Or… THE VIKINGS!

Origins and Spread of Scandinavian Culture

Vikings did not wear these…

They did not normally use double headed axes but instead mostly spears

Vikings used human skulls as drinking vessels. There was a phrase saying that the Danes drink ór bjúgviðum hausa(“from the curved branches of skulls,” or horns) was translated into Latin as ex craniis eorum quos ceciderunt (“from the skulls of those whom they had slain”).

Busting the Myths

Pirates that came from Scandinavia (years 800 and 1150). The people who lived there were called Norsemen, or Northmen. 

The word Viking means one who lurks in a 'vik' or bay, aka pirate.

Vikings placed heavy emphasis on battle, honor and focused on the idea of Valhalla, a mythical home with the gods for fallen warriors.

What are Vikings?

The theory that Vikings were ruthless plunderers and murderers is at times accurate but not always

Farmers and fishermen Reasons why the Vikings left Scandinavia:

Their boat-building skillsFierce winters left few crops There was not enough land to go around

Expansionists

FIRST- attackers from Norway raid in 795, and the church on Lambeg Island was plundered and burnt.

Attacked monasteries because cattle, valuables and food were often stored in monastic settlements. They sold items

In the beginning they would plunder and leave- hit and run raids. Then the lightning raids began in 837 AD (more intense attacks). Now

permanent bases were established (Ex. at the mouth of the Liffey, later called Dublin).

50-100 ships, months

Dublin developed as a trading town and became one of the richest cities in western Europe due to shipbuilding, slaves and commerce.

Then the back and forth The Vikings eventually settled down in the lands they had

conquered. By 950, the Vikings had stopped raiding in Ireland and developed instead as traders and settled in the lands around their towns. The Vikings left many placenames in Ireland including: Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford. A few of their words were also adopted into the Irish language

Taking over Ireland

Norse names found occasionally in Ireland still include Cotter, Dowdall, Dromgoole, Gould, Harold, Howard, Loughlin, Sweetman and Trant.

So…?

Vikings didn't write down their history (except for some runestone inscriptions) until they had converted to Christianity

Any history prior to that was passed on through an oral tradition carried on by skalds. Skalds were Scandinavian bards who recited

epic poems (called sagas) recounting the deeds of famous Viking kings and lords.

Spread of Scandinavian culture

Iceland

England

Greenland

France

Russia

Normandy

Beowulf is the oldest surviving epic in British literature. It survived two famous events:The destruction of religious artifacts during the

dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII A disastrous fire which destroyed the library of

Sir Robert Bruce Cotton (1571-1631)

Fun Fact