I HAVE To React To This Viking Expert From WIRED

On this video I react to the recent upload by Wired where a Viking Age expert answers questions about the Vikings including Norse culture, history, archaeology and much more.

Link to the original video:

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The Viking Age, spanning roughly from the late 8th to the mid-11th century, was a transformative period in European history that saw Scandinavian seafarers, traders, and warriors leave an indelible mark on the world. This era of Norse expansion and influence reshaped the political, economic, and cultural landscape of medieval Europe and beyond.
At the heart of the Viking Age was a spirit of exploration and adventure. The Norse people, hailing from present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, were skilled navigators and shipbuilders. Their iconic longships, with their shallow drafts and ability to sail in both deep seas and rivers, allowed them to venture far beyond their Scandinavian homelands. These intrepid explorers reached as far west as North America, establishing short-lived settlements in Newfoundland, while also traveling eastward along the rivers of Eastern Europe to the Black Sea and beyond.
The Vikings' reputation as fearsome raiders is well-documented in historical accounts. Their sudden attacks on coastal communities and monasteries struck terror into the hearts of their victims. The sack of Lindisfarne in 793 CE is often cited as the beginning of the Viking Age, marking the start of a period of intense raiding activity. However, it would be a mistake to view the Vikings solely as marauders. Many Norse people were also skilled traders, artisans, and settlers who established thriving communities across Europe.
In fact, the Viking Age was characterized by significant cultural exchange and assimilation. As Norse settlers integrated into local populations, they adopted and adapted local customs and beliefs, while also introducing elements of their own culture. This process of cultural hybridization is particularly evident in places like Normandy in France, where Norse settlers eventually became the ruling class, or in the Danelaw region of England, where Norse influence can still be seen in place names and linguistic borrowings.
The political impact of the Viking Age was profound. Norse warriors carved out kingdoms in various parts of Europe, including the Danelaw in England, the Kingdom of Dublin in Ireland, and the Duchy of Normandy in France. The most far-reaching political development was perhaps the establishment of the Kievan Rus' state by Swedish Vikings, which would eventually evolve into Russia.
Economically, the Vikings were instrumental in reinvigorating trade networks across Europe and beyond. Their trading activities stretched from the North Atlantic to the Middle East, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies. Viking merchants traded in a wide variety of commodities, including furs, amber, honey, slaves, silver, and exotic goods from distant lands.
The religious landscape of Scandinavia underwent significant changes during the Viking Age. While the period began with the Norse people adhering to their traditional polytheistic beliefs, it ended with the gradual Christianization of Scandinavia. This process was not always peaceful, and the tension between the old and new faiths is reflected in many Norse sagas and historical accounts.
The legacy of the Viking Age extends far beyond its historical timeframe. The Norse influence on language, law, place names, and folklore can still be observed in many parts of Europe and beyond. The sagas and myths that emerged from this period continue to captivate imaginations worldwide, inspiring countless works of literature, art, and popular culture.
In conclusion, the Viking Age was a complex and multifaceted period that defies simple characterization. While the image of the Viking raider looms large in popular imagination, a fuller understanding of this era reveals a story of exploration, cultural exchange, political transformation, and economic expansion. The Norse people of this period were not just warriors, but also traders, settlers, craftsmen, and explorers whose legacy continues to shape our world today.

#wired #vikings #reactionvideo

[metatronyt]

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[cpuuk]

Pretty sure that the Lindisfarne Monks gave the "Vikings" 1 stars on Trust Pilot for 'friendliness'. Conversely the "Vikings" rated the Monks abode 5 stars "would visit again".

[danielaramburo]

Not true. My Netflix historian grandmother said the Vikings were all black gay native Americans.

[scholasticaltactical]

As an ancestor of Mayan and Aztec people, 1 human sacrifice every 9 years is amateur at best.😂

[ivilivo]

When did the Vikings start use horned helmets?
- 19th century in a German opera

[childofcain]

This is the first time I've seen Metatron not blow a gasket on an expert. This is a nice change of pace. I liked her.

