Vikings were violent due to a mix of economic, social, and cultural factors: they raided for wealth (gold, slaves) to gain status, driven by a warrior code valuing bravery, and exploited vulnerabilities in Europe; their pagan beliefs glorified violent death as a path to Valhalla, while Christian sources exaggerated their brutality, creating an image of savageness. Violence was a means to acquire resources, establish social standing, and fulfill cultural ideals, though their actions, shocking to victims, were part of a broader, violent medieval context, notes Live Science.
The purpose of the Vikings' violence was to acquire wealth, which fed into the political economy of northern Europe, notably in the form of gift-giving. Viking warriors were motivated by a warrior ideology of violence that praised bravery, toughness, and loyalty.
In Viking society, 12-year-old girls were considered young women, often involved in household labor, with some entering marriages, having rights like inheriting property, and facing risks like enslavement during raids, while Viking raids themselves targeted wealthy settlements for riches, sometimes involving violence, though their specific actions towards young girls varied by context.
Yes, it's highly likely there were gay people (men and women) among the Vikings, but their experiences differed greatly from modern LGBTQ+ identities, with same-sex acts sometimes tolerated if societal duties (marriage/children) were met, but passive roles in male-male sex stigmatized as unmanly (ergi), leading to insults and potential punishment, especially after Christianization, though evidence for lesbian relationships is scarce in sources, according to historians.
Fighting was very important for the Vikings. They attacked and raided settlements to find treasure and slaves. They fought wars as a way of taking control of more land.
Women in the Viking Age enjoyed a remarkable position compared to other contemporary cultures. They had rights and freedoms that were not common in many other medieval societies. Women could own property, run businesses and divorce. These rights enabled them to play an active role in society and support their families.
Their findings show that interpersonal violence – violence not meted out as punishment by authorities -- was much more common in Norway. This is evident in the much greater rates of trauma on skeletons and the extent of weaponry in Norway.
A study of over 6000 Northern European skeletons from the Early Middle Ages reveals that the average male height was about 5'8” and the average female height was about 5'2”. That is not much less (but certainly no more) than people today. Scandinavian skeletons matched these average numbers.
A range of evidence indicates that Viking-Age Scandinavian societies practised both polygyny, meaning that men could take multiple wives, and concubinage — a semi-formal relationship in which men and women engage in sexual activity and sometimes cohabit without marrying.
kærr - dear or beloved - adj. ástin mín - my love or my dear - n. hjartað mitt - my heart - n.
Alfred the Great is often remembered as the savior of England from Viking domination. His leadership at the Battle of Edington was a turning point that not only secured Wessex but also set the stage for the eventual unification of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
In addition to exchanging rings, Viking brides and grooms gave each other swords to acknowledge their union. The sword given to a bride from her groom would be a family heirloom—and would eventually be passed down to the couple's future sons.
A female Viking warrior is called a shield-maiden (Old Norse: skjaldmær), a legendary figure from sagas and mythology who fought alongside men, while general terms for women included kona, fru, or kvinna, but "shield-maiden" is the term for a female fighter.
To sum up, it is impossible to use the word “racism” in the context of the Viking Age. The period people would probably not understand the concept of exclusively racial supremacy. However, the distinction was based on the status, property and appearance, and the final discriminating result could be similar.
Viking raids
Most of what we know about the Viking raiders comes from the tales of the survivors of these raids rather than the Vikings themselves. The survivors tell of ships shaped like dragons, of brutal killings, and whole villages burned to the ground.
While the Vikings as a group are gone, their descendants live across Scandinavia and Europe.
The evidence of the sagas and laws shows that male homosexuality was regarded in two lights: there was nothing at all strange or shameful about a man having intercourse with another man if he was in the active or "manly" role, however the passive partner in homosexual intercourse was regarded with derision.
Later she becomes Bjorn's wife and the ultimate love of his life. She participates at the Siege of Kattegat and survives. When Lagertha crowns with Sword of Kings Bjorn, new King of Kattegat, Gunnhild becomes Queen of Kattegat.
Upon Ragnar's return, he is furious with Aslaug when he learns his sons nearly died and Siggy did saving them. Aslaug is questioned as to why she was not caring for their sons. He is highly suspicious of her story, enough so that he even refrains from making love to her.
Viking women married as young as 12 years old. By the age of 20, virtually all men and women were married. Life expectancy was about 50 years, but most died long before that age and only a few lived to 60 years.
Jóhann Kristinn Pétursson (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈjouːhanː ˈkrɪstɪn ˈpʰjɛːtʏr̥sɔn]; 9 February 1913 – 26 November 1984), also known as the Icelandic Giant and the Viking Giant, was an Icelandic circus performer and actor who at his peak measured 2.34 metres (7 ft 8 in) in height and weighed 163 kilograms (359 lb).
Right from childhood, the Vikings enjoyed a good nutritional diet, teeming with proteins and nutrients. Such early dietary advantages laid the foundation for their adult height. Their diet, abundant in fish, meat and dairy, was a nature-made height-boosting formula.
The cultures that influenced Viking DNA traits include those from ancient Scandinavia, the Celtic tribes, Anglo-Saxons, and even communities across Europe due to trade and exploration, contributing to a diverse genetic heritage.
Ragnar Lothbrok is by far the most famous Viking leader ever, thanks in part to the TV series Vikings. This man was said to have conducted brutal raids into England and the Frankish Empire during the 9th century AD, acquiring treasures of immeasurable value.
Harald Hardrada (Harald III Sigurdsson) is often known as "the last real Viking," and maybe he was what many understood by a real Viking king.