The Vikings, pt. 2 -- Into Distant Realms
Historiansplaining: A historian tells you why everything you know is wrong
The Vikings and the Scandinavians
Norse sources continually say that their ventures abroad were about adventure and loot. Underlying that of course is the continual desire for silver which not only represented wealth and power but also was the easiest means of exchange. There also was the economic condition of increasing wealth in mainland Europe to the south due to political stabilization. Thirdly there were the technological conditions. Scandinavia was rich in iron. It was easy to gather and smelt iron in order to make steel weapons as well as other tools and nails and rivets. All of these then made for easy desirable targets for raiding and pillaging.
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