When most people think of the Viking’s, people often think of the image ingrained in popular culture whether through films, books or other stories. The image of an imposing long haired bearded savage warrior, who along with his band of mercenary’s raided and pillaged the land and dominated Europe. Although raiding did take place this was only one aspect of their way of life and various aspects of their culture actually influenced society such as their architecture. The time during which the Viking conducted widespread raids and wars was known as the Viking ages which Historians agree began in 793 and ended in 1066. However if the Vikings were dominant during this age in Europe what were the factors that lead to the end of this age? Throughout
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Throughout the Viking age the settle in the Faroe Islands, Ireland, Scotland, and Greenland, Canada and were the discoverers of Iceland. During the Viking age, Norse society tented to be egalitarian, with many free land-owning farmers with many hired hands. They would work farms throughout most of the year and if they had saved enough for a ship, they would organise a mercenary party and set sail to raid which was a significant source of income for a land owning farmer. However a raid would not be conducted if there was not enough farm hand on site to run the farm back home. In a sense the farm owners can be considered business men and raids were looked upon as a business opportunity to acquire capital to invest in more land, ships or more farm hands. The fast majority of raiders in Viking society were of the middle class or the ‘Karls’ these people as afore mentioned were able to own land and often had slaves working for them. Above them were ‘Jarls’ a noble class which were the local chiefs of villages and settlements. There was no structured ruling system in …show more content…
One such theory that Historians have put for the Vikings Colonization of Europe other than to raid was that it could have been over populated in Scandinavia and hence not enough viable farm land to go round for everyone. The longer an area was colonized by the Vikings the Further away subsiquint generation would be removed from Viking Culture. The other foreign person said Viking were to live with would be Christian as the whole society of which they live, they also would have different living customs. Then if they were to bare children they would grow up likely only hear stories of their father’s homeland. Until many generation later there would be no to little trace of pagan culture left within the family, except for stories (weather by choice or fear of persecution). Normandy can be considered a good example of how the Vikings embraced (weather by will or necessity to live) the culture of those whose land they now live in. By 1066, the Normans were francophone (old French) and loyal to the French King. They followed the orders and tenets of the pope and worshiped at the local church. Some former Vikings retained some traces of their culture and can be argued contributed to the political climate in England that lead to the Magna Cart. But it was very clear that the Men who invaded England in 1066 were fully converted French and no longer
Throughout the Viking age the settle in the Faroe Islands, Ireland, Scotland, and Greenland, Canada and were the discoverers of Iceland. During the Viking age, Norse society tented to be egalitarian, with many free land-owning farmers with many hired hands. They would work farms throughout most of the year and if they had saved enough for a ship, they would organise a mercenary party and set sail to raid which was a significant source of income for a land owning farmer. However a raid would not be conducted if there was not enough farm hand on site to run the farm back home. In a sense the farm owners can be considered business men and raids were looked upon as a business opportunity to acquire capital to invest in more land, ships or more farm hands. The fast majority of raiders in Viking society were of the middle class or the ‘Karls’ these people as afore mentioned were able to own land and often had slaves working for them. Above them were ‘Jarls’ a noble class which were the local chiefs of villages and settlements. There was no structured ruling system in …show more content…
One such theory that Historians have put for the Vikings Colonization of Europe other than to raid was that it could have been over populated in Scandinavia and hence not enough viable farm land to go round for everyone. The longer an area was colonized by the Vikings the Further away subsiquint generation would be removed from Viking Culture. The other foreign person said Viking were to live with would be Christian as the whole society of which they live, they also would have different living customs. Then if they were to bare children they would grow up likely only hear stories of their father’s homeland. Until many generation later there would be no to little trace of pagan culture left within the family, except for stories (weather by choice or fear of persecution). Normandy can be considered a good example of how the Vikings embraced (weather by will or necessity to live) the culture of those whose land they now live in. By 1066, the Normans were francophone (old French) and loyal to the French King. They followed the orders and tenets of the pope and worshiped at the local church. Some former Vikings retained some traces of their culture and can be argued contributed to the political climate in England that lead to the Magna Cart. But it was very clear that the Men who invaded England in 1066 were fully converted French and no longer