The VikingsThe Vikings

Who were they?Who were they?

• NorseNorse ( (ScandinavianScandinavian) ) explorersexplorers, , warriorswarriors, , merchantsmerchants, and , and piratespirates

• raided and colonized wide areas of raided and colonized wide areas of EuropeEurope from the late eighth to the early eleventh from the late eighth to the early eleventh century century

• They reached: They reached: ConstantinopleConstantinople, the , the Volga RiverVolga River in in RussiaRussia, , IcelandIceland, , GreenlandGreenland, , and and NewfoundlandNewfoundland (Canada), Britain, (Canada), Britain, IrelandIreland, Sicily and some ports of the Mediterranean , Sicily and some ports of the Mediterranean

Reasons for travels and Reasons for travels and colonizationcolonization

• Outgrowth of farm lands in Outgrowth of farm lands in ScandinaviaScandinavia

• Weakness of other kingdoms and Weakness of other kingdoms and settlements all over Europesettlements all over Europe

• Supreme navy and expertise in Supreme navy and expertise in warfarewarfare

• Treasure and adventureTreasure and adventure

Weapons and warfareWeapons and warfare

• All free Norsemen were allowed to carry weaponsAll free Norsemen were allowed to carry weapons• helmethelmet, , shieldshield, chain mail shirt, sword, axe, knife, , chain mail shirt, sword, axe, knife,

spear and bows and arrowsspear and bows and arrows• Typical battle:Typical battle: - attack the ports from ships with inflamed arrows- attack the ports from ships with inflamed arrows - create confusion- create confusion - land and quickly siege- land and quickly siege - destroy defense- destroy defense - raid, kill and take everything moveable- raid, kill and take everything moveable - board back on ship and- board back on ship and - leave (with booty, women, young boys, animals) - leave (with booty, women, young boys, animals)

ShipsShips

• the longship (called "drakkar", the longship (called "drakkar", "dragon" in Norse)"dragon" in Norse)

• the knarr (merchant vessel designed the knarr (merchant vessel designed to carry cargo) to carry cargo)

SocietySociety

• High lordsHigh lords

• Warrior lordsWarrior lords

• WarriorsWarriors

• PriestsPriests

• WomenWomen

• SlavesSlaves

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• They were literate (runes)They were literate (runes)

• Heroic talesHeroic tales

• MysticismMysticism

• Burial sitesBurial sites

• LegendsLegends

• mythologymythology

Norse gods and goddessesNorse gods and goddesses

• Odin - the ruler of the gods, and the god of magic, Odin - the ruler of the gods, and the god of magic, poetry and war. poetry and war.

• His wife was the motherly FriggHis wife was the motherly Frigg• their son was Balder, who was kind and gentle.their son was Balder, who was kind and gentle.• Freyja was goddess of love and fertility, and wept Freyja was goddess of love and fertility, and wept

golden tears when she was unhappy. golden tears when she was unhappy. • She had a twin brother Freyr, and their sacred animal She had a twin brother Freyr, and their sacred animal

was the boar. was the boar. • Red-headed Thor ruled the skies, storms and thunder. Red-headed Thor ruled the skies, storms and thunder.

He had iron gloves, a magic belt and a hammerHe had iron gloves, a magic belt and a hammer• People loved Thor but did not trust Loki, the People loved Thor but did not trust Loki, the

mischievous 'trickster god'. By a trick, Loki caused the mischievous 'trickster god'. By a trick, Loki caused the death of Balder.death of Balder.

The dead and the ValhallaThe dead and the Valhalla

• A dead person was buried or cremated A dead person was buried or cremated (burned) with some of their belongings(burned) with some of their belongings

• Some Viking chiefs were given ship-Some Viking chiefs were given ship-burials, with treasure, weapons, and burials, with treasure, weapons, and favourite dogs and horses buried with favourite dogs and horses buried with them. them.

• Vikings believed that a warrior killed in Vikings believed that a warrior killed in battle went to Valhalla, a great hall where battle went to Valhalla, a great hall where dead heroes feasted at long tablesdead heroes feasted at long tables

• Odin sent his warror-maidens, the Odin sent his warror-maidens, the Valkyries to take them to Valhalla Valkyries to take them to Valhalla

Stories and legendsStories and legends

• Midgard or Middle Earth, along with giants, elves Midgard or Middle Earth, along with giants, elves and dwarfsand dwarfs

• The gods and goddesses lived in a sky world The gods and goddesses lived in a sky world called Asgard. Linking Midgard with Asgard was a called Asgard. Linking Midgard with Asgard was a rainbow bridge.rainbow bridge.

• tales of monsters, trolls, dragons, sea serpents, tales of monsters, trolls, dragons, sea serpents, and the fierce wolf Fenrir (which the gods tried to and the fierce wolf Fenrir (which the gods tried to keep chained up). keep chained up).

• Odin rode a magical horse named Sleipnir, which Odin rode a magical horse named Sleipnir, which had eight legs. had eight legs.

• did not want to die in bed, because they were did not want to die in bed, because they were afraid they'd go to a foggy underworld called afraid they'd go to a foggy underworld called Niflheim Niflheim

Other beliefsOther beliefs

• Vikings believed a flash of lightning meant Thor Vikings believed a flash of lightning meant Thor had flung his hammer.had flung his hammer.

• People left gifts of milk for the elves in little bowlsPeople left gifts of milk for the elves in little bowls• Odin gave up one of his eyes to drink from a Odin gave up one of his eyes to drink from a

magical fountain of wisdom.magical fountain of wisdom.• Odin had two ravens. Mugin and Hugin, who flew Odin had two ravens. Mugin and Hugin, who flew

around to bring him news of the world.around to bring him news of the world.• Vikings believed the world was flat and Vikings believed the world was flat and

surrounded by sea; it was held up by a giant tree surrounded by sea; it was held up by a giant tree called Yggdrasil.called Yggdrasil.

LegacyLegacy

• 35% of European men and 40% of 35% of European men and 40% of women have Viking genetic originwomen have Viking genetic origin

• The fascist imagery (blond, Arian, brave The fascist imagery (blond, Arian, brave fighters, supreme of others)fighters, supreme of others)

• Music (Wagner)Music (Wagner)• pop culture: Viking metal shows modern pop culture: Viking metal shows modern

influence of the Viking myths. It was a influence of the Viking myths. It was a popular sub-genre of heavy metal popular sub-genre of heavy metal music, originating in the early 1990s music, originating in the early 1990s connected to the black metal sub-genre.connected to the black metal sub-genre.

Common misconceptionsCommon misconceptions

• Horned helmets – no preserved Horned helmets – no preserved helmets with horns helmets with horns

• Skull cups – used regular wooden Skull cups – used regular wooden or metal cupsor metal cups

• Uncleanliness - bathing every Uncleanliness - bathing every Saturday and combing their hair Saturday and combing their hair often.often.