First Facts about the Vikings (First Facts: Everyday Character Education)

FIRST FACTS about the VIKINGS • Edllor: PENNY CU\RKE ""'".,,re3t farnlly !lOlls. grew !lOme oats or rye to gtve...

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FIRST FACTS about the

VIKINGS

•

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01!)''''O

C

ONTENTS

7 INTRODUCTION 8 FACT: MOST VIKINGS WERE aUlrr HOME-LOVERS 10 rACT: A VIKING'S fAMILY WAS WYAL

12 FACT: VIKINCS' lirE "'AS HARSH 14 FACT: Vnor-
16 FACT: VIKI'GS WERE FINE SAILORS 18 FACT: To GO 'A-\'IKt'C' \IEANT TO GO RAlD1NG

20 FACT: MOST V[KIt"CS WERE fAR~IERS

22 FACT: VIK1'!GS wt:u I.AW-AB10ll'-G cmZH'S 24 FACT: SoME CHRISTIAN SAINTS WERE VIKINGS

26 FACT: A GOOD DAY'S rlGHlINC E."'OEO IN A FEAST 28 FACT: A GLORIOUS DEATII WAS BmER THAN A W!,(C LIFE

30 GLOSSARY 311NDEX

INTRODUCTION

•

lKIf'GS spent all their Ume raiding. and looUng and they killed anyone: who gOlln their way. right? That's

the Idea most people have of them. but Is It true? Why did so many of

them leave their homes to cross rough seas In small boats? Their ancestors had lived for centuries In the lands we call Scandinavia: Norway. Sweden and Denmark. They were farmers. flshemlcn and traders. By the 8th century they were moving lnto other lands around the Baltic Sea. But the rest of Europe Ignored the VIkings unU] the 9th century, when boatloads of raiders began to attack the coasts of Britain, Ireland, France, Spain and the Mediterranean. They settled In Iceland ., - J and Greenland. A few even reached America. For 300 years. from about 790 to 1 100 the Vikings raided. traded and explored further than any Europeans before them. It took courage. or desperation, to sail out of Sight of land across the AtlanUc - no other sailors would attempt this unUI Christopher Columbus in 1492.

umalns In

; Newfoundland. I..';;""~';;;~;~; proving Viking I" tales of Anding a land In lh~ far

FACT:

MOST VIKINGS WERE QUIET

T

HOME~LOVERS

HE VIKINGS

Facts abo ut Vl klni,! Homes:

were farmers and traders. Those who could earn a

Hffieby coverM about 60 aeres. ThIs was big for a VIklng town. Blrka In S~"n

wa" about half this size,

-",,,,",.b11, living were usually content to stay where they were. Some lived In quite

MOIIl houses measured 20 by 50 feet and lasted about 30 years.

large towns. These were good meeUng places

When too rotten to repair. they were pulled dol'.'11 and rebuilt.

where people brought things to buy and sell. Below Is the town of Hedcby In the land of the Danish Vikings. LIke all Viking towns It

was built near water. That was essential. Water was the easiest way to travel or to transport goods. Carts were slow and could not cross rough. boggy land or mountains.

There were no windows. just a hole at the top of each end wall.

Cleaning the hOll5ol' was not very

Important. Rubbish on th" floor was sw"pt out ev"i1' so oft"n.

Into

the ~a to prolect th" ",""",.

""

Sl1l':am "'as t he town's drain

•

hod

IlOUSES were JU:'~'~.;.. In which the family ~

MA.w

S1"pt. The walls. made of watlle and daub or wooden planks. were Hoed WIth boards to k~p out the

.

,"

log-paving

-~

and where you wash~. Water for drtnklng came from

RooI"S wt':nl

made of reeds Ued down wllh

spilt hazel twigs.

_Us .

mud -~.

cold. The nre

was In the middle of the room. MAKlSG wattle

and daub: woven hazel slTlps

covered "C.'~'-

TilE wo

ttOUSt:S

on the

main slr=t3 belo~ to merchants and craft5men. Many had a workor sto",houS<' and a I and poultl)'.

