Ten Minute History - The Viking Age (Short Documentary)

Frolicking Caption was provided by FuzzytheFair.

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Recommended reading:

The Vikings: A Very Short Introduction by Julian D. Richards. A very concise overview which focuses mostly on raiding and not too much on the domestic changes or the Viking Religion. Very good and cheap to boot.

A History of the Vikings by Gwyn Jones - Very in depth and covers basically everything you need. It's getting on a bit and so not all of the research will be completely up to date but as a work this will cover everything you'd need as a beginner. Narrative of the book is a bit of a mess.

[HistoryMatters]

So there's been some conversations here about my use of the term 'Viking' and who it refers to. I think it's important to start off by saying that these videos aren't made for university-level history buffs or the like. They're designed for people trying to learn about historical periods they know little about or are revising for exams (A-Levels, GCSEs etc.). Since I base my videos (where applicable) on British teaching standards I think it's important to note that that the use of the term 'Viking' and 'Scandinavian' are allowed to be used interchangeably at this level. At the level of a Bachelor or Masters degree, absolutely not. That level of historical nuance isn't required here.

Yes, the technicalities of historical analysis demand that certain terms be used only under specific circumstances. But not here. These videos aren't for in-depth historical analysis nor do they claim to be a definitive history of the Viking Age. The people commenting that 'Viking' was not used accurately are largely correct. However, in the context of who this video is for, it matters more that other information is included and those watching not be bogged down by technicalities. These videos are here to build a foundation from which people can research further. There are other channels if you'd like in-depth and dry discussions of terminology.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the video.

[andysorensen]

“Gorn, being old, died....”

Hard hitting historical analysis.

Love the channel!

[rajikage]

"Some Vikings complained the Baptism they were just given wasn't as nice as the last one"
LMAO

[rafaelcanovas]

Oh boy I sure love being a Monk in Lindosfarne at 793

[viktoraggerholm]

"Was ruled by a man called Gorm the Old. Gorm being old, died in 958" had me laughing

[RJStockton]

When you go in one succession from a king called "Bloodaxe" to one called "The Good, " you're either getting better or totally screwed.

[Cabelzor]

"The now Gormless Denmark". I laughed. A lot.

[CB]

I love vikings, because they gave us Bluetooth

[shrimpboom]

If there's one thing to take away from the viking age it's that everyone had better nicknames.

[bt]

Q: How did the Vikings send secret messages?
A: Norse code.

[emilianz]

"Harold did nothing except died in 970" you made my day

[RonnieOP]

"Great Heathen Army" has to be the most epic name ever for an invading force

[PowerLord]

"Your navy is weak! All too easy to raid."
-Harald Hardrada

[yacine]

"Gorm the old, being old, died..." 😂😂😂

"This went pretty well...for his enemies" 😂😂😂

[Ahura]

It is always interesting to see which names get translated, and which just gets anglicized. Harald Bluetooth fx is Harald Blåtand originally, but gets translated, while Harald Hardråde gets changed to Hardrada instead of translated to Harald "Hard ruler"

[iliatchaplinski]

Actually, Iceland was inhabited. Before the vikings settled there, it had Irish monks, called Papar in the Sagas. In addition to the Icelandic sagas, recent archeology confirmed the monks' presence.

[matthewmcneany]

My favourite bit of Scandinavian history is that in the C12th the Swedes just made up about 15 kings in order to give the kings of the time more legitimacy. They started with Eric the IX (he was actually the first) and Charles/Karl the VII (again actually the first)

[james_baker]

Yet another great video. The amount of information you pack in 9:59 blows my mind. Thank you.

[Christian_TH]

Harald Hardrada was such a badass. Spending 15 years as a mercenary, then as a military commander in both Russia and Byzantium, only to then become King in his homeland. I sometimes wonder how history would have looked like if he and his army would not have been surprise-attacked at Stamford bridge. Maybe in an alternate universe he became King of Norway-England. Such a legend!

[davea.]

Your intros are always the best
"Little bit on fire." xD