The Cultural Side of the Fearsome Vikings

Vikings were Norse seafarers, mainly speaking the Old Norse language. During the late 8th to late 11th centuries, they raided and traded from their Northern European homelands across wide areas of Europe, and explored westwards to Iceland, Greenland, and Vinland. Vikings possessed advanced sailing and navigational skills, and were characterised by the long ship.

Viking activities at times also extended into the Mediterranean littoral, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. Following extended phases of (primarily sea- or river-borne) exploration, expansion and settlement, Viking (Norse) communities and governments were established in diverse areas of north-western Europe, Belarus, Ukraine and European Russia, the North Atlantic islands and as far as the north-eastern coast of North America. The vikings have been known by various names in history such as Ascomanni ("ashmen") by the Germans for the ash wood of their boats, Dubgail and Finngail ("dark and fair foreigners") by the Irish, Lochlannach ("lake person") by the Gaels and Dene (Dane) by the Anglo-Saxons. The Franks usually called them Northmen or Danes, while for the English they were generally known as Danes or heathen and the Irish recognised them as pagans or gentiles. The Vikings were well known for their raids, pillaging and plundering. Burning monasteries, settling people ablaze, burying the warriors in lavish ships etc. were some of the activities that were part of their daily routine. Lately, a research was carried out concerning the Vikings which revealed that these raiders were fearsome warriors but on the other hand possessed some gentle hobbies also. Their hobbies included playing music, making beads, and crafting ornaments. The Viking started raiding in the 8^th century. Way before that period, they had a well-established trading culture. Some of the objects that brought to light these truths about the Vikings are jewellery, coins, and a lyre, a stringed musical instrument etc. The discovery of these objects symbolises that the Vikings included amongst themselves craftsmen, seafarers, innkeepers, and musicians also, not only warriors and farmers. During the excavation beads were also found. This reflects that the vikings largely depended upon maritime trading. Raw materials were collected and were used to produce beads and jewellery. It is really difficult to imagine that how the peaceful and cultural vikings turned into hostile warriors. It is still doubtful that vikings were actually brutal or not because all the tales about them have been narrated by either victims or witnesses to their attacks, not by vikings themselves.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://www.history.com/news/vikings-city-new-discovery-ribe-trade