Sociology

Viking culture is believed to have influence over Scandinavia. The culture of Viking was vibrant, rich in tradition, independent and strong. It was characterized by the ability to adapt, create, develop, and copy incorporating or rejecting foreign ideas. Vikings were involved with many contact points which familiarized them with a variety of environment, nationalities, and cultures in Scandinavia. The Scandinavians were characterized by the ability to tolerate other cultures, which made them colonists, conquerors and traders in other countries.

This paper aims at analyzing the role played by Viking in making Scandinavia significant globally. It has detailed information on who Vikings are, their culture, and their origin for better understanding of the Viking culture in Scandinavia, and role of various Viking threads in united Scandinavia. This paper has also analyzed the shared sense of nationalism and culture and their impact in then surrounding region.

Viking Culture
It is believed that Viking age culture was independent, strong, rich in tradition and vibrant, characters which enabled the Vikings to trade and conquer new countries. The land occupied by Vikings in the Viking age shared a common culture as a result of their location  the far north of Europe, and the water which surrounded the territory linking the regions with seaborne traffic. The region was rich in natural resources which satisfied their necessities leaving surplus to export. Availability of wide rage of natural resources created opportunities for trade and shipping.

To relate technology with the Viking Culture, Vikings used technologically superior long ships for trade, but customary they used knarr whose drafts were deeper and wider. Vikings warfare was adept in both the sea and land, and were good sailors. Their attacks aimed at striking poorly defended accessible areas. These tactics were very effective to an extent of winning a formidable reputation as pirates and raiders. Their long ships facilitated large distance travel and tactical advantages in raids. Their hit and run tactic in battle was effective and efficient as they could use the ship to approach their target quickly, and leave immediately after striking before counter-offensive from their target. They invaded inland in rivers because the negligible draft of their ship enabled them to sail in shallow waters effectively. As the technology advanced allowing use of saw to construct the ships instead of axe, the quality of the ship was reduced.

Arms indicated the social status of Vikings. Their wealth was associated with complete ensemble of sword, chain mail shirt, shield and helmet. There was custom which allowed Norse men to own weapons and carry them all the time. Typical freemen carried seax which acted as side arm and knife for use. This was considered important since is was not common for a typical freeman to use shield and spear when fighting. Although bows were largely used at use and when opening land battle stages, hand weapon was more honored. The kings guards were armed with axes which was very heavy requiring to be held with two hands for easy splitting of metal helmet, and shield.

Scandinavia has gained significance globally as a result of the Viking culture. Scandinavia has maintained the memory and pride of being Viking descendants through literature work, and other media. Vikings acted as the pivot to the history of Scandinavia. The unified Scandinavian kingdoms first emerged during the Viking age.  The Scandinavian linguistic and historical heritage is related with the Viking age, and this enhanced cooperation in dealing with economical, security, and cultural issues in Scandinavian countries.

Vikings were explorer. They moved from one Scandinavian country to another.  Many of the runic inscriptions dating eleventh were found in Sweden. Majority of the runestones in Scandinavia contain the names of the Vikings who participated in the in the expedition, and a few bear the names those who lost lives during the expedition.  For example the Turinge and the Kjula runestones indicate the names of the expedition participants while the 25 Ingvar runestones found in Sweden was developed to commemorate the participants who lost their lives in a disastrous expedition early 11th century. Existence of runestones of Viking age has attracted many tourists in Scandinavