Between A.D. 800 and Eleventh Century, most Scandinavians flee their homelands to seek their fortunes in other places (Krim, 2018). The Scandinavians, who were majorly warriors, were collectively referred to as Vikings, or the Norsemen (Northmen). They started by raiding various coastal sites, particularly the British Isles’ undefended monasteries (Krim, 2018). After the next three centuries, the Vikings left their mark as raiders, pirates, settlers, and traders on much of present-day Britain and the entire European continent (Krim, 2018). They also settled in various parts of present-day Russia, Greenland, Iceland, and Newfoundland (Mixa & Vaiman, 2015). This paper explores the Vikings culture in Europe with the focus on its history, representation in the U.S., artistic contributions, values, religions, gender roles, as well as what people needed to know to acculturate into the Vikings culture.
History of the Vikings Culture
The history of the Vikings culture can be traced back to the Viking Age between 793 and 1066 AD (Arnold, 2009). The Viking Age was a time in European history that followed the Germanic Iron age, and it was the period during which the Scandinavian Norsemen travelled across Europe through the seas and rivers for raids, trade, conquest, and colonization (Arnold, 2009). During the Viking Age, the Norsemen ended up settling in various parts of Europe and Norse Greenland. They also settled in modern-day Iceland, Normandy, Faroe Islands, Sweden, England, Norway, Scotland, the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and Isle of Man (Krim, 2018). The Viking explorers and colonists were viewed at most historical points as brutal raiders. Most historical records indicate that their conquest of other countries was retaliatory responses to the Christian missionaries’ encroachment on their tribal lands (Krim, 2018). The Viking travellers' invasion of other areas was also motivated by trade inequalities, overpopulation, as well as the lack of fertile agricultural land in their homeland (Arnold, 2009).
Contrary to some widespread perceptions, the Vikings was not a group or race connected by common ancestral ties or patriotism, and any form of "Viking-ness could describe them." Most of the well-known Vikings came from various areas such as present-day Norway, Sweden, and Denmark (Brett & Sawyer, 1984). What they shared in common that distinguished them from other European populations was that they were not civilized in the local view or understanding of the world. Besides, they came from a foreign land, and they were not Christians (Brett & Sawyer, 1984).
The actual reasons behind the Vikings’ exploration of other regions are uncertain. Some sources suggest they ventured out from their homeland due to population pressure, while others claim that they were looking for riches (Mixa & Vaiman, 2015). During the Eighth Century A.D., the European continent was getting richer, facilitating the expansion of trading centres in various parts of the continent, especially present-day England (Mixa & Vaiman, 2015). The Scandinavian furs attracted high prices in the new trading centres. From their interaction with the European traders, the Scandinavians acquired new sailing technology and learned of the growing wealth in Europe, as well as the existing conflicts between various European kingdoms (Arnold, 2009). The Viking predecessors (the pirates who stayed in the Baltic Sea preying on the merchant ships) would then capitalize on the Scandinavians’ acquired knowledge to broaden their fortune-seeking missions into the North Sea and other areas (Arnold, 2009).
Representation of the Vikings Culture in the United States
According to the existing Icelandic historical records, the early Viking settlers in Greenland might have been the first to people from Europe to discover and explore North America, the present-day United States (Brett & Sawyer, 1984). The early Viking settlers named their first landing place as Vineland (Wine-land), and they later constructed temporary settlements at L'Anse aux Meadows, the present-day Newfoundland. There is little or no proof of the Vikings' presence in the United States beyond their brief occupation of Newfoundland since they did not form permanent settlements (Brett & Sawyer, 1984).
Nature of the Vikings Culture
The Vikings was an individualistic culture, as opposed to collectivistic. One of the examples that justify the Vikings’ individualism relates to the mid-ninth century when England, Scotland, and Iceland became their major targets for both raids and settlement (Mixa & Vaiman, 2015). The Vikings took control of Scotland's Northern Isles (the Orkneys and Shetland), the Hebrides, as well as much of the Mainland Scotland (Mixa & Vaiman, 2015). The Vikings started the first trading towns in Ireland and created their base on the coastal part of Ireland for launching attacks both within Ireland and across the Irish Sea to various parts of England. Eventually, the Vikings resisted their enemies and made several conquests in Europe (Mixa & Vaiman, 2015).
