Vikings and the Development of Europe

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Region
Societal and Economic Effects
Effects on Religion
Effects on Politics and Military Power
Study of History and Informed Citizenship
Past Cultures and Today’s Events
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The Viking era is a well-known chapter of European history, characterized by numerous raids of the eponymous force upon different locations in the region. The group’s definition usually consists of Scandinavian raiders, though the more peaceful settlers are also sometimes included. Unlike most European nations, the Vikings relied on their sizable fleet and naval prowess, which enabled them to stay mobile and be challenging to detect in time to prepare a response. They also attacked with different objectives than most European powers, disrespecting Christianity and seeking wealth rather than conquest. With that said, the Vikings also established settlements in many locations across Europe, notably, it’s the eastern part. The period started with the first attacks in the 8th century and ended in the 11th, as the Scandinavians were assimilated into Christianity and the broader European culture.

Region

The Vikings were primarily based in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, three nations with extensive sea access, which explains their naval tendencies. As seafaring raiders who did not operate on land, the Vikings typically attacked coastal regions across most of Europe and North Africa as well as Britain (Somerville & McDonald, 2019). In some parts of the coast where resistance was weak, notably multiple areas in the British Isles, they founded permanent settlements (Somerville & McDonald, 2019). With that said, they also moved down the Volga River to raid the Bulgarians and Slavs, ultimately settling in Rus.

Societal and Economic Effects

The Viking settlers, permitted by the territories’ rulers to live there for reasons such as safety from further raiding, eventually embraced Christianity and integrated it into the nations where they lived. As a result, Europe’s economic prosperity increased, especially as raiding as a whole came to an end. Moreover, as Farmer (2019) notes, the raiders preferred to attack rich and undefended monasteries as opposed to poorer and more dangerous towns. Hence, the latter were permitted to grow, and, cooperating with the newly assimilated Scandinavian settlers, they achieved economic growth across Europe.

Effects on Religion

One of the most-discussed aspects of Viking invasions is their brutality, which is often attributed to their lack of Christian values and violence-centered way of life. However, as they, especially those that settled in the region, interact with the Europeans, they increasingly adopted the religion. Spielvogel (2016) asserts that Christianity played a dominant role in their overall assimilation into the European culture that followed, which was also one of the reasons for the eventual end of the raiding. Moreover, the raids on wealthy religious institutions created a change in their organization in Europe. As Farmer (2019) describes, ascetic monasteries proliferated and became new culture centers, leading to a broader decentralization of European culture.

Effects on Politics and Military Power

Due to unpredictable raiding patterns, European kings with their centralized armies were unable to stop Viking invasions effectively. As Spielvogel (2016) notes, the people turned to local aristocrats for protection, transferring power to them and creating vassalage practices and, eventually, feudalism. These local nobles amassed personal armies that were more flexible and positioned closer to the raid locations, becoming more effective at repelling them. Beeler (2018) adds that, while the English were able to deal with Norse raids through minor modifications of their tactics, the Carolingians were less successful in doing so, eventually having to abandon their infantry approaches in favor of mounted units.

Study of History and Informed Citizenship

To be an informed citizen, one has to understand the various sides of any issue. Despite their brutal reputation, the Vikings were not as large a threat as they seem, possibly benefiting Europe more than they hurt it. Though they raided, stole riches, and killed numerous people, they also stimulated Europe’s economic and political development. Spielvogel (2016) adds that the Magyars also threatened Europe at the time, with whom it dealt in a similar fashion as the Vikings. As such, the impact of the Norse raiders is typically overrated in public awareness.

The advantage of history is that it lets one view past events from multiple perspectives and attain a more objective understanding of each side’s actions. Such information will often be unavailable for more current events, but informed citizens should be aware that it likely exists nevertheless. Though they raided Europe and inflicted numerous casualties, the Vikings ultimately had different objectives, which the Europeans were able to satisfy to mutual benefit. The Viking scenario also shows the advantages of peaceful solutions over violent ones, though it should be noted that the pacification took place in large part because improved deterrence measures made raiding unattractive compared to cooperation.

Past Cultures and Today’s Events

History scholars disagree on the reasons why the Vikings resorted to raiding Europe as opposed to staying in their territories or engaging in trade. Spielvogel (2016) cites theories such as overpopulation, revenge for past slights, and reduced trade opportunities, but notes that none of them have been proven conclusively. Many of these factors likely contributed to the cultural shift that led to the advent of the practice. In modern scenarios, people’s motivations are likely also more complex and morally grey than they may appear initially, and it is essential to consider all available information before acting.

One of the most notable factors of the Viking raids was their decentralized nature, with different communities engaging in attacks without coordinating with others. Per Spielvogel (2016), this tendency was the result of the weak power of Scandinavian monarchs, and, as they strengthened and embraced Christianity, their subjects’ raiding was quashed. The likely reason for this was the monarchs’ growing ties with European nations, which would be damaged if they had to take responsibility for the continued attacks. This result demonstrates the importance of understanding power structures in various powers that take action in the national and international arena. Individuals’ actions do not reflect their entire group, and leaders cannot necessarily exert enough influence to persuade all of their nominal subordinates to act in a specific manner.

Conclusion

Though Vikings deserve their reputation as brutal raiders and were not motivated by altruistic impulses, they still had a substantially positive influence on Europe once the broader perspective is taken into consideration. Their threat forced advances in the local political situation that would inform much of the Medieval period, and their economic contributions helped strengthen the nations where they operated despite the raids. Moreover, Vikings’ eventual pacification can serve as insight and a model for dealing with violent enemies. Overall, the example of the group provides valuable insights that can be applied in modern scenarios, as well.

References

Beeler, J. H. (2018). Warfare in feudal Europe, 730–1200. Cornell University Press.

Farmer, S. (2019). Communities of Saint Martin: Legend and ritual in medieval Tours. Cornell University Press.

Somerville, A. A., & McDonald, R. A. (Eds.). (2019). The Viking Age: A reader (3^rd ed.). University of Toronto Press.

Spielvogel, J. J. (2016). Western civilization: Volume A: To 1500 (10^th ed.). Cengage Learning.

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