Aliyeva Fidan F
HIST 200 – Ancient and Medieval History
Section A
Draft Essay 2
9.11.2015
To What Extent Do the Vikings Deserve Their Reputation for Violence and Destruction?
The Vikings- Almost everyone claims to know something about them, but how well do they know them? How well did the Vikings create their real image? Were they brutal marauders or just settlers, economic destroyers or merchants, anarchists or lawful? “Salt-water bandits with brutal vices or stout-hearted gentlemen of the north?”[4] Do their lifestyle really matter to judge them in a historical focus? Actually, they were all of the above to some extent. The most difficult part of answering this question is that there is no black and white answer. Still, …show more content…
Many historians claim their starting point of invasion occurred in monasteries in Lindisfarne. It was so miserable situation, even Alcuin had difficulty to describe the savagery of the Vikings, “...waste the house of our hope and trampled the bodies of the saints like dung in the street...”[8] Why monasteries? The reason is not because they had any hatred in Christianity, but what there was in monasteries – treasure. Monasteries rich with gold and silver were “favourite targets” of the Vikings.[1] Also monasteries were 'ill-protected centers of wealth”.[4] Consequences such as burning libraries, masterpieces, ruining landscape came with treasure seeking of the Vikings. Their barbaric and savage features exposed when they came face to face with indigenous people: locals thought of them as merchants but were gifted with a bunch of arrows and massacre. Slaughter of Cutheberk's monks were unprecedented and exceptional – how any human being could devastate the 'cradle of saints'?[1] Vikings were brutal not only on plunder, but also in battles – they “were as mad as dogs or wolves”.[1] As a result, the Viking raids bring about a new warrior type to the history. In spite of all the above, they significantly changed the English history. As a result of the Viking raids, little English kingdoms united under one realm; therefore, England turned into political and cultural …show more content…
In a colloquial sphere, English met with new words such as 'muck', 'anger', 'skate'. In addition, the name of some places existing now have stemmed from that period of history, for example: places ending in -by, -thrope, -toft, etc. They founded new cities which we are familiar with; Irish cities such as Dublin and Waterford are not exceptions. In Their contribution to English ship-making was a substantially important result of that age. The trade with other kingdoms prospered economic situation; as shown in Picture2, trade area was as vast as raids. Their impact on trade was tightly associated with
HIST 200 – Ancient and Medieval History
Section A
Draft Essay 2
9.11.2015
To What Extent Do the Vikings Deserve Their Reputation for Violence and Destruction?
The Vikings- Almost everyone claims to know something about them, but how well do they know them? How well did the Vikings create their real image? Were they brutal marauders or just settlers, economic destroyers or merchants, anarchists or lawful? “Salt-water bandits with brutal vices or stout-hearted gentlemen of the north?”[4] Do their lifestyle really matter to judge them in a historical focus? Actually, they were all of the above to some extent. The most difficult part of answering this question is that there is no black and white answer. Still, …show more content…
Many historians claim their starting point of invasion occurred in monasteries in Lindisfarne. It was so miserable situation, even Alcuin had difficulty to describe the savagery of the Vikings, “...waste the house of our hope and trampled the bodies of the saints like dung in the street...”[8] Why monasteries? The reason is not because they had any hatred in Christianity, but what there was in monasteries – treasure. Monasteries rich with gold and silver were “favourite targets” of the Vikings.[1] Also monasteries were 'ill-protected centers of wealth”.[4] Consequences such as burning libraries, masterpieces, ruining landscape came with treasure seeking of the Vikings. Their barbaric and savage features exposed when they came face to face with indigenous people: locals thought of them as merchants but were gifted with a bunch of arrows and massacre. Slaughter of Cutheberk's monks were unprecedented and exceptional – how any human being could devastate the 'cradle of saints'?[1] Vikings were brutal not only on plunder, but also in battles – they “were as mad as dogs or wolves”.[1] As a result, the Viking raids bring about a new warrior type to the history. In spite of all the above, they significantly changed the English history. As a result of the Viking raids, little English kingdoms united under one realm; therefore, England turned into political and cultural …show more content…
In a colloquial sphere, English met with new words such as 'muck', 'anger', 'skate'. In addition, the name of some places existing now have stemmed from that period of history, for example: places ending in -by, -thrope, -toft, etc. They founded new cities which we are familiar with; Irish cities such as Dublin and Waterford are not exceptions. In Their contribution to English ship-making was a substantially important result of that age. The trade with other kingdoms prospered economic situation; as shown in Picture2, trade area was as vast as raids. Their impact on trade was tightly associated with