The Viking Age: A Misunderstood Legacy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.999Keywords:
Vikings, Legacy, ScandinaviaAbstract
In popular culture, people often regard the Vikings as marauding seafarers who sent shockwaves of fear and launched epic conquests across Europe during the Middle Ages. While this characterization is well earned to an extent, this essay attempts to unveil the more profound impacts that the Vikings brought to Europe. More specifically, the essay will examine how the Vikings were catalysts for unification in England and their native Scandinavia. Then, the essay will investigate the relationship between Viking invasions and changes in European political structures in the tenth and eleventh centuries. Following an examination into the political aspects, the essay will delve into the economic impacts brought by the Vikings - how the Vikings planted the roots of mercantilism and free trade. Finally, the essay will close by arguing that the Vikings significantly influenced European cultures in the long run by promoting far-reaching cultural interactions between nations. Through this complete analysis, the essay can hopefully paint a fuller picture of the legendary Viking Age from the 800s to the early 1200s C.E.
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