People seem forever reimagining the seafaring Vikings from northern Europe, but 'the Viking Age' is one of the most confusing periods in European history. When did it really start and why? What does 'Viking' really mean? What kind of helmets did they actually wear?
One of the best ways to delve into these questions is to delve into the most common misconceptions, often conjured up from how Vikings are depicted in film and TV, and run through why these myths exist, and the historical reality. James Carson runs through 10 of the biggest myths he's encountered after a few months getting close to the Vikings.
Expert opinion expressed on History Hit podcasts Gone Medieval and Dan Snow's History Hit are used to help shape our understanding of the Viking Age. You can go deeper by listening to the following links:
Professor Caroline Larrington - Ragnar Lodbrok - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ragnar-lothbrok-the-viking-legend/id1564113746?i=1000617851865
Dr Stephen Ashby - Rise of the Vikings https://shows.acast.com/gone-medieval/episodes/rise-vikings ALSO Viking Hair https://play.acast.com/s/gone-medieval/vikings-whatdoestheirhairtellus-
Dr Roderick Dale - The Beserkers https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-berserkers/id1564113746?i=1000526345533
Dr Tom Horne - Raiding and Trading in Viking Britain https://shows.acast.com/gone-medieval/episodes/viking-market-kingdoms-in-britain-ireland
Dr Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir - Valkyries - https://shows.acast.com/gone-medieval/episodes/the-valkyries-handmaids-of-the-gods
Professor Gordon Campbell - Vikings in America - https://play.acast.com/s/dansnowshistoryhit/vikingsinamerica
Also, check out Dr Cat Jarman's book River Kings https://www.amazon.co.uk/River-Kings-Catrine-Jarman/dp/0008353077
Up Next in More Interviews
-
The Art Of Mummification
Ever been Mummy-curious? Egyptologist Chris Naunton joins us to demonstrate the ancient Egyptian art of mummification.
-
Ottoman Empire with Kate Fleet
The region stretching from eastern Europe and sweeping right across into Arabia and the north coast of Africa, was home to one of the most extraordinary empires in history: the Ottoman Empire. Along its routes flowed ideas, goods, disease and death. In existence for 600 years, it also saw the swe...
-
The Real Life of Gladiators in Ancien...
Tristan Hughes sits down with Alexander Mariotti, a leading speaker on gladiatorial life, combat, and weaponry as well as a historical consultant on Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator' movie (2000).
Together they discuss what life was really like for these men entering the arenas of the Roman Empire, wh...
1 Comment