9

FACT: A VIKING'S fAMILY WAS LOYAL ""'"
generationS 1I~ l.lh~ Everyone helped In running the home and the

family farm or workshop.

1 A VTI(Jso home was the famlly woTkp]a~. There was little room for fumlturf:, jU51 a few stools and perhaps a bed for the headman and his wife. Most people slept on qUilts on " low platfonn along the wall.

J

FOOD was kept In Jars or barrels.

.2

If"- ~';'" ~ •

Th" woman abov" Is

packIng down salted meat.

VIKING was always loyal. Anyone who was no t was despised. People sided with their own relations. even If they had done wrong. A VIking family was a wlde etwork. with uncles. aunts and cousins usually

WHE.'1

comrad~

vowed brothcrhood It WB.S a binding proml~

ofloyalty.

living close to each other. They all helped each o ther. If any membe r was aHacked or Insulted. a ll the others were ready to t~:::,;':'~v:enge. Families had extra protection if the men were f( of Jarls. Jarls were powerful local chieftains. with lots of land. Less wealthy freemen were rarmers or traders. They had the nght to carry weapons and If they owned land they could take part In local decision making. The poorest freemen might be selVants. Below them we re the thralls. They were slaves and had no nghts a t all.

facts about Vlkloa: families; III ",1mer In the Car north the~ ~ w~ks with little daylight and temperatures below ~ro. so Viking liCe was hartt. To many, a rouple drank 'bndal all" befo~ witnesses. The nllln paId a 'bndepnce' for hlB wife. She had a doW<)' from her father. which was ~pald on divorce. Sam" IJnusual grounds for dIvorce we.e, for Instance. a wife who \VOrl' po"mt$ or a husband whose shtn was

100 fancy for a man.

VnUNGS liked child~n to show spirit, No one admIred wcakltng~. Boy~ and g!rl9 had to work hard. and boy~ WC~ trained to fight. In the VIking world. strong peoptc dId best.

ThI:RE WC~ no schools. Skills were taught at

home,

MAHKiAGItS we~

arranged, but dIvorce was ea.sy. Th" husband or had only to t~ll wltn"",!lC'ft r.hat the marriage WaS O\'er and say why.

wle"

~ple

Ca iliured In raids or thdr de!lcetldants.

anc:estors was of learning.

g"~

rould stan feuds ramtUes, If the Iict]m's family took n"\'Cnge. there would be UI -for -tal IdlUngs and house burnings.

'~~~1fl

VII(I!';OS desplsed cowards. No VikIng would desert a leader he had promIsed to suppon , He must fight tQ the death, TII"n his widow and children couLd be proud of hIm.

FACT:

VIKINGS' LIFE WAS HARSH A I"Ieh Vlldng'. diet: .11 much raJ meat all pos!IJble. chkM-n. nsh,

winters. Even In

~.

good years farmers struggled to produce enough food [or everyone. A wet summer eould If there was no grain there was no bread: If there was no hay cattie could not survive the winter. This gave Vikings a tough vtew of life. The old and the III were not fed when food was short. Children

were usually well cared for because they were the workers of the futu re. but If a new baby was sickly It was left to die. No family could risk having to feed a

useless person for a lifetime. Cooking was done by the women of the family. If there were no servants. children helped as soon as they could. COOeg~

was

wa5

eaten

rrom~

ralKd hnnh. rood was .pltroa.!oled , baked

platters.

over the fire stewed In a cauldron hung from the ceiling

12

FOOD

~ona

Of

facts about the Vikings' Diet:

lived in cold lands with hard

cheese. wheat bread. ale or

tmpone
~'ranki&h

WIne

Olet of a poor Viking; mwt broth. wild l~ks. pon1d# and bad!:)' bread. with ale to drink .

COOKING l.J're.'~:

,-,

I RcasUng spear

.\

"-

• --"

~

<

J

-

,

".• -9 c

~~

3 Wooden ladle 4 Iron $palula 5 Iron ladle 6 Skewering fork 7 Spark·strlker 8 T"..,.Ung Iron.

the,..., W3.'I plenty of f,...,sh meal and Osh II was preserved for later. FIsh was dried and smoked and meat was sa lted. WU!:N

IN

To

IIt.O.lw. ilR&AD

grain was ground to Hour In a quem. The Hour was mixed with yea!ll and water and len to rise. Then It wa,. baked.

