One of the most famous cultures and peoples in terms of warriors they are vikings Many are the people who feel furious for them and there are numerous series, films and documentaries about how they spread throughout the world and forged their battles.
If you want to know a little more about this town, we encourage you to continue reading to know where it came from, what their customs were, their gods and how they spread.
Historical origins of the Vikings
Viking is how they were called warriors who carried out looting and raids and came from the Nordic peoples, from Scandinavia. They were great navigators and pillaged all over Europe.
El origin of the word "viking" is disputed, the sources are diverse and each one is disparate, since they come from the ancient runes "Tóki víking". There is an Old English poem where the word appears «wicing» as a synonym for pirate.
In any case, during romanticism he was an idealized figure and the name "viking" it extended deriving to other terms such as Viking culture or religion.
Originally, actually all The Norse were called Vikings. With this word they made reference to some barbarians who they considered uncivilized and who devastated what they found in their path.
Today we use the term Viking to refer to all the inhabitants of these Nordic towns back in the XNUMXth, XNUMXth, XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. However, Originally, only those who dedicated themselves to looting were called that way. already the war
Recent studies in Viking cemeteries speak of a more extensive origin, jumping from the borders of Scandinavia and expanding to other lands. Scottish skeletons were discovered in Viking burial grounds.
The DNA that has been investigated on the Vikings also points to other places like the British Isles, southern Europe and Asia. This before the popular image of what a Viking was created was created. That is to say, blond, tall... something that is known not to be the case, since many of them were brown haired.
Investigations of the Viking routes have also led to these types of conclusions. Most of the Vikings who used to go to parts of England, were of Danish descent. On the other hand, those who were going to Scotland, Ireland, Iceland or Greenland were Norwegians and those who went east were Swedish.
Culture
The Vikings belonged to a family of Germanic peoples whose language and culture were Germanic derived from animistic religions, as is the case with the rest of the Scandinavian peoples.
La The Viking Age began around the year 793. with the attack on the Lindisfarne monastery in England. This is the first known Viking attack. In 1066 with the death of King Harald Hardrada in the battle of Stamford Bridge would mark the end of said era.
We must not think that the Vikings were warriors day and night, but that They were peasants or farmers who, during the good weather, especially the summer, joined the expeditions by sea.
What was it that made these peoples embark on the sea despite the dangers involved? We cannot answer this question with a single answer. Many Researchers say that the climate change that occurred around that time has an important weight. This change would mean an improvement in life in northern Europe and would therefore encourage the Vikings to go to sea.
Other researchers point to different volcanic eruptions that led to movement and looting. The sky darkened for a long time, generally lowering the temperature by several degrees, something that was very harmful for agriculture. Along with this problem arose that of the so-called "Justinian plague" a pandemic from which much of the population of Scandinavia would perish. This could be the beginning or the inspiration on which the Nordics base the start of Ragnarök (end of days).
From Scandinavia to the world
The concern to expand territories, to loot and colonize together with the strong feeling of survival led the vikings to different places and directions. The beginning of the crossings were not exactly easy, many Vikings perished in the attempt. However, the ships were increasing, as well as the Vikings who wanted to embark.
The Viking ships are called longships and they were long ships with very recognizable shapes from a distance.
The culture of these towns was taking a strong feeling of warriors, of honor and dynasties were created. They created an extensive internal and external commercial network that was insufficient and looting began.
Expeditions and Raids: Warriors, Explorers, and Traders
They were virtuous sailors, merchants... and they saw in looting a way of life. Monasteries or other places well known for their commercial activity and wealth were the sights of many of the expeditions.
They went from monasteries to besieging towns and would soon give way to trade prisoners of war as slaves. The fear of seeing a Viking ship on the horizon spread like wildfire. Such was the case that many times their mere presence made people give them their treasures to try to survive.
Ireland, Scotland and England were one of the main places chosen to besiege them regularly.
The end of the Viking age: the Christianization of Scandinavia
Everything that begins ends, and the Viking Age was no exception. Key to this ending is the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066.. Edward the Confessor died without issue and the dispute began in search of power by those who could and wanted to have it.
Guillermo de Normandía was the one who had indicated the king as successor, but at the time of his death, he changed his mind and gave it to his brother-in-law Harold Godwinson. There pacts and disputes for the English throne began.
We must add two more men to this equation: Tostig, Harold's brother, and Harald III of Norway, who would agree with Tostig to invade England and divide the throne. Faced with the threat posed by William of Normandy, Tostig and Harald made an agreement with the Vikings and told them to land in the north of the country. The battles were disputed until reaching the key battle for the end of the Viking age. Harald and Tostig would be killed in that battle, the lack of organization in the armies they commanded as well as fatigue took its toll and the battle was lost... many were the Vikings who perished and the survivors decided to flee to their ships but were persecuted. Finally they had no choice but to surrender to the Saxons and that marked the end of the Viking invasions of the British Isles.
El Viking power was diminishing and along with the conversion of many of them to Christianity, the age of the Vikings came to an end.
