Category: Viking History
Behold! My first attempt at a blog-style history course has been preserved in this sub-category! I’ve always preferred my history served like snacks. They might be a bit stale now, but perhaps you like that sort of thing? I won’t judge.
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Viking Spirituality
Spirituality, in historical terms, is something quite difficult to assess. That being said, I do not expect to touch on everything nor to be the only interpretation that is out there. This lesson will also be a little sparse on detailed information. Instead, it will focus more on giving a general impression of spirituality during…
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Norse Mythology: Gods and Races, Part 3
At last, we reach the final segment of this lesson on Norse Mythology. This will actually conclude our discussion of Norse Mythology, moving next to something related – spirituality. Following that lesson will be runes. This lesson will cover some of the major races of the Norse Cosmology: Giants, Dwarves, Elves, Valyries, and Norns. These are most…
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Norse Mythology: Gods and Races, Part 2
This week’s lesson is a wrap-up of the major gods of Norse mythology (part 3 will be the various races). If I did not include a god that you thought should have been included, send me a message or an ask and I will gladly make a post to mend it (either as an answer…
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Norse Mythology: Gods and Races, Part 1
This Friday I hope to give a concise breakdown of the major gods and races of Norse mythology. Keep in mind that this lesson only provides a glimpse into a complex subject, but still it should be enough to understand certain figures and their roles in the mythological realm. There are definitely other gods and…
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Norse Mythology: Creation
This Friday’s lesson delves into the realm of myth itself, however, it is mainly to provide a general understanding and not an in-depth study. I will summarize the story of how the worlds were formed. See “Sources” below for the material I used for this purpose. The Story of Creation Before the creation of the material worlds,…
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Norse Mythology: Sources
Norse and Germanic mythology are full of rich traditions that have been preserved in only a few sources (at least directly). Many other sources contain bits and pieces of the mythological material, but only a few solely focus on it. This lesson aims to discuss those sources that directly address the old traditions of Norse…
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The Origins of the Viking Age
Many people across Europe saw the coming of the Vikings as divine punishment, but what really caused the people of Scandinavia to take Europe by storm? What made them capable of pulling off these raids? There are many possible explanations, although much is speculation. Some key candidates to be discussed in detail are: For now,…
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The Geography and People of Medieval Scandinavia
As one might guess, Scandinavia is a cold place. It is no wonder why Hel is a cold place, and Niflhel even colder. Stretching upwards along the Scandinavian peninsula is The Keel, a vast mountain range between Norway and Sweden that stretches into Finland. The famous fjords were formed by ancient glaciers. The coast, particularly Norway’s west coast, was known as the “Northern…
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The Viking Age and Our Sources
Starting today (25th of March, 2016), I will begin a series of posts regarding Viking History. I have noticed that I have failed to present Viking History in a more condensed and unified way, and so I hope these posts will help solve that. I will do my best to post a lesson each Friday…
