Vikings, and in what time did they exist?
Scandinavians between 790-1100 (Pagans, Heathens).
Gods of the Vikings
Freya, Odin, Thor.
Sources for the Vikings and the disadvantages
- Runic inscriptions (Runestone, Runecomb), short and not particularly informative.
- Contemporary writings, texts written by victims of the Vikings (Passion of St. Edmund), these are bias and obviously take a negative approach.
- Icelandic sagas, stories told/written by descendants of the Vikings (13th, 14th c.), these are written a while after the fact, also a mixture of historical fact and faction (Passion of St. Edmund).
- Archaeology, which is all about the material world, but nothing about thoughts or feelings.
Viking activities
- Farmers (main activity, agricultural conflicts).
- Explorers.
- Traders (ivory, slaves, raided and plundered Europe, such as the Low Countries and others)
Raiding in summer, back home in time for the harvesting season.
What are possible reasons why the Vikings went out raiding?
- King got more power, pushed out some families to look for riches elsewhere (overpopulation).
- Not enough farmland.
- Climate change.
- Economic issues.
Why were the Vikings so effective, good at plundering?
- An international trading network and knew what was going on in many places, they knew where to strike.
- A technical advantage; the Viking longboat to cross oceans but also used to go deeper into land through smaller rivers.
- Enemies were unorganised.
When did the Vikings come to England?
793
Raid of the Island of Lindisfarne, and why were nearby places afraid?
Lindisfarne had an important monastery and was an important place. The Vikings attacked, but they didn’t find much.
If one of the holiest places of England is plundered, what hope do the other places have?
Phases of Viking activity in England
- Vikings show up during summer, hit and run, go back home by August for the harvest (793).
- Vikings have bigger armies and start to conquer bigger pieces of land, but this time settle (851). Ends by death of Ragnar Lodbrok.
- Big Viking army (according to legend) led by the sons of Ragnarok, conquer entire kingdoms, except the last part of Wessex (865).
What does ‘passion’ refer to in the Passion of St. Edmund?
‘Passion’ refers to the suffering, martyrdom, or the trails endured by the Saint for their faith (and his commitment, Passion of the Christ). He was ready to die for his faith.
Traces of Vikings abroad
- Piraeus Lion, Venice
- Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Who was the first king of the Anglo-Saxons? And who was the first king of whole England?
Alfred the Great, Athelstan
Why was Alfred an unlikely king?
- He had 4 older brothers.
- He was groomed for a career in the church.
- He was a sickly person, tormented by various diseases.
How does Alfred defeat the Vikings at the Battle of Edington?
- Reorganisation military (an army that was always available).
- Starts up the English navy.
- Introduced system of burhs (pontifications all over Wessex).
What are the 2 most important consequences of the Treaty of Wedmore?
- Forces the Viking leader to be baptised.
- Alfred makes an agreement with the Vikings that unbinds England into two areas;
- North of Watling Street where the Vikings can do what they want.
- South is from Alfred.
(878)
How does Alfred revive learning?
- Brings in scholars from abroad (Asser, Grimbald, John the Saxon).
- Founded a court school for nobles.
- Translation of important works into OE.
How did Alfred elevate the state of English as a language?
Due to his translation from Latin into Old English, the language gained more importance and made Latin less present.
Benedictine Reform (after Alfred’s death), and who were influenced by this?
- Revival of Anglo-Saxon learning in vernacular.
- Revival of Benedictine monastic values.
- Replace bishops with monastic bishops.
Aelfric of Eynsham, Wulfstan I.
Four points of Viking legacy
- Economic: York becomes part of the international trading network of the Vikings, becomes trading spot.
- Cultural: Viking settlers bring culture and art with them, and we see various art works in the North of England (Loki stone, Hogback stones).
- Linguistically: English was enriched by Scandinavian vocabulary (kill, knife).
- Political: seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, each with their own king and law code. After the Vikings, there comes one kingdom, one king with one set of laws (= unification of the Anglo-Saxon nations).
Which words of English came from Scandinavian influence?
Kill, knife, sky, happy, window, husband, egg, ugly, weak.
Grave markers in North of England
Loki stone, Hogback stones.
Difference strong and weak nouns
Weak nouns make fewer destinations of gender and case.
Short stem
Short vowel + consonant (scip, bæp).
Long stem
- Long vowel + 1 consonant (bān).
- Short vowel + more than 1 consonant (word, bedd).