IN SI,lMMER there were wild fruIt and berries to cat. In auwmn t1u:n: we,..., nuts and mu,.hrooms.

.~ .~

I •

''---=--

...~.'

V,KINGS ate as much proteIn as thqr could: whale meat. beef. multon. pork. relndeer, Hsh and Kal.

M/ly NlO JUt'll:

"'-~~_~_J.J seabirds nested l,m the cUlT,.. Bu.ow; A farmIng This WIIS the family's evening time to meal: nsh. ham, gather eggs. leeks and bread.

r

••

DRlNIUM') HOIlN'S were empUed In one gulp. so II dId not mailer that they did not stand upright.

used knIves and thelr lingers. V(IU.~(lS

FACT: VIK IN GS WERE SKILLED AT MAKING THINGS IKII"GS needed to know how to make things. Famlllcs on Isolated farms had to be self~sumcicnt. The men had to be carpenters and blacksmiths as well as farmers. They felled timber, put up buildings. made wagons. sledges. furniture and plows. They forged tools and weapons from Iron and made leather from animals' hides for harnesses, boots and capes. The women made butter. cheese and ale. They also made all the clalh the family needed. After sheepsheartng they carded the wool. Then. in every spare minute. they spun it Into the thread from which they would weave cloth for clothes, blankets and waH hangings. People living near towns did not have to make all these things because they could buy them In markets - hut of course they were still hand-made.

VIKJ.~G men wore cloaks pinned on O,e kfi shoulder \.0 I"av" the sword

ann free.

skUled smiths made sword blades patterned with st"el. or Inlaid o.~LV

ax"s. The smith cui th" design Into the b lade In grooves and then hammered In sHYer wire.

-:::;;;_ fo

lLAnl!:R WORKERS

made shoes. harnesses and saddlery.

O:
.-

WOMENwo~a

""""~ m,]~

..... " " " of wool (If" limen. and

pass

a

winl".

$hort~ 0Vff·

dTt$$ h,,]d by two big brooches. 1\

~lngs.

ol\en had a band of decora!iotl al ARMOR ancl

weapons were made by an

amlOn:r.

the hem. A shawl. pInned at the throat. was added for w.mnlh.

Facts about Viking Dress: I'"or a Viking. Iou Qf gold rings and armbands was loday'5 equivalent of nwney In the bank. Goods could Ix:

paid for ""1lh Jewelry or oolns. Worn,," carried thIngs they nttded orten - keys, knlf", comb. scissors on chains hanging from II brooch. Marned wo~n CQ\'e~ thelr haIr with a scarf.

Rubbing shoes with seal blubber

walt. P' oored ItHom

ClOTllw.KIHG

tools: ] Loom weight. 2 Comb

for cardIng wooL 3 Spindle for spInning Ihn:ad. 4 Reel for windi ng

thread. 5 Sh"ars.

WUVING: """Ights

kepI the ,'erUeal warp Ihn:llds

taut. Thl' weft thn:ad~ wrr~

J....1'QII'Tn) luxury goods; fu .... sllk. melal ..'Ork. glru!II and poItery.

"

FACT, V l K lNGS WERE FlNE SAlLORS lAAolNO

boaLS took goods

along the coasL

SING a boat was part of a Viking's daily life. It was hard to get about overland. across mountains or through forests or bogs and. at Urnes, deep snow. The simplest way. for all hut the shortest Journeys. was to use the rivers and coasts. Most Viking towns were on a river or coastal inlet. and nearby. at the water's edge. there was sure to be a shipyard - an open slope where boats were built and launched. The Vikings were the most skilful boatbuilders and sailors of the north. They had boats for all purposes. from small river boats to ocean -going cargo ships. but they were most famed feared for their warships: long. thin. square-sailed boats. by up to 60 warrior-oarsmen. These ships were buUt to ride the stormy seas over which the Vikings sailed.

