Viking Activity in the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Centuries

In this essay, the author

• Explains viking activity in the eighth, ninth, and tenth centuries. the pagans from the northern regions came with a naval force.
• Explains how the vikings set out in the late 8th century to capture the wealth and resources of their trading partners.
• Opines that the vikings were bloodthirsty barbarians that history has so often portrayed them as. the attacks throughout europe were brutal, but they were also extremely well planned and organised.

• Explains viking activity in the eighth, ninth, and tenth centuries. the pagans from the northern regions came with a naval force.
• Explains how the vikings set out in the late 8th century to capture the wealth and resources of their trading partners.
• Opines that the vikings were bloodthirsty barbarians that history has so often portrayed them as. the attacks throughout europe were brutal, but they were also extremely well planned and organised.
• Argues that vikings tactics of violence were not unusual or uncommon during that time, and it is unlikely that they would have known any other method of successfully gaining control of the lands they conquered.
• Explains that the vikings wanted free access to the fertile land and wealth of europe, which did not exist in the peninsulas of scandinavia.
• Analyzes how vikings, striving to capture the perceived wealth and fertile lands of their european trading partners, efficiently moved throughout areas of europe, violently conquering as they travelled.
• Explains that the danish invaded the south, while the swedish raiders moved towards the east, invading parts of russia, constantinople, baghdad, and it is suggested even as far as western china.
• Explains that the scandinavian people are portrayed by history as little more than violent thieves, who used force to invade europe, and terrorised the continent for well over a century. the viking attacks throughout europe were perhaps best characterised by two things: the inhumane violence and savagery of the attacks.
• Analyzes how patriarch photius' record of a viking attack on constantinople in 860 encapsulates the ruthless nature of the vikings and the extreme fear they spread throughout europe.
• Analyzes how the viking's attack captures the incredible.
• Opines that the vikings' speed and mobility terrified the people of europe. extremely skilled craftsmen built viking ships that could hold up to 40 men each.
• Analyzes how the vikings were formidable enemies, as they were able to attack swiftly and powerfully, making it difficult to prepare defence.
• Explains that violence in order to make gains was not uncommon in europe during the dark ages, when rivalling leaders vying for control were common.
• Opines that the vikings were merely another invading force, though their mobility and indiscrimination about whom they slaughtered did set them apart from other violent forces.
• Explains that vikings were chosen based on ease of conquer and the profit that could be gained from the attack. an example of a viking attack that was carried out purely for the gain of riches is attack on the monastery of lindisfarne.
• Analyzes how this attack epitomises the negative depiction of the vikings throughout history, as the event is portrayed as a ruthless attack on an isolated religious centre, where many unarmed religious men and women were brutally murdered.
• Explains that the monasteries were deliberately built in isolated locations and had no defence, making them an attractive target for viking raiders.
• Opines that lindisfarne was a religious centre, while the vikings saw the monastery as an easy and profitable target.
• Analyzes the negative effects of the viking era throughout europe, including the destruction of towns, murders, and theft of valuables.
• Explains the negative consequences of the viking attacks throughout the early middle ages are typically what history remembers the scandinavian invaders for due to the shocking nature of their brutal tactics.
• Explains that the vikings terrorized the entire european continent for well over a century, but there were positive consequences from the invasions.
• Explains that the vikings continued to survive through trade as they moved through scandinavian peninsulas, which benefited the continent by stimulating trade.
• Opines that europe was a step closer to becoming united, as trade invited communication between towns. many areas of europe became more unified after the viking invasions.
• Explains that the franks were among the most successful at achieving this, and were able to defend themselves effectively before internal political struggles became the cause of a weakened line of defence.
• Explains that the unification of many regions of europe was an extremely positive outcome of the viking era.
• Explains that the scandinavian boat designs were quite different from the larger, more cumbersome designs being constructed throughout europe. the vikings also gained knowledge of ship-design.
• Explains that scandinavian art and jewellery featuring animal motifs and intricate patterning were introduced into european life. the vikings were responsible for the extension of the boundaries of europe.
• Explains that the norwegians, danish, and swedish groups are partly responsible for the expansion of europe's borders.
• Analyzes the development of the area that is now russia, as they established trade routes to the byzantine and arab markets.
• Explains that vikings had lacked fertile land in the scandinavian peninsulas. some european rulers granted land to viking settlers as an attempt to avoid attack.
• Analyzes how the vikings rejected their own polytheistic religion in favour of christianity, rather than forcing the inhabitants to convert to their lifestyle and religion.
• Analyzes how the vikings were portrayed throughout history as a brutal, barbaric, bloodthirsty, primitive people who devastated many areas of europe.
• Opines that the northmen's violent campaigns were not mindless, but were well-organized, efficient campaigns to obtain wealth and resources, a tactic that was quite common in the early middle ages.