Artistic Contributions of Vikings Culture
During the first millennium AD, the Vikings were already experts at exploring the connections between urban trading, technology, and international economics. During the Viking Age, Europe experienced substantial technological advances, including the innovation of the vertical loom and the potter’s wheel, which got manufactured by the Viking settlers (Arnold, 2009). Among the most identifiable Viking artefacts were their brooches, which signified status, gender, and ethnicity. The Vikings also made glass bead jewelry, and the beads were made by manipulation of coloured glass during the glass melting process (Arnold, 2009). Other Viking artefacts included knife handles, ice skates, and hair combs, all made from animal bones. The Vikings were also experts in shipbuilding and navigation. Besides, they had various annual celebrations, such as the Jorvik Viking Festival (Arnold, 2009).
Values of Vikings Culture
The Vikings culture had nine values, also known as virtues that they acquired from the Asatru religion and ancient Norse teachings. The nine values included courage, honor, truth, Discipline, Fidelity, Hospitality, self-reliance, industriousness, and perseverance (Krim, 2018). For example, fidelity implied being faithful or loyal to the Vikings’ beliefs and practices. The Vikings defended their families and friends irrespective of the cost (Krim, 2018). In the context of the value of courage, the Vikings were famous for their courage and bravery during battles, and it was their courageousness that enabled them to have several conquests (Brett & Sawyer, 1984). Another example relates to the Vikings’ value of self-reliance. The Vikings were warriors by nature, and they were therefore independent. That does not imply that the Vikings did not like other people. It indicates that they strived to ensure that they did not depend on other cultures for survival (Brett & Sawyer, 1984).
Religion(s) of Vikings Culture
The Vikings had several religions, including the Asatru religion, paganism, and the Old Norse religion. The Old Norse was the widely practiced religion among the Vikings, and it emerged during the Proto-Norse period, from the early Germanic religion, following the disintegration of the North Germanic population into different groups of Germanic populations (Mixa & Vaiman, 2015). The Old Norse believers were polytheists, who believed in different goddesses and gods, and they were divided into the Vanir and the Esir groups, which were equally influential. Some of the Old Norse religion's most powerful gods included Thor and Ooinn (Mixa & Vaiman, 2015). Besides, the Norse theory about the origin of the world revolved around a world tree (Yggdrasil), which had different monarchies or realms existing together with the one for humans (Midgard). However, the Old Norse religion was later replaced by Christianization (Mixa & Vaiman, 2015).
Sex and Gender role differences in Vikings Culture
The Vikings did not share the contemporary ideals of gender equality and people’s freedom to act outside their typical societal gender roles. The Vikings’ men had higher social positions than the women, and a person’s worth was believed to consist of how one fulfilled his or her gender roles (Arnold, 2009). The men were given the responsibility of initiating marriage proposals, as well as negotiating marriage terms. The women did not have much say in the marriage process, and the women's families conducted marriage negotiations on the bride's behalf. Additionally, the women's primary roles related to caring for the children, as well as performing various tasks relating to farming (Arnold, 2009). On the other hand, Vikings men had both the homestead management roles and other farm-related tasks. Also, in the Vikings culture, only men were allowed to hold political positions and occupy legal offices. Besides, only men engaged in fights with the enemies. The only thing women could do during battles was to flee to avoid being raped by the enemies (Arnold, 2009).
What People Need to Know to Acculturate into Vikings Culture
During the Viking Age, getting acculturated into the Vikings culture required one to interact with the Vikings during various campaign events, or during the Norse settlement. However, one had to approach the interaction from a political or military viewpoint to get accepted or absorbed into the Vikings culture. Through the formation of political and military alliances, it was easy for one to get acculturated into the Vikings culture (Brett & Sawyer, 1984).
Conclusion
In overall, the end of the Viking age was marked by the 1066’s events in England, which got characterized by Christianization. By then, all the Scandinavian kingdoms had converted to Christianity and whatever remained of the Vikings culture was getting integrated into the Christian Europe culture. Today, elements of the Vikings legacy are most evident in the Scandinavian origins of particular names of places and vocabularies used in the countries where the Vikings settled.
References
Arnold, M. (2009). The Vikings in England: Settlement, Society and Culture - By D. M. Hadley. Historian, 71(1), 157-158. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-6563.2008.00233_49.x
Brett, E., & Sawyer, P. (1984). Kings and Vikings: Scandinavia and Europe, AD 700-1100. The History Teacher, 17(3), 467. doi: 10.2307/493162
Krim, A. (2018). Ancestral Journeys: The Peopling of Europe from the First Venturers to the Vikings. Geographical Review, 108(2), 334-336. doi: 10.1111/gere.12234
Mixa, M., & Vaiman, V. (2015). Individualistic Vikings: Culture, Economics and Iceland., 11(2), 355. doi: 10.13177/irpa.a.2015.11.2.12