,

SH'I'IlUIUlERS·

~~~~~~~~~;~~;i ~

seagoing cargo boat. 2 Coastal fishing boat. 3 Warship. KNORR.

Facts about Viking Ships: Vikings made the shell of a boat first. building IL up from the ked with overlapping planks and then adding crosspieces. !Many boats arc buill the opposite way: Inner framework first and then the sldes.1

Vlklngs had no compasses. When OUi of sight of land. sailors Judged where they were from the poslUon of the sun or the stars.

CARTs were used for short trlps. SOme cart bodtes COI.Ild be Hfird from the whetl-

•

~~~~:::~~---:::.::.:::~-~~....:~:-..::; •

,

oJ •

VIKING TRAOf-J<S

!lailed around the Baltic. ~Iting stoc:ka of cosUy nor1h~rn goods: furs. amber and

"

be.... and loaded onlO boals.

&laves seized In

f'lSISKI.'fG a long-

east of the Ballic.

the Slav lands

">l.-J

ship (beJm\.1. VIkIng shIps had II 81ng1~ maSI and were 81cered by II Jarg~ rudd~r fixed 10 the slarboard (right) sld~ of the stern. Each OaTllman ....1 on a chest contalnlng hIs po8IIe'!l8lons.

Vlklngs set up tradIng bases In thesoe lands. like

}::J"'-l !left) SlfiraJa Ladoga northern In

:;;r~

Ru8sla. It Was al Ihe end of a route from the 8Outh. along whIch Arab tnlders brought 8llka and spkes \0 exchange for &laves and furs. SomoVlli.... ~-! ilook their boat.s SOOth. vla lhe Ru'!l8Jan ri\"ers. 10 the Black and Cusplan Seas. when. their U"'-ojL__~~.J goods sold for higher pnces. VIKINGS dJd not rear the open sea and salled far 10 find n"", lands. ~ The house (righl) mad~ of Slon~ and sods. as

wuod

"""s

~. built by VIkl~ who reached Iceland.

r'.,

THE $ECIUIT of the Vikings' success was surpn,..,. Their shallow ,hips calTled them right onto the beach. The raideD w~ nlshlnl( ashort' befort' their vtctlms even rt'altzed they were coming. They could auack Inland towns. \00. becllU,.., thell' longshlps could sail far upriver.

FACT:

TO GO 'A-VIKING' MEANT TO GO RAIDING OR a Viking warnor raidIng wa .. a way of wtnnlng glory and nches. VIkings were skilled sailors and fearless fighters. When they realized thaI Chnstian lands to the south were nch with treasures. the boldest could not resist the temptation to go ·a-VikIng'. Each raider swore to be to the rest and to share the plunder. The VIkings first spread terror among Chnstian.s by an attack In 793 on the monastery on the Island of Undlsfarne. off the north-east coast of England. They soon reappeared. making IIghmIng swoops in Blitaln, German y. France. Spain and Italy. Europe lived In fear of them for three centur1es.

F

,

wen easy targets. with rich pickings.

facts about Raldl n i/j EMCntlais for raldeB: chain-mali turuc. sword. spear. shleld. broad· ax and helmet. Son>e rulers paid the Vlklngs to go away. This prot~Uon money was called OanegeJd. In the 9th century the raids became InvASions. Troops of VikIngs would make a base In a cou ntry . 8C17.e the land Ilnd settle there perman ently.

I'J;opu: who ,,"lsled the raiders were killed. Others """I": taken c:a pU\'e. Imponant people "''el'': held for

rnn!!Om . The were !!Old as

SWORD HILTS

were

richly decorated . A panlcularly fine sword would be Il'I:alIured and given a name.

