Who are the Vikings, where they lived, what they did: history

History, life and traditions of the Vikings.

Content

Vikings are sailors from Scandinavia, which have become known in early medieval times. It is this definition that can be found on Wikipedia. However, many of us know about this people mainly from Hollywood films, in which they are not represented in the best way. In this article we will try to figure out who the vikings are really.

Vikings: The origin of the people

Many have the question of what the Vikings did until 789. Didn't they exist? In fact, the people appeared for a very long time, even in ancient times, but few knew about them. This is due to the remoteness of Scandinavia and a rather cool climate.

Vikings, the origin of the people:

It’s all about changing the climate, because until the 6th century the temperature has significantly decreased, the number of sown land has decreased, and the number of lean years grew. This provoked the extinction of the people in the area of \u200b\u200bScandinavia and Norway, where the already not very favorable climate.
But after the 6th century, a change in the atmosphere occurred, the temperature increased again, due to which the birth rate and number of population increased.
Since Scandinavia Square is very small, and the land plot is not endless, many residents of those places had to emigrate, and look for a more suitable place for life.
After all, it became useless to continue to engage in agriculture and hunting, it is impossible because of a small number of lands suitable for cultivation, and a constantly growing population.

What year did the Vikings lived?

For the first time, the mention of this people dates back to 789. It was then that three Normann ships arrived in the kingdom of Wessex and quarreled with a small squad. As a result of the quarrel, the head of the squad was killed. However, this story could not attract any attention of the chroniclers, because in those days such skirmishes were quite common. But from that moment a new era began.

What year the Vikings lived:

Later, in 793, a famous attack on the monastery off the coast of Great Britain happened. It was then that unknown sailors destroyed the monastery and plundered it. It was from those times that the mention of the Vikings began.
From that moment, fair -haired, tall people often visited the shores with the aim of robbery and destruction. Attracted the attention of the chronicler by the religion of the Vikings. Indeed, at that time almost all residents of Great Britain and Germany have long been Christians.
The cessation of sea hiking dates from 1110. This is due to the fact that in the countries of the Scandinavia, Norway, Christianity has spread, which did not support robberies and murders.

The countries where the Vikings lived

Initially, the Vikings lived on the territory of present -day Sweden, Denmark and Norway, but overpopulation, hunger forced immigrants from these countries to find new lands and profit. It is unknown to the end when this people exactly arose. Everything is due to the fact that the Vikings did not have writing, and the first descriptions arose only after the arrival of Christianity. But this was already at the sunset of the Viking era. That is why the exact history of Viking raids has not been practically preserved. There was no one to record it.

The countries where the Vikings lived:

Many are surprised by the fact that the Vikings were pagans, not Christians. It is also due to their remoteness from the UK and Germany.
In those countries, to preach Christianity for several centuries, while Scandinavia lived according to its own laws, preaching paganism.
Of course, sometimes the current UK, their number was insignificant, and they could change their number, even if they appeared with the aim of promoting and promoting Christianity.

Vikings: History of the origin of the people

Regarding the origin of the word “Viking” there are a lot of disputes and a lot of versions. They differ among themselves due to the fact that it is difficult to determine the date of the occurrence of the Vikings. In our country, the versions adhere to that the word comes from the Old Norwegian«víkingr». This is a person from the bay or from the port. That is, in fact, these were sailors. In our country, another version is also widespread, according to which Viking comes from the name of the Norwegian regions of the VIC.

Vikings, the history of the origin of the people:

It is in the Norwegian province that this version now prevails. Residents of this province believe that the inhabitants of this area have never called the Vikings. It's believed thatvI’K It is a true word from which the word Viking comes. Translated means bay, bay or sea.
That is, translated is a person who is hiding in the bay. Accordingly, all the justifications and stories about the warlike nature of the Vikings are fiction. If you take into account the translation, in most cases it was not warriors at all, but people who sold the goods, that is, simply merchants. However, everything is not so simple.
In modern Hollywood in the films, the Vikings are exposed in the same world, as conquerors of robbers and destroyers. This is indeed so, from the point of view of the peoples on which the Vikings attacked. However, among the population there were many people who were engaged in craftsmen, trade or ordinary agriculture.

Viking: The origin of the word

Modern Russian researchers believe thatvicus means a fortified camp and comes from the Danishwic. Currently, the most used hypothesis of the Swedish scientist is considered, who believes that this term comes from the wordvíkja, That is, turn or leave. Accordingly, this is a person who just left home, threw his homeland.

