Social Hierarchy Of The Vikings

In researching the life and times of women from the Norse mythology, I came to realize they were not only the ones running the home. There were women who worked, those who wielding power along with the boys, and some who would get together with friends, the way we might today. I suppose when reading mythology, which is often centered on male characters, I came to see female roles in ancient times to be on the periphery of what was going on. After completing my research, I can see that perhaps Viking women had more in common with me and the women I know than I ever thought. While they weren’t getting together for Sex in the City marathons, there were many strong females in Viking times, who deserve to have their stories told.

The largest political unit was called a 'village-band'. These were groups of related families (several hundred people) who came together to share resources. Each village-band would have at least one Chief or Headsman, whose position was filled along hereditary lines.

had to really set actions, he did and was killed for it. His sacrifice did well for others that he

He basically said if my men don't get to drink, I don't either. He proved he was a brilliant leader when he was in a battle

Leif Eriksson, also spelled Ericson, Eiriksson, or Erikson, was a Viking originally from Iceland. Leif was born the son of Eric the Red, a Viking who colonized Greenland and Thjodhild, in 960AD. Leif was known for being the first European to reach North America. He was also known for the legacy and era that the Eriksson family had. He finally spread Christianity throughout Greenland.

Scandinavians (Vikings) had first settled in southern Scandinavia, but then they started to seek and explore just as every other nation in history. They had started to divide into separate factions and were loosely structured, but they still had enough in common to work together and expand. They stretched from their southern Scandinavia to England, a bunch of really tiny islands, tips of Europe's mainland, Iceland, Greenland, and landed in Newfoundland (which they called Vinland). They had skirted around other islands and peninsulas similar to Greenland, but didn't settle there. What is fascinating is the fact that they had landed in North America about 5 centuries before Columbus. They had used an early version of their most recognized longboats.

The Middle Ages was an era where Rome fell, and the renaissance of Italy rose. Norwegian Vikings first started the Viking Age when they started colonization in Iceland. Vikings played an important historical world during The Middle Ages. Today, we might see Vikings as men with helmets, beards and large melee weapons. In truth, they were farmers, fishers, transporters, and more.

Vikings were a group of people from Scandanavia (modern-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden) who navigated the North Atlantic and Baltic Regions, sailing to destinations in the south to North Africa, and east to Russia, Constantinople (“Istanbul”) and the Middle East, as ‘hit-and-run’ looters, traders and colonists. Notably, the Vikings were seen as a barbaric clan by their victims, especially to those in Europe with whom they had an imposing influence. Equally, as the Old Norse (the language of the Norsemen) translation of the word ‘Viking’ signifies, the Vikings were feared as fierce and ruthless pirates. However, most of these people may not have called themselves Vikings since only a few engaged in raiding and pillaging, which was seen as a

They lived on the king's land, but were

Compare and contrast the Frankish annals AND the Irish annals as sources for Viking history.

The Vikings were Norse people from Scandinavia who lived during the Viking Age from eighth century to the twelfth century. The first arrival of the Vikings in Ireland was in 795. But at that time the Vikings used the strategy hit and run until the 9th century they began to settle with the Irish. The Vikings were successful around the world because they were very skilled in navigation and very powerful they reached China, Russia, and the Middle East. The Vikings had a great impact on the Irish society in many aspects, for example, trade, art, military, and technology.

leader at that time. He showed the world what it means to be free. No matter where

In the Paleolithic era, social hierarchy was determined by multiple factors such as position in the family, gender, age, and favorable personality traits. Titles were given to establish positions within each band. Titles could include, mother, father, husband, wife, brother, sister, child, etc. The higher the position in the band came power over others. (John P. McKay, Understanding World Societies, Pg14). The division of labor was determined by a person’s sex and age. With biological factors, it was inevitable that there would be a division of labor for men and women. Women biologically are able to breast feed their young, which takes several years. At this time period formula was not invented yet, so breast milk was the only source of nutrition for infants. Women would breast feed and the men would most likely care for the infants. In a sense the women and men split the work to care for their young. Since the Paleolithic people had to rely on moving from place to place to gather their food, women also worked outdoors. The women gathered plants and animal products, meanwhile the men hunted. (McKay, Pg.13) Age was also a key factor in the division of labor in their society. Being elderly or a child would result in different task that would generally be easier because of the lack of strength. Unlike the Paleolithic era, in the Neolithic era Social hierarchies mainly came about as a result of plow agricultural society in both gender relations and division of labor.

man who would never fight in disputes. In his time there he really got to do the things he

was a professional writer and he was good presenting his speech. Winston Churchill spent hours