Many people relate the word "Viking" to the Scandinavian word "vikingr", which means pirate; however, this term is meant to associate oversea expeditions. They used this word as a verb for when the men went overseas, for trading and exploring purposes.
wHEN WAS THE PERIOD THE VIKINGS WERE MOST NOTABLE?
The Viking Age, lasting from the eight to eleventh century, started with the earliest recorded raid in the 790s to the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The Scandinavians thrived, successfully exploring Europe by its waters, including seas and rivers, for trade, conquest and raids. During this period, the Vikings sailed in the Atlantic Ocean and reached North America. They established a small colony in Newfoundland and Labrador. They also explored as far south as Africa and to the east as far as Russia and Turkey.
The Norsemen settled in Norse Greenland, Newfoundland (Norse colonisation of the Americas), Faroe Islands, Iceland, Normandy, Scotland, Ireland, Russia and Anatolia.
They interacted with coastal areas as well as inlands; their trade going as far inlands as Baghdad. There must have been some powerful and skilful leaders for this to be accomplished, right?
The Norsemen settled in Norse Greenland, Newfoundland (Norse colonisation of the Americas), Faroe Islands, Iceland, Normandy, Scotland, Ireland, Russia and Anatolia.
They interacted with coastal areas as well as inlands; their trade going as far inlands as Baghdad. There must have been some powerful and skilful leaders for this to be accomplished, right?
WERE THERE ANY NOTABLE LEADERS AMONGST THEM THAT HELPS EXPLAIN THEIR ACTIVITIES OR WAS THEIR RISE TO PROMINENCE SPONTANEOUS?
The many leaders started out as ordinary people and were not well-known until they succeeded in either discovering a new land and conquering it, victorious trading or abundant raiding. The commoners looked up to these men after they brought new wealth to Scandinavia.
Erik the Red
This Viking hero was actually called Erik Thorvaldsson, but, because of his red beard and hair and fiery temper, he is often referred to as Erik the Red. Through his lifetime, lasting from 950 CE-1003 CE, he played a large role in the viking expansion.
He was born in Norway but after his father Thorvald was exiled, the family moved to Iceland. While living there he committed a murder and was banished from the country for 3 years. Erik decided to sail westward and discovered an inviting landscape with fertile green valleys. After exploring for three years and concluding that is was inhabitable by people, he returned to Iceland in 985 and attempted to persuade people to colonise the "New World". That same year 25 ships, containing 500 men and women, domestic animals and other elements required to start a colonisation, set out on an expedition; however, only 14 made it to the "New World". Erik the Red established a settlement in Qassiarsuk, Southern Greenland, whilst others continued north to Nuuk. When another large group came in 1002, they brought along a disease, which nearly wiped out the entire south settlement, including Erik. Luckily, the settlement rinstituted itself and thrived to eventually become Greenland.
This Viking hero was actually called Erik Thorvaldsson, but, because of his red beard and hair and fiery temper, he is often referred to as Erik the Red. Through his lifetime, lasting from 950 CE-1003 CE, he played a large role in the viking expansion.
He was born in Norway but after his father Thorvald was exiled, the family moved to Iceland. While living there he committed a murder and was banished from the country for 3 years. Erik decided to sail westward and discovered an inviting landscape with fertile green valleys. After exploring for three years and concluding that is was inhabitable by people, he returned to Iceland in 985 and attempted to persuade people to colonise the "New World". That same year 25 ships, containing 500 men and women, domestic animals and other elements required to start a colonisation, set out on an expedition; however, only 14 made it to the "New World". Erik the Red established a settlement in Qassiarsuk, Southern Greenland, whilst others continued north to Nuuk. When another large group came in 1002, they brought along a disease, which nearly wiped out the entire south settlement, including Erik. Luckily, the settlement rinstituted itself and thrived to eventually become Greenland.
Ragnar Lothbrok
He was a mighty viking warrior who was destined for power and greatness.
However, historians believe that his image known today is actually a composite of individuals, as this name is a character in Norse history and mythology.
Ragnar wanted fame and fortune, so he distinguished himself by attacking France and England, and they won many valuable treasures, either stolen or given as a meaning of peace. He used France's rivers as a route to move his men from place to place, and this viking mobility cancelled out Frankish military. As they weren't interested in more lands, the vikings captured cities until treasures had been given. For example, they captured Paris and murdered their prisoners, leading Charles de Bald to pay 7000 pounds in silver to regain it.
However, he also had a caring side for his three wives, the shieldmaiden Lagertha, the noblewoman Thora Town-Hart and the warrior queen Aslaug. They bore many well-known sons, including Ivar the Boneless, Brjörn Ironside, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Sigurd snake-in-the-eye and Ubbe Ragnarsson.
He was a mighty viking warrior who was destined for power and greatness.
However, historians believe that his image known today is actually a composite of individuals, as this name is a character in Norse history and mythology.
Ragnar wanted fame and fortune, so he distinguished himself by attacking France and England, and they won many valuable treasures, either stolen or given as a meaning of peace. He used France's rivers as a route to move his men from place to place, and this viking mobility cancelled out Frankish military. As they weren't interested in more lands, the vikings captured cities until treasures had been given. For example, they captured Paris and murdered their prisoners, leading Charles de Bald to pay 7000 pounds in silver to regain it.
However, he also had a caring side for his three wives, the shieldmaiden Lagertha, the noblewoman Thora Town-Hart and the warrior queen Aslaug. They bore many well-known sons, including Ivar the Boneless, Brjörn Ironside, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Sigurd snake-in-the-eye and Ubbe Ragnarsson.