Viking, the origin of the word:

In fact, it is a pirate or a warrior who left the house, and the search for a better life. The most interesting thing is that in ancient sources Viking was not called at all a people, but a robbery or a trip to rob and get profit, looting. That's how the word Viking The inhabitants of our country are watching. The ScandinaviansViking had a negative shade. According to information in Irish historical documents of the 13th century, the Vikings are people who were engaged in robbery, were very bloodthirsty. It was this version that became very popular among the directors of Hollywood. In this light, the Vikings are removed.
According to another version, the Vikings are people who were engaged in rowing. Accordingly, these were hired workers who rowed alternately. There were also Vikings on the territory of Kievan Rus, who were called the Varangians. There is evennorman Theory, foundations of Russia. It was believed that Russia, from the 9th to the 12th century, was created by the Scandinavians, who were called Normans in Western Europe.
Over time, this concept spread on the territory of Kievan Rus. Although in modern Soviet history it is believed that the origin of the word Russia is closer toantinormann theory. The Scandinavians themselves considered Russia a country of cities and called it a guard. Very often the Novgorod, as well as the Kyiv princes hired the Vikings as a military, that is, mercenaries, to capture some territories, or skirmishes that took place between these princes.

The life of the Vikings

Regarding the settlements in which the Vikings lived, they were houses consisting of one room. In the center there were columns that held the roof, and the walls were made of bars. In addition, the base of bars was lubricated with clay for insulation.

Viking life:

However, in the conditions of Iceland and Greenland, where wood was not enough, a stone was used, which was in large numbers. The roof was insulated with peat. Often in the center of the room there was something like modern rude, that is, the family hearth, near which they slept, prepared food.
Peasant clothing of Scandinavian people usually consisted of a large shirt, pants from burlap, stockings and capes. Vikings of the highest class were worn by long pants and socks. In addition, there were hats and mittens. Products from gold and silver, that is, bracelets, mainly wore well -known warriors who sought great success in attacks and plunders.
Vikings are often depicted in helmets with horns. Scientists do not confirm the fact that Viking has helmets with horns. However, for the first time such an object was detected in drawings, in the places of burial of the Vikings.
At the moment, scientists agree that basically such helmets were used for ritual purposes, during burials. Regarding the money, the Vikings did not have their own mint, they mainly kept all their savings in the coins of other states. Coins from Tashkent, Bukhara were most popular.
Alcohol occupied an important place in the life of the Vikings. It was believed that to know, as well as rich people, consumed wine. It was very expensive. The middle class used a honey drink, which was made by fermentation. The main, ordinary population, mainly saw ale, which was cheap.

What nations came from the Vikings?

Most of the descendants of the Vikings live in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. It was in these states that this people arose, which later spread through other countries of Europe. Many scientists decided to deal with this issue.

What nations came from the Vikings:

It was revealed that the blood of the Vikings flows among the inhabitants of Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland. Oddly enough, the blood of the Norwegians was also discovered by Russians, mainly in the Arkhangelsk, Yaroslavl regions. A little fewer descendants of the Vikings are recorded in Germany.
How do the descendants of the Vikings live now? Of course, the most Vikings are immigrants from Norway. This is a very small state that is behind the polar circle. However, this does not mean at all that the country has eternal permafrost. Usually a large amount of snow and severe frost is observed here in the mountains, but in general the climate is quite moderate.
In addition, a very convenient location of Norway, since the warm waters of the Gulf Stream come to its coast, due to which a large amount of plankton accumulates, and a lot of fish floats behind it.

What do modern descendants of the Vikings do?

At the moment, several gas and oil deposits are operating in Norway, so the country provides itself with resources on its own. A large number of waterfalls and rivers contributes to the construction of power plants. Fish fishing is also developed in Norway, which allows you to sell a large amount of fish and caviar in neighboring states. In addition, Norway is a tourist country, and a large amount of funds are invested in this sphere.

What do modern descendants of the Vikings do:

In ancient times, fishing was the basis for the earnings of the Vikings. Initially, they were not at all a warlike people, but were engaged in fishing and craft. However, due to the relocation of a small piece of land, the younger sons, who did not get land, were forced to go in search of a better fate.
Naturally, the easiest way to get a large amount of money is to select it. The Vikings very quickly realized that the state, which was located on the territory of the current Great Britain, is not at all ready for attacks, especially from the sea.
This is due to the development of shipping in the Vikings, due to the presence of a large number of rivers and the popularity of fishing. Therefore, the inhabitants of the present Great Britain did not expect that small groups of sailors would sail, take a large number of values, rob monasteries. It is quite difficult to catch up with villains in the open sea, especially if there are no appropriate vessels and ships for this.