I":SI

slaves or t hrall s. 19

FACT: MOST V IKI NGS WERE FARMERS OST Vikings were farmers. Those living near the sea wen t fishing too. and did some raiding. but most of their living came from the land. How they armed depended on where they lived. In sout hern Sweden a nd Denmark t here was ple nty of level fertile land, WOMVI milked the COWlI. s heep and goats and

made buller and c heese.

good for crops and grazing animals. But farmers had less choice the further north they lived. The winters were colder and darker and most of the land was rocky. The only c rop that grew

well was grass, so the people depended on cattle and sheep. When a farmer died his eldest son Inherited the farm. Younger brothers got a share of the rest of their father's wealth. but If they wanted to farm they had to find land. They could buy It. o r clear forest to get n. but eventually the re was no more land s uitable for farmi ng. Sheep- and catlle-fanners need lots of land for pasture for their animals . so when there was no more land t hey faced a crtsls. This Is what drove many Vikings to sail and raid overseas.

"'"" ~"" po<.>re3t

farnlly

!lOlls.

grew !lOme

oats or rye to gtve them flour for bread . CHIIJ)I!EN helped to care for the fannyard poultJy and the pigs.

Facts about Vtklng Olsrovedeg" Many Viking ralders were also seeking somewhere to setUe. Settlers reached I~land In about 860. but Ihey soon discovered Ihere was nol enough farmland there for everyone.

Th,s NORWEGIAN

farming family gets much of Its needs from the sea: food. sealskins and walrus IVory to sell and whale oil for lamp5.

FACT:

VIK INGS WERE lAW-ABIDING CITIZENS

wo sorts of law governed the way Vikings behaved. The first formed the basis of the Vikings' code of honor: they Justified revenge, even If Il Involved wha t we would call arson or manslaughter. There were also laws staUng the rules fo r inheriting property and describing various crimes and their punishments. Anyone who kJUed a man accidentally paid his relatives w hat he was worth. which depended on his status. The worst Climes we re punished by banishment. Blood feuds could be ended by a grtm type of accou nting - one death cancelled ou t another of equal value.. A group of powerful local men acted as Judges at an assembly of local freemen was ca1led the Thing. The laws were no"n1'·~"lJl, 1 down. 'Lawmen' knew them by heart and taught the next generation.

T

LocAL noNCS debated the affairs or a

distrlct. but important matters were settled at large n:gIOnaI ones. A Thing could last ror several days. People who lived II good distance away brought their ramllles and camped a t the meeting place.

THINGS w~re beld at set Urnes each ~ar, bullna crtsts a special one could be

• APART from Its serious business. the Althlng was also a chanCf: for a get-together. wlth sporting contests like wrestling. bareback racing and lights between champion stallions. II was also the place to trade and arrange ThI~CVELUR

mlng Valley). site of the Vikings' Althing, F'Rolot about 920 Icelanders held an assembly for the entire country - th e Althlng. It decided matters affecting the whole naUon. so It was the first

a marriage. The Althlng lasted two weeks and was the highlight of the year for many people.

rfi!
Men struck their shields Or ratUed their spears to show their approval of a proposal at the Thing. Worn",n could n ot vole at the Thing and could only Inherit UlelT parents' property If th",y had no brothers.

ThE LOSGSHIPS of great jarls and the boats of small farmers Une the waterfront as people arrive for th", open·air meeting of the Thing.

..

I 23

FACT,SOME CHRISTIAN SAI NTS WERE VIKINGS A LUCKY CHARM In the $hap'" of

Thor'a hammer. VlkJnge IxUeved this would proIe<::\ them from hann.

n

SCAN DINAV IA the Vikings worshiped gods like those that Germanic peoples had been worshi ping for cen turies: Odin. king or the gods and h is wife gg. fiery-tempered Thor, treacher ous Loki and many others. Religious ceremon ies were held In temples or out doors at a holy place. perha ps a grove of trees or a rock. By th e 9th cen tury Vikings knew about Ch ristianity fro m t he franks. the English and t he Irish. MerchanlS wh o h ad been abroad spoke of It and raiders said the churches were packed with treasures. The first missionary arrtved In Hedeby in 827. bul lhe Vikings were n ot keen to become Ch l1sUans when they learned lhey had to give up their old gods if they wanted to benefit from the new one. Thor was especial ly po pular because he protected ordinary people who felt It would be unwise to desert him. though some people worshiped both. La ter m1ssionruies ha d more success. Bu t some converts to Ch l1SUanlty had a practical moUve . Converts were given new clothes on baptism. to symbolize their new life. so some VIki ngs turned up more than once.

u- ",,"

1)115 tUlle

Ilgun:

15 probably a Valkyrte. They

v.wefemalc s pirits who look dead wan10TS to Odin's realm.

greeting the m with horns of ale .

