Christianity's Influence on the Vikings

1177 Words3 Pages

Christianity's Influence on the Vikings

When I think of the words that describes Vikings I think of barbaric, having no mercy, and great explores. Words that describe a Christian to me are trustworthy, considerate, helpful, and peaceful. The descriptions of words I described for Vikings and Christians have basically opposite meanings. As the Vikings gradually became Christians they started to dramatically change their culture. So as Christianity was implemented on the Vikings they became more civilized. The Vikings gradually picked up Christianity influences throughout their existence but my question is did it play a key role in the down fall of the Vikings?

The Viking era existed from 800 AD to 1200 AD and during 1000 AD Christianity began to have major influence in the Viking culture (Roesdahl 27). A major religion that shaped the Viking culture is Nordic Paganism (Williams). According to Stephen Henkin who wrote an article called the Viking Fury, the Vikings admired and tried to live up to the character traits they saw their gods portraying(Henkin ). Stephen Henkin suggested that character traits the Vikings saw in the Nordic gods are virile qualities: brutality, anger, lust, and humor (Henkin). The Vikings attempted to try to shape their character from the character traits they saw their gods portraying believing that they should try to acquire these characteristics to make their gods happy. Nordic Paganism was polytheistic with the main gods being Odin, Thor and Frey (“The Pagan Library”).

Odin was the god of wisdom, magic and runes (“The Pagan Library”). The runes were the alphabet of the Vikings. Rune stones is the only documented writing from the Vikings during their existence, so a lot of the history during the ...

... middle of paper ...

...the Vikings, I came to the conclusion that it was a key. The change in character traits of a person completely alters a person as it did with the Vikings. So the

influence of Christianity character helped alter the Vikings to disappear.

Works Cited

Brent, Peter. The Viking Saga. New York:. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1975.

Gerset, Knut. History of the Norwegien People. New York: Au Press, 1969.

Henkin, Stephen. “Viking Fury.” The World Li. Jan 2000. Proquest, Penn State Library.

31 March 2004.

Roesdall, Else and David M. Wilson, ed. From Viking to Crusader. New York: Rizzoli,

1992.

Skarsten, Trygve R. “Nordic Religions in the Viking Age.” Church History. Sep. 2000.

Proquest, Penn State Library, 31 March 2004

Williams, Garth. “Pagan belief.” BBCi. 6 April 2004. 6 April 2004

< http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/religion_02.shtml>.

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