History 102 with WhatifAltHist's Rudyard Lynch and Austin Padgett cover image

The Vikings

History 102 with WhatifAltHist's Rudyard Lynch and Austin Padgett

00:00

From Raiders to Settlers: The Viking Transformation

The Viking Age unfolded in distinct phases, beginning with rampant raiding from 790 to 850, during which the Vikings targeted unprotected monasteries in Europe, disregarding their sacred status, as the region was dominated by a theocratic culture. This initial phase saw no interest in settlement or conquest. However, from 850 to 900, the dynamic shifted towards colonization, as the Vikings established dominance over significant territories, including two-thirds of England and a third of Ireland, founding major cities like Dublin and Limerick. They also settled Iceland and Greenland, ventured to North America, and expanded into Eastern Europe. Additionally, they conquered Normandy, which later played a pivotal role in European history as the Normans, descendants of Vikings, went on to conquer England and southern Italy and participated in the Crusades.

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