The modern-day nations of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway are not necessarily the same people as the Vikings of ancient chieftainships, which can cause confusion in historical sources. Viking raids on Iona in 798 and 802 ADCE resulted in the destruction of the monastery and the killing of monks, respectively, while Charlemagne strengthened defenses against such pirate raids in 800 ADCE.
The death of Charlemagne opens up the door to a higher level of threat and impact to anything seen in his empire up to this point and his own son, Louis the Pious, becomes an important figure for inheritance matters.
A rundown of Viking raids spanning over 20 years highlights the frequency and intensity of these attacks, which occurred in multiple places at the same time, arousing suspicion about their sudden increase.
This podcast episode discusses the history and cultural affiliations of the Vikings, and the extinction of their ancient deities by other European peoples who once believed in the same values and gods.
An examination of how themes in ancient stories can reveal the mindset and culture of the society in which they were written. The discussion includes examples such as the story of the Persians looking to relocate to more luxurious areas after acquiring their empire.
The stirrup was a transformative piece of technology that allowed knights to joust on horseback and paved the way for the first crusade, an event which shaped the entire history of the middle ages. It is a prime example of how small innovations can have massive ripple effects throughout history.