Leif Erikson
He was born as son of Erik the Red around 970 in Iceland but was mostly brought up in the East Settlement in Greenland.
Around 1000, he sailed to Norway, where King Olaf 1 converted him to Christianity. One theory says that on his way back to Greenland, he sailed off course and landed on the Northern continent, where he explored a region that he called Vinland. He may also have went on a expedition based on the stories of an earlier voyage by an Icelandic trader. But anyways, he is regarded as the first European to land in North America, nearly 500 years before Columbus. He is also believed to have established a settlement in the northern tip of Newfoundland (Canada).
He was born as son of Erik the Red around 970 in Iceland but was mostly brought up in the East Settlement in Greenland.
Around 1000, he sailed to Norway, where King Olaf 1 converted him to Christianity. One theory says that on his way back to Greenland, he sailed off course and landed on the Northern continent, where he explored a region that he called Vinland. He may also have went on a expedition based on the stories of an earlier voyage by an Icelandic trader. But anyways, he is regarded as the first European to land in North America, nearly 500 years before Columbus. He is also believed to have established a settlement in the northern tip of Newfoundland (Canada).
Chief Rurik
Some time during the 800s, small bands of adventurers came to Russia from the north. The Greeks and East Slavs named them Varangians, or Rus, most commonly known as Vikings. (*The name "Russia" is taken from this group.) Eventually, these Vikings built forts along the rivers, especially the Volga, which would later play an important part for the Viking trade, and settled among the Slavs.
According to Russian legends, the Slaves invited the Viking chief Rurik to be their king in hope to reestablish order. His first residence was in Ladoga; however, in 862 he founded the first important city, Novgorod. A nobleman from this city named Oleg moved south to Kiev around 880. From here, the Vikings could sail by the Dnieper and sea to Constantinople, a major trade centre.
Some time during the 800s, small bands of adventurers came to Russia from the north. The Greeks and East Slavs named them Varangians, or Rus, most commonly known as Vikings. (*The name "Russia" is taken from this group.) Eventually, these Vikings built forts along the rivers, especially the Volga, which would later play an important part for the Viking trade, and settled among the Slavs.
According to Russian legends, the Slaves invited the Viking chief Rurik to be their king in hope to reestablish order. His first residence was in Ladoga; however, in 862 he founded the first important city, Novgorod. A nobleman from this city named Oleg moved south to Kiev around 880. From here, the Vikings could sail by the Dnieper and sea to Constantinople, a major trade centre.
The information discovered and related to these notable leaders helps explain the Viking's activities, personalities and ambitions on a larger scale. These men were powerful because they managed to discover new lands and conquer others, providing the Vikings with the resources and treasures they wanted. It shows that they desired wealth, just like most other people of the time, and were willing to be extremely violent if necessary. The many explorers show that these people were adventurous, brave and curious.
The vikings' rise to prominence was thus spontaneous, as they are not well known for their leaders, like the Magyars, but for their excellent sea faring abilities and violence. Using large, advanced ships, they were able to travel in deep and shallow water, allowing them to have a great advantage at the coastal villages and monasteries. Using their brutal weapons and force, they quickly raided or conquered. But this is not the Vikings' only characteristic. According to historians, their ambitions were mostly the same as that of other groups at the same time: they wanted land, resources and wealth. So why are the Vikings remembered as violent people?
The vikings' rise to prominence was thus spontaneous, as they are not well known for their leaders, like the Magyars, but for their excellent sea faring abilities and violence. Using large, advanced ships, they were able to travel in deep and shallow water, allowing them to have a great advantage at the coastal villages and monasteries. Using their brutal weapons and force, they quickly raided or conquered. But this is not the Vikings' only characteristic. According to historians, their ambitions were mostly the same as that of other groups at the same time: they wanted land, resources and wealth. So why are the Vikings remembered as violent people?
DID THEY CREATE A UNIFIED EMPIRE?
The answer to this question is debatable, but most people would agree that the Vikings never created an empire of their own. According to the Oxford dictionary, an empire is "an extensive group of states or countries ruled over by a single monarch, an oligarchy, or a sovereign state." On one hand, the Vikings did expand and conquer over a large area, and they ruled each invaded place. However, the individual areas did not cooperate with each other. Contrastingly, other historians would argue that the Vikings never created an empire, as the areas they conquered were scattered and isolated. This made it terribly difficult for a single Viking ruler to govern. In addition, the Vikings were a group of people from Scandinavia, but they were not united under a single government. Instead, each county had its own ruler; yet, none played a large role in the Viking expansion. Also, the Vikings lived in small, independent communities, much like the Greek, because they were self-sufficient. And since they ruled through tradition and non-written law, they did not rely on a central government.
Bibliography
Works Cited
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"About Greenland ." Erik the Red. Co.Neutral, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. <http://www.greenland.com/en/about-greenland/kultur-sjael/historie/vikingetiden/erik-den-roede.aspx>.
Admin. "Famous Vikings." Viking History RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. <http://vikinghistory.net/famous-vikings/>.
"Leif Eriksson." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/leif-eriksson>.
"Ragnar Lodbrok." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Apr. 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnar_Lodbrok>.
"Vikingen." - Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Apr. 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. <http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikingen>.Beck, Roger B. "Chapter 11-Section 2: The Russian Empire." World History: Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2005. N. pag. Print.
Made by- Fé van den Broek