DIn'EIWfT faiths

met along the trade routes. Vlklnge met MusHm Arabs and Chrt$t1an

Franks. C~tlam.

prt:ferred lO trade with Christians • .... hlch probably

~

..."

VUdng mC1l:hants

to convert.

merchant baTgaIns with a Fra n k.

1\.'1 AAAB traveleT described how a Viking merchant In RuSlila prayed to his goos. He bowed before strange·

looking ligures and begged them to send him good I In his

",,"-""00 It both ways: this pendant from

''''''''' ~

Thor's hammer hung One way. ara cross If hung the olheT. tcctand~

almosl

had a civil war (yvcT whelheT to be Christian.

1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--1 .~~ found hardcst 10 accept was command to love one's enemies. VIkings did not beUeve In forgl~nCM.

The earLlesl Viking sulnl was VladImir. ruler of the 'Rus' IVlklng settlers In Russia) of KIev. In 988 he made Ole", a ll Chrlslla n . SI Olaf. kIng of NOTWIIY. had been II great raider before he converted. lI e died In 1030. flghllng pa81Ul rebels.

the god Frey MOUtLof (above rlghl). The VikIngs beUeved he made crops grow. callIe thrive and couples have children .

A SMAIL SII.\Il:R

pendant of Christ crucllled found In the grave of a Swedish VikIng.

Vikings who setUcd In France. Engla nd o r [reland soon adopted !.he religion of their new land. By the II th century pagan Vikings [n Norway. $oM!!: VikIngs Sweden and Denmark were sucrtllced humans 10 their also Chrtstlan. Their rulers gods. but most had decided for religious and used animals. At VIKINCS leamed of political reasons that It was ltedcby they were ChrlsllanUy from beUer to be Christian . so put on scaffolds Chrlstluns :!Old ou tside houses. us thralls !above). everyone had to convert.

FACT, A GOOD DAY'S FIGHTING ENDED IN A FEAST OUNG man wanting adventure might spend several

Aj

years In the service of a king or chief. before settling

down to farm or trade. A great chief kept a band of rmed men who were fiercely loyal to him. He fed and ~r~~~~~ housed them and In return tht.'Y fought for him whenever he wanted. At the end of their scrvlcc h e rewarded them well - with gold rings and a rmba nds. fine weapons and rich clolhes - after A SIW.D did not all, they had been prepared to die for him. A chief was expected exactly sing his to be generous. It proved h e could obtain all the wealth he poelYl$. H e halfsang half-chantt;d wanted - by raiding If necessary. All Vikings. nch or poor. were as hospitable as they could them . as he pla~ II harp. afford to be. A chief entertained his men to lavish feasting and Through these: a le-drinking In his great hall. A king or very powerful Jarl kept a poems events special rel.alner, a skald . who sang while the warriors feasted . wt:re n:conlt;d It was the skald's duty to make poems praising the brave deeds and became legends without of his chief.

_ \ 'ill

~

being wrillen

d_.

1:,,!,~Ji!1

26

ON A DARK winter ~enlng everyone enJoyt;d listening to a 11101)'. Tales of the gods were popular. Then: were many good Siones about Thor. the stonn god. WhOK luunrncr -btows made the thunder. One tells how Thor losl hi s harnrnl':T. It was stolen by the gtant ThrYIII. who would only give It up If he could have the goddellS Freya as h is wife. lllOr dressed up In women', clothes and prelendt;d to be Freya. He foolt;d the gtant lind killed him. a nd so got his hammer back. The tales of Odin were more mysterious and fnghtenlng. [I was said Ihat In order 10 learn wisdom he hanged himself for nine days and nights upon Ihe magic ash 1.I"ee. Yggdrasll . Through lh ~ ordeal he became master of all knowledge, Including a powerful secret thAI. In great pain. he lore from the darknellS - the secrel of the runes. Ihe symbols thai make up the Vikings ' alphabet.

