Vikings
Some of the very first people to explore North America would have to be
the Vikings. The Vikings were an adventurous lot, sailing the oceans in there
ornately crafted longships. They frequently invaded many neighboring countries
and islands. The actions of the Vikings shaped and changed many countries of the
Europe. They invaded almost every western country of their time. England,
Ireland, France, Spain, Russia, Greece, Arabia, And Africa all felt the impact
of these marauders.
The Vikings had a very important part of awakening
Europe from the despair of the Middle Ages, because the challenged its people to
rise and fight for what they believed in.
The Vikings held honor for
themselves and for their nation. A fallen warrior that fell bravely in defeat
would look forward to the promised immortality of their pagan heaven called
Valhalla.
The Vikings inhabited the Scandinavian countries of Europe,
Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are very close the Arctic Circle. Norway and Sweden
extend into the Arctic Circle, far from the advancements of civilization and
Christianity. The Scandinavian countries are surrounded by long coastlines,
bays, sounds, and vast rivers that extend far inland. The Norsemen used the
richness of the sea to their advantage. They either fished the oceans or used it
as trade routes for transporting valuables or agriculture products.
The
Vikings would had very few large cities and would occasionally spar over a
disputed territory but most chose to live in southern Norway on the Jutland
Peninsula of Denmark or in southeastern Sweden.
The time period in which
these men lives was between A.D. 800 to 1100, a long time they ruled the seas.
The word Vikings means seaborne marauder, it possibly comes from the
Scandinavian word vic meaning bay or inlet. The word now applies to sailors that
would lurk along the coast attacking passing victims. It could also come from
the Norse word vig meaning battle. The Norse lived as they did for almost a ten
thousands years before they were known as the Vikings.
The Vikings led
strict rough lives, the climate was harsh the winters long and cold. The were
skilled in many crafts. They built ornate ships decorated with intricate
designs. Gold and silver was made into beautiful jewelry, inlaid with stones and
gems obtained from trade with other countries. They were the most skilled
weaponsmiths of their time, shields, axes, spears, and swords were all forged by
master smiths. The weapons were then inlaid with gold, silver, and precious
stones. Their weapons were often etched in runic inscriptions, of the bearers
name or some message to ward of evil. They Vikings were fierce fighters, the
best of their time. A tactic used by the Vikings seems simple but effective,
many kings and chieftains had standards that were carried at the head of their
army or patrol. One standard that was almost always carried was one that
depicted a raven in flight. When the Vikings fought toward their goal, the raven
would "fly" only if they moved fast enough to keep a steady wind, if the troops
stopped and hesitated then the raven would fall, signaling defeat to the
Vikings. There was one sect of the Viking army that was separated from the rest,
these were called Berserkers. They were rightly feared and held in awe by their
enemies. The Berserkers, would fight with such ferocity that they would rip of
their shirts and chain mail and fight with their bare hands ignoring all
pain.
Even with these insane fighters the Vikings were the best trained
soldiers of their time, surpassing by far the English and French.
The
Vikings were the first to establish colonies in the New World, Eric the Red
founded Greenland long before any English or Spanish explorer did. Leif Ericson
discovered America as a new land before anyone else. His father was the local
magistrate of Greenland when one of his subjects related to him this new land
Lief at once went in search of this land. Lief made his voyage across the sea
and saw many different lands. They found a land rich in the wood they treasure
and soon began foresting it and building even bigger ships, soon searchers for
gold and silver turned great wealth to Greenland and its people.
The
Vikings deserve the respect and honor of having been the first people to see
North America, before Columbus, even before Amerigo Vespuchi. The Vikings
returned to their cold homeland to sail familiar seas.
"Vikings Bold
Their Voyages & Adventures", Samuel Carter III. 1972