[Elis_Nordgall]

I do want to point out, as a Swede, the thing in the beginning, with the “son of X” thing. The most common surname in Sweden is still Andersson, so “son of Anders”. It’s actually like this in all Scandinavian countries, in Denmark it’s Nilssen, in Norway it’s Johansen and so on.
So back in the day, with the exception of certain societal classes like nobles, priests and soldiers, if your father’s name was Anders, as a son your name would be Andersson and as a daughter it would be Andersdotter.
In Sweden we stopped with this tradition in the 18th - early 19th century, but in Iceland they still do it.

And names like Thor, or Tor in Swedish, are actually a thing/were a thing, not just the name of the god.
Same thing with other gods names, like I had a friend named Loke (Swedish for Loki), also knew someone named Freja. And there are even historical figures who had names like these.

[williamabrahamsson]

I am Swedish and we still have the nicknames that are given to us as a kid, by other kids, mine was "Skullen" it sounds cooler in English then in Swedish, means like a pile of hay, due to my rather long hair when I was a kid.
I'll just show myself out now. (Love your show)

[initial_C]

The discussion of grave goods has inspired me to bury myself with very random things when I pass away, just to confuse future archaeologists.

[Halfdanr_H]

I think that shield-maidens make sense in one context. Imagine there’s 400 men in your Viking age Danish settlement. Half of them go raiding for weeks at a time between Spring and Autumn, or perhaps they’ve gone on a military campaign for months at a time.

Your settlement is now a suitably depopulated target for attack by another band of Viking raiders. With half the men gone, the half that is left may need help, so you arm the women, because everyone understands that it’s a life and death situation. Shield-maidens help to defend the settlement until the men get back to bolster the number of warriors.

That makes the most sense to my mind.

[scottybreuer]

I love watch Metatron roast fools. I also love when Metatron finds people who actually know their stuff.

[gotteskind_]

A group of friends go hiking, die, and their remains are found 1, 000 years later.

Archaeologists: "Let's call them Hikings."

[unarealtaragionevole]

I'm surprised tattoos didn't come up. I loved Dr. Jackson Crawford's recent video about how Vikings were not covered in tattoos, or might not even have liked them cause there are no records of them having tattoos except for the singular 'painted' description that came from Ahmad ibn Fadlan. And we don't know if the 'Rus' he is describing are Vikings or a different group of people. There's no word for tattoo or the concept of tattooing in the Norse language, and tattoos are not in any of the myths or sagas.

[Moogerton]

It's so refreshing to watch Metatron react to "experts" that are actual _experts_ ; I watched the WIRED video a while ago and thoroughly enjoyed it, so it's fun to see it here as well. No intellectual dishonesty, historical revisionism or making value judgments with a modern lense. Maybe it's because she's Norwegian 😉(shoutout to other Norwegians here btw!). Anyway, it's always entertaining to watch the Metatron annihilate so-called "experts, " but it's also a nice change of pace to watch people who actually know what they're talking about.

[hmmokay.]

Glad to have an unbiased expert just explain history

[AnotherDuck]

She's great. As a Swede, I approve.

One thing I would change if I could go back in history would be to go back to before the castle Tre Kronor burnt down and try to save the castle, or at least the vast collection of historical accounts that were lost. There's so much we could've learned from that. I'm not sure how far back those records stretch, but it's possible there'd be at least something from Viking times.

I could tell she wasn't just a normal British person by how she pronounced "Gamla Uppsala". Not only was her pronunciation accurate, she also didn't skip a beat. Most people can learn the pronunciation correctly, but they will almost always make a brief pause before switching language, as if they're quoting something.

[lzbscalle]

I'm Swedish and growing up my nickname was "Lilleman" (Little Man) ... I'm 6'8 now ...

[LaineyBug]

How violent were the Vikings?
Expert: YES.

[julianne_warren]

She did a great job answering all the questions in that episode.

[-Higashi-]

Yes definitely do more of these bro!! My morning commute was much more enjoyable with this video playing