The Viking Society and Culture - 2981 Words

â€Å"We and our fathers have now lived in this fair land for nearly three hundred and fifty years and never before has such a terror been seen in Britain as we have now suffered at the hands of a pagan people. Such a voyage was not thought possible. The church of St. Cuthbert is spattered with the blood of the priests of God.† These are the words of Alcuin of York, an Anglo-Saxon scholar, describing the first recorded presence of Norsemen warriors and their attack on Lindisfarne, a holy monastic undefended island of the coast of England in 793 A.D. This attack by pagans from Scandinavia introduced a new kind of warrior to the known world and established a new chapter in history known as the Viking Age. From this moment and for the next†¦show more content†¦From the moment a Norsemen is born, one’s own death was already chosen by fate. Nothing could be done to alter this moment. But it was understood that a man had complete control over his decisions while aliv e, and his actions were only of his own doing. Therefore, one ought to make the best of every moment, fully charging at life’s challenges. Either the worst that could happen was death which was out of one’s control or the most desired outcome could take place which was increased honorable reputation and fame. An example of this is presented in Sverris Saga about King Sverrir of Norway and his words to his army. The king told a story about a farmer who accompanied his son to the warships and gave him counsel, telling him to be, â€Å"valiant and hardy in perils,† saying, â€Å"How would you act if you were engaged in battle and knew beforehand that you were destined to be killed?† the son answered, â€Å"Why then should I refrain from striking right and left?† The farmer said, â€Å"Now suppose someone could tell you for certain that you would not be killed?† The son answered, â€Å"Why then should I refrain from pushing forward to the utmo st?† The farmer said, â€Å"In every battle you fight, one of two things will happen: you will either fall or come away alive. Be bold, therefore, for everything is preordained. Nothing can bring a man to his death if his time has not come and nothing can save one doomed to die. To die in flight is theShow MoreRelatedOn How Ecounters between People, Societies, Cultures and Material Objects Had an Impact on Early Globalization in the Viking Age679 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction: In my essay I will talk about how the encounters between people, societies, cultures and material objects had an impact on early Globalization in the Viking age. Between 8th and 12th centuries the Vikings moved over and tied large parts of the world together. Vikings with their plundering and colonising were the forerunners of what we now call globalization. They were the first Europeans to cross the Atlantic and discovered Greenland, Iceland and North America with their ships. TheyRead MoreA Vikings Civilized World1265 Words   |  5 PagesWere the Vikings barbaric, or were they civilized? The Vikings were a civilized and organized culture. 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