aOcr their death. In Valhalla. Odln·s Hall of the Slain . they Wilu ld fight ruld klll c
did nOl WT1te do"", their history or bell ~fs. All we know about t hem comes from clu es f•.",nd by ar<:haeologtsts. and from the sagas and rl"<:ords of people who met them. such as Ihel r Christian neighbors (a nd vtc\\tnsl and the Ambs. Vl k lng~

In 13t h-~nh ll)' lceL:md scholars wrote down the stories of t heir ancestors. Th.-se wrillen ,·erslons are

lhe sagas.

nlE Vikings· up of 16 dIfferent

VU(lSGS had no paper. They CUI nmes Into ,,"'OOd

symbols .

or Slone.

runes were made

Fl:W VuoSGS could read or write. SO understanding runes ga'-e po,,"'er_

drin king were fll\,orite Viking past! n1~s. SpCCIli1 feaslS could last

severn l dllYs. There were r~asts to mark seasonal r~stlvals Uke midwinter Yule

(replaced by Chmtmasl. as w.o.lI as fellsts for wedd ing! lin d fu~rals.

As a ,""sull the Viklngs belLe\-ed the runes were magical.

Rl.ws reconllng bra''e deeds ""'ere cu t on large standIng stones.

nlt:Y

also thought

lhe runes could be used to caSI spells.

21

FACT,A GWRIOUS DEATH WAS BETTER THAN A WNG LIFE IFE for most Vikings was a struggle fo r sulVival against bad weather. poor soil, a ttacks from neighbors. unexpected accidents and untreatable illnesses. Viking medical knowledge was limited to a few herbal remedies and a trust In magic spells and charms. So it Is not surprising that the ave rage life expectancy was only 50 years, b u t this d id not wony many Vikings, In their tough

L

lives there was no advantage in lingering on with stiffenJng Jo ints and Increasing pain.

rOR a woman. childbirth wa:o a

dangerous lime. nl was for Ihe baby 100.1 Her Ufe was hard. and unless she was a strong characte r

she had kw

A Viking warnor hoped to meet his end In baltle. Such a glOrio us dea th would be p raised In song when the fighting was over and the feasting began. It would win h im a place In Valhalla and his name would be remembered whenever people spoke of fearless deeds. The sagas also describe the deeds of brave women, but mos t women had to spend their lives looking after their home and family. They only ran the famtly farm or busIness If theIr husband was away raiding or on a lo ng Journey.

choices In It.

EvJ!.."I If they ~ not fuU·Ume warrior... men usually met a violent d eath.

(dying at home on your ma ttress) W(lS despised.

AtlOY£: w~

i\'ory IICOOp (lefU

VtlUNGS belleved

used to clean the

In belng clean.

cars. Double-

Some homes had

sided combs (right) couLd be uS«! for hair and

outdoor

lavatori~

and some people enjoyed saunas.

"'''''',

TWo MEN I!rljoylng a sauna (below).

V,KINGS bellcved In an afterlife. Kings and Jal"ls wel"e given fine funerals to speed them to the next world.

Fu:<~RAL customs varied fTOm place to place. Some pagan Vtklng peoples burled the!I" dead. others cremated them. In both cases It was usual to surround the corpse with objects that the dead person would need tn the afterUfe. such as food. weapons and tools. Horses and dogs (and sometimes slaves) WeTe killed to accompany thetl" master 01" m!stl"ess.

Facts about VIking Burtals: Two burtal shtps """I" 70 feet long have been found In Norway.

The Oseberg shIp. built aboul 800. held a woman. her female servant. a wagon. cookIng equIpment and personal objects. The Gokstad shIp. of about 850. held a man. 12 horses. 6 dogs and 3 rowtng-boats.

MA.'1Y things suggest the Vikings believed death was a voyage to anothel" land. Graves were onen outlined by stones In the shape of a boat. Sometimes Teal boats wel"e used as coffins. A great chIef would be buI1ed In an enUre longshtp .

