The Vinland Sagas and Norse Settlement in Iceland
The Vinland Sagas chronicle the Norse community's settlement in Iceland. It contains two texts written to try to create the pattern of the Nose voyages to Iceland's Vinland region. The Saga of the Greenlanders and The Saga of Erik the Red are two contradictory explorations of the Notre Community's past. Essentially, the texts engage various perspectives on the journeys and settlements of the civilization that thrived during the Medieval period. Regardless, both texts provide readers with the ability to learn about the history, organization, religions, and politics of the Notre Dame nation. They give an insight into the ways by which the community conducted its activities.
Classes within the Norse Community
The Norse community was divided into three classes. These classes comprised the Karls who constituted the laymen in the society. Many of the individuals found in this class were mainly farmers and blacksmiths. Some of them owned land while others tended the noble lands. In this class, individuals tended to live together in one building. The buildings were often a cluster of two or more houses. The next class comprised the Jarls. Members of this class made constituted the rich in the society. Many of the noble men were to be found among the Jarls. They were secluded from the tow other classes and lived in furnished and embellished buildings made up of large halls. The noble men were recognized based on the number of ships they owned, the treasures they had and the number of followers they had. It was necessary for the Jarls to protect their followers from any external threats. The last class in the Notre community was commonly referred to as the brael. This class was mainly made up of slaves who had been captured in wars. It was however more than once that a Norseman of any class would be found in the Brael class if they were unable to pay their debts.
Norse Law and Justice System
In order to maintain order within the society, Norsemen were subject to laws which were projected to have originated from the gods of the community. A breach of the informal laws would result in a public trial after which, if found guilty, the perpetrator of the vice would be sent to death or banishment. In other cases, individuals would have their limbs chopped for minor breaches of the law. The Jarls were extended the opportunity to decide on the fate of the accused in the society. Essentially, while in some minor cases the Jarl would met out punishment for the prosecuted, in major cases such as mother, the priests in the community would be compelled to seek the wills of the gods and then issue a decision on the matter.
Norse Society, Warfare, and Family
The Norsemen were a highly aggressive community bent on war. In order to win the respect of the fellow community, one had to reflect fearlessness. Warriors in the community were held in awe while the cowards were looked down upon. In order to further command the respect of the community, Norsemen undertook dangerous adventures across the sea in search of treasure. On returning with treasures, an individual would secure more followers and thus increased admiration in the community. Likewise, respect could be secured if one returned from war with slaves and married well. The Jarls were often allowed the freedom to own female slaves. The slaves served the purpose of sufficing their sexual urges. Still, family comprised the most significant unit among the Norsemen. Each individual was expected to marry and raise children. The family unit was extended the role of teaching children the values of the Norsemen. Children would further be extended the basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothes within the family unit. A man with a family commanded the respect of the other individuals in the society.
Norse Religion and Conversion
Religion was a revered topic among the Norsemen. Every action that the Norsemen engaged in was believed to have been ratified by their gods. The Norsemen had several gods, each with a specific duty in the community. Children were taught to revere the gods and shrines were built to house the images of the gods in the community. The community further had religious celebrations which involved supplication and sacrifices. These ceremonies were conducted in the shrines that were erected to house the gods. The Norsemen were very loyal to their religion. For a long time, they resisted the overtures of Christianity. Conversion from other religions to the religion of the Norsemen, especially among the slaves, was a demanding process which entailed several rituals. Still, it was even harder for the Norsemen to assume a new religion such as Christianity. Christianity was frowned upon by the majority of the Norsemen who were assured of the superiority of their religion. Still, there were several elements in the Norsemen religion that were also found in Christianity. For instance, the Norsemen religion was practiced in pre-established shrines just as Christian worship was conducted in churches. Furthermore, both the religions reinforced the need for justice in the society.
Conclusion
The Vinland sagas succinctly capture the order of the Norsemen community. The Norsemen were vicious and were organized into classes. Each class of individuals reflected similar features. The three main classes included the Jarls (nobles), Karls (laymen) and Brael Slaves). The Norsemen revered their gods and created shrines of worship to house the gods. Lastly, family comprised one of the major units in the Norsemen community.
Bibliography
Magnus, Magnusson. The Vineland Sagas: The Norse Discovery of America. London: Penguin Books, 1965.
