- Kris Dempster
- Saturday, July 01, 2023
In late February 2022, a new Vikings television series was created and featured on Netflix titled, Vikings: Valhalla. In the beginning episode of Season 1, there is a scene depicting the historical event, St. Brice’s Day Massacre, where the English King at the time orders the killing of all Danes due to the threat to the king’s life. At the time while viewing (not until early 2023 for me), I had never heard of this massacre. I was intrigued to find out if this really happened. As a librarian, I knew where I needed to go. This was the beginning of my journey and deep dive into Viking history. This is my #SummerLearningChallenge!
In early June of 793 in the English Kingdom of Northumbria, a small holy island, named Lindisfarne, was raided and attacked and many of the people, who were religious monks, on the island perished. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, which were a collection of written records narrating this history of the Anglo-Saxons, “heathen men came and miserably destroyed God’s church in Lindisfarne, with plunder and slaughter.” These “heathen men” were the original Vikings and this event is what most scholars agree as the beginning of the Viking Age in Western Europe. Although, there are had been a few earlier attacks in the southern British Isles the raid and plunder on Lindisfarne was the foundation of more to come.
The definition of the word ‘Viking’ has evolved over time. Depending on Old Norse or Old English languages, the definitions are generally similar. In Old Norse, it is spelled víkingr, which roughly means “plunderer or “pirate” and in Old English, the word derives from the wicing, which is defined as “men who frequent or attack ports.” Another definition derives from the word vik, used in Scandinavia, which literally means bay or coves and “men of the bays.” Over time, however, the term Viking has come to be known as a culture, an art and a way of life.
Most Vikings were of Scandinavian ancestry coming from Norway, Sweden and Denmark, called Norsemen or Northmen by foreign adversaries. Through archaeology and artifacts, we know that they were traders, seafarers and explorers. We also know that the Vikings did not only explore the west but the surprising, new archaeological discoveries present that they traveled east to what is today known as Russia, Baghdad and as far south as India. They traveled by long-ships through various river routes and traded gold, silver, jewels, coins, furs and many other objects. Researchers using new archaeological technology can determine that these modern archaeological discoveries have been dated back to the eighth and ninth centuries.
Vikings did not write about themselves. We know a lot of information about them through writers from different regions and countries that they attacked and plundered. At some point in the late twelfth or thirteenth century, Viking sagas became known as their historical written documents. However, we can only take the sagas at face value due to the actual events happening and long gap between the writing of them. Many of the important sagas were written by Snorri Sturluson who was born in Iceland in the mid-12th Century. He developed a deep, historical and traditional knowledge of the history of the Scandinavian peoples and began writing sagas. Many of the saga’s writings were passed down from generation to generation so information provided within them is susceptible to skepticism. Snorri wrote about mythology, fantasy along with some realistic information that can be validated through archaeology and other chronicles written.
Many scholars agree that the end Viking Age was in 1066 after the Battle of Hastings between the armies of the English king at the time, Harold Godwinson, and William Duke of Normandy, later known as William the Conqueror. The Vikings, however, continued to raid other regions, including Scotland and Ireland along with their islands until about the late thirteenth century. They also explored and settled in Iceland and Greenland and even traveled as far west as North America. There is no doubt the Vikings were responsible for awful and terrible acts and guilty as charged nevertheless they are, to this day, a fascinating culture, experience and society to study and research.
Interested in learning more? Check out these excellent reads at Richland Library.
River Kings: A New History of the Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Roads by Cat Jarman
An amazing story of the Viking Age that follows a small piece of ancient jewelry that was found in a Viking mass grave in the small village of Repton in England. Using innovative and brand-new forensic technology, author Cat Jarman, a bio-archaeologist, investigates and researches the trail of how and why this ancient carnelian bead was buried within this mass grave. Cat weaves the western exploration of the Vikings with the eastern exploration to determine the historical figures that may have held this ancient bead and routes the bead traveled to its final resting place.
The Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women by Nancy Marie Brown
A fantastic tale of an unknown Viking warrior buried during the Viking Age. In 1878, an archaeologist excavated bones from a research site in Birka, Sweden labeling it Bj581. The grave also contained a large amount of Viking objects, including a sword, axe, knife, shields and a few others items. For more than 130 years, experts considered the remains of the warrior male. In 2017, through new DNA technology, researchers were able to determine for certain this once claimed male warrior was actually a female warrior dating back to the mid-tenth century. The author interlaces Viking fact and fiction to provide a remarkable story of this female warrior.
The Far Traveler: Voyages of a Viking Woman by Nancy Marie Brown
In the 11th century, a Viking woman named Gudrid sailed along with a crew of other Vikings to Vinland, a magnificent North American land discovered by Leif Erikson. The author draws from historical research and evidence to explore Gudrid’s and the crew’s movements throughout this newfound land. In the 1960s, archaeologists discovered a Norse settlement in what is now known as L’Anse aux Meadows in the Canadian Province of Newfoundland. In the early 2000s, through new carbon dating and dendrochronology, researchers were able to determine that this was the first settlement of Europeans in North America and date their visit to late 10th to early 11th century.
The Viking Heart: How Scandinavians Conquered the World by Arthur Herman
An exciting historical account of the Scandinavian peoples beginning with their mythology to contemporary times. The author, Arthur Herman, selects influential people of Scandinavian ancestry and writes a short biographical script of each person. He also discusses the exploration during the Viking Age, from as far west as North America, as far east as Russia and as far south as India. The author also describes the Viking culture and their way of life and how they brought their culture to America in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Beyond the Northlands: Viking Voyages and the Old Norse Sagas by Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough
This book takes a deep dive in the Norse Sagas and explores the Viking Age in a complete and exhaustive analysis. The author, Eleanor Barraclough, a professor of Medieval History, does extensive research by using world maps, manuscripts and texts from around the world, archaeological finds to detail the movements, travels and journeys of the Vikings during this fascinating period. She touches on Viking mythology, early writings, genealogies, battles, kings and queens of Scandinavia and much more.
Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings by Neil Price
An epic history of the Vikings with an enormous amount of historical facts, myths, and tales of Vikings from the beginning of time to end of the Viking Age. This comprehensive work examines the Viking culture, religion, politics, and art by studying ancient relics, chronicles, religious texts and archaeology to bring their story to life. Archaeologist, Neil Price, details various king’s and queen’s lives and tells the story of how each became a significant piece of Viking history. This classic book is the perfect beginning title for anyone looking to research the Vikings and their culture.
Northmen: The Viking Saga, AD 793-1241 by John Haywood
A comprehensive and historical look at the Viking Age from the eighth century to the middle of the thirteenth century. Author, John Haywood, an expert in the medieval times, provides a detailed history of the Scandinavian peoples beginning from their mythology, to historical texts of Lindisfarne, to exploration of the Scottish and Irish islands, to Iceland, Greenland, and North America and the kings and queens of this period. The author also references important events and dates of this time period along with mentioning significant battles and their outcomes.
The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England 400-1066 by Marc Morris
A captivating and unique history of the Anglo-Saxons. This fascinating history tells the story of why the Romans departed from the British Isles in the early fifth century, the different kingdoms and battles that happened during this tumultuous 600 year period, the Vikings and culminating with the coronation of William Duke of Normandy, as known as, William the Conqueror. Through detailed and thorough research of writings, reports, texts and archaeology, the author provides a amazingly comprehensive background of the Anglo-Saxons, their way of life and ultimate clashes with different kingdoms and populations concluding with the coronation of William, the Conqueror.
Interested in creating your own Summer Learning Challenge? Find out more here.