V,KINGS who cremated their dead honored a gTeat chlefwllh a ship -burnIng. An Arab mer<:hanl wrote about one he saw On the RIver Volga In Russia In 922. The d ead chIef was embalmed and dressed In sUk clothes. His shIp was brought ashoTe. propped up on stakes and flrewood was piled underneath. Then a tent was put u p on the

CHRIsnANITY put

__ ~d~~~k~.~Th~e~O~h~'~ef~~~'~P~"~':'~"~'~
G

LOSSARY

Adze Tool with the blade at righ t angles to the handle. for shaping wood.

Quern Device for grinding grain Into flour. made of two stones. The top one, turned by a handle, crushed the grain

Arson C rime of deliberately setting fire to property.

against the bottom one.

Auger Tool used to bore holes.

Carding Combing raw wool to straighten the fibers before spinning It Into thread. Daub Mixture of mud and straw.

Runes The symbols of the

Vikings' alphabet.

Sagas Traditional stories of Viking heroes, firs t written down in the 13th century.

Dowry Goods or money given to a couple on marrtage by the parents of the bride.

Soapstone Type of stone that

Franldsb Belonging to the empire of the Franks. who lived In what Is now France and Germany.

Sods Blocks of cut turf.

Freeman Man or woman who was not a s lave.

Warp Threads which run lengthways In woven matertaL

House-burning Deliberately setting fire to a house (and those inside). as a revenge.

Wattle Woven paneling made of stakes and ncxlble twigs.

Keel Long wooden beam forming the bottom of a boat.

30

Rampart A protecUve mound of earth topped by a wall.

Is easy to carve. It Is common In parts of Scandinavia.

Thing-stead Site where meeungs of a Thing were held.

Weft Threads woven across fabric through the warp threads.

I NDEX •A1t1tlng 23

•England 7. 25

Ambo! 17. 24 . 25

ErIC tJ>t, Rl;d 21

armor 15. 19

,

•

ramn"", 10. 14

....... "

......

Balli(: Sea 7. 17

Black s..a 11 blacksmlth. 14 blood rn.M I I .

,."

~

16. 11. 19.

brtadmaklng 13 b~ 1 1

brood.... 15

""""',"""'"' S . 20. 21 ICMUng 26. 27 rood 10. 12. 13

,-" "" " .... nks 2-4

-'"

-"

chlldblrth 28 ch1lcb= II . 12 Clu18tlanlty 24 . 25. 27 ckKhes 14. 15

_. -" -"

cooklng 12

0

Oanegekll9 Dt:nmarIi: 1 . 20.

"

diet 13 dtvorc<: II

IealMntlarlr. 14 life cxp«1anc:y

" """"'""" ...,,,

Isbnd III

""""hip" 18. 18.

"'.'"

-. •

P' ~

25. 26. 21 Grttnland 7. 21

Narth~1 .

Ftigg 24 funcr.ols 29 rumlllln' 10

goo;IdeMes 24.

caq>o:nlry 14

Ca!JPl.an Sea 17

LaW1l 22

kno:rwledgc 28 Mnllln11ln
G

C

,

•HnlebyS. 24 , 11.21. " 20 . I...." 1 . 25 hou","" 8

I~land

ImpooU IS Inhmtan.<;., land

•

"

Norway 1 . 20. 25 0

Odin 24 . 27 Olal'. King 01 Norway 25

•naldlng 18. 19. 20.26

revenge I I. 22

"",,,

runes 26. 21

J

Jarls 10.26 )ewel')' 15

RUMIa 17. 25

•

saa1fIcee 28. 29 ..,.. 27. 28 sauna. 28

-," ahl~

_bolts.

......,,, -'"

StanaJ. t ldaglo

Sweden 7. 20. 25 .....,r
,

Thlng 22. 23 Thor 24 . 25. 26 Ihnill. 10. II. 13. 25 lluym. tJ>t, giant

,-, "

V V_"

Valhalla 27. 28 VladImir. I'I1nce mKkv 2:5

-" W

"",a'ing 1:5 T y ....... "

Yule 27

__--

.. Tho.*... .. """........ k

__

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