuals (English and Danes) at eight half-marks of pure gold, with specific exceptions for certain classes of people like ceorls on rented land and Danish freedmen, who are valued at lesser amounts.

3. Legal Process and Accusations:

- Rules concerning legal accusations are outlined. A king's thegn must clear himself of manslaughter charges by oath with twelve other thegns, while those of lesser status can do so with fewer peers. Failure to clear oneself results in a threefold penalty.

4. Rights of Property Acquisition:

- Every person involved is required to know their responsible party when acquiring slaves, horses, and oxen, establishing an accountability system in property transactions.

5. Regulations on Hostilities:

- It is agreed that neither the bonded nor free people may engage in hostilities without permission. If necessary exchanges occur, hostages must be provided as a guarantee of mutual peace and trust.