The Origins Of The Viking - 2866 Words

The term Viking commonly relinquishes thoughts of ship-born warriors and pillagers known as the Norsemen, or men from the north, who originated in Scandinavia and raided the coasts of Britain, Ireland and mainland Europe as far east as the Volga River in Russia from the late 8th to 11th century. The terminology of the Viking has also been denoted by historians as entire populations of Viking Age Scandinavia and their settlements. Although the Norsemen are infamous for their pillaging and plundering they were also intensely focused on establishing sufficient trade routes throughout Europe and implementing economically sustainable villages with functional currency. Although the barbarian invasions undoubtedly deepened the initial economic crisis and the emergence of the barbarian kingdoms made traveling less safe which accelerated the collapse of long distance trade. At the same time also declining the importance of the cities as cultural and trade centers. The claim that the barbaria n invasions resulted in a long tenured period of general economic and cultural decline can be argued against with sufficient evidence. Considering the economic crisis started much earlier and could not be reversed neither by the reforms of Diocletian nor of Constantine. It was not until after this initial depression that the extensive trade routes of the Norsemen were able to redefine Europe economically and culturally. The established Norse trade network included trading relationshipsShow MoreRelatedThe Origins Of The Viking Era866 Words   |  4 PagesDuring the Viking Era, expansion to the west, as well as the east, introduced a new wave of technology, industrialization and development, and culture to the European world. The Viking’s expeditions to both were quite similar in that advancements stemmed from their adventures east and west. However, expeditions from the eastern Vikings (Sweden) were heavily dependent on the usage and development of economic centers, specifically the Byzantine Empire, powerful and rich in culture, as well as RussiaRead MoreThe Origins Of The Viking Age1174 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the most interesting times in medieval history is the era known as the Viking Age. When these fierce sea-borne raiders rummaged and plundered European sea ports of their valuables and treasures. These Scandinavian inhabitants were known to most of the world as a barbaric group, w hen in reality, there style of attacking had more skill than the world had seen. They struck fear and intimidation into their victims and made the whole European seaboard quake in angst for their arrival. Not onlyRead MoreThe Vikings – The Most Brutal of all Barbarians The Dark Ages were a period of great upheaval,1100 Words   |  5 PagesThe Vikings – The Most Brutal of all Barbarians The Dark Ages were a period of great upheaval, battles, plague and very little cultural growth. This period began with the fall of Rome around 410 and lasted about 650 years. Rome was often referred to as the â€Å"mother land† and her fall created a loss of trade and commerce sending Western Europe into chaos. Lords from all over Europe were fighting to take control. These struggles from within Europe made it easy for outside forces to invade and takeRead MoreChristopher Columbus : The Discovery Of New Land1041 Words   |  5 Pagesundisputable evidence which proves that in fact, the Vikings had first sailed to the Americas. The Vikings were people from the north of Scandinavia, whose origins came from Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden. They were known for being well experienced at sea travel and navigation. The era characterized for their high power and influence, was defined as the Viking Age. That era took place between the years 700s and 1100s. During the Viking Age, they had briefly settled in Italy, Russia, SpainRead MoreThe Impact Of Viking Raids On The British Isles1622 Words   |  7 Pagespredominantly Denmark and Norway, the Vikings began raiding the British Isles in the late 700s (James). The Vikings primarily targeted monasteries, because that is where most of the wealth was concentrated (Loughrey). These raids were very violent, people were killed, and the survivors were sold into slavery (Loughrey). These violent raids earned the Vikings the reputation of barbarians, much like the Mongols a few centuries later in Asia. After some time, once the Vikings exhausted most of the wealt h inRead MoreThe Age of the Vikings Essay1648 Words   |  7 PagesWhen someone mentions the word ‘Viking’, the image that comes to mind is usually not pleasant. Often pictured as bloodthirsty barbarians in horned helmets, the Vikings are one of the most unfairly stereotyped ethnic groups. Although a large part of the Viking lifestyle involved invading and pillaging, they also had a rich culture that included unique gods and goddesses and fascinating traditions. Although often overlooked, the Vikings were some of the most amazing and accomplished people ever toRead MoreOld English Period1121 Words   |  5 PagesThe dialects of Old English are more or less co-terminus with the regional kingdoms. The different Germanic tribes brought their unique dialects which were then continued in England. Thus we have a Northumbrian dialect (Anglian in origin), a Kentish dialect (Jutish in origin), etc. The question as to what degree of cohesion already existed between the Germanic dialects when they were still spoken on the continent is unclear. Scholars of the 19th century favored a theory whereby English and Frisian formedRead MoreCompare the Evidence of a Nordic Presence in the Americas Before the Arrival of Columbus with the Evidence of a West African Presence During That Period.1652 Words   |  7 Pagespresent; there are still debates as to whether or not they actually came to the Americas before Columbus. Some believe that the evidence of the presence of the Nordics is more admissible than that of the West Africans. The Norse (also known as the Vikings) got their name from the language they spoke, ‘Old Norse’. They were originally from Scandinavian countries. It believed that they came to the new world for several reasons such as; the fact that it had a rich supply of salt to preserve their goodsRead MoreThe Origins of Russia Essay1166 Words   |  5 PagesThe Origins of Russia The country of Russia: enormous, expansive, wide-open. The words that describe this Euro-Asian country can be attributed to its origins from its Slavic inhabitants and the takeover by the Varangians. Kievan Russia, as it was called, started its own civilization in the year 862. The problem with the origin of the Russian State is that it is exceedingly complex and many theories are based on circumstantial evidence. A good example of this is the early history of theRead MoreThe Vikings : The Last And Most Dramatic Exodus1690 Words   |  7 Pagesthe northeast coast of England, are unpleasantly surprised by the arrival of violent raiders from the sea. Their misfortune is the first clearly dated event in the saga of the Vikings - the last and most dramatic exodus in the long story of migration from Scandinavia, the original home of the Goths and Vandals. The name Viking is thought to derive from vikingr, a word for pirate in the early Scandinavian languages. It accurately describes the Norsemen who for two centuries raid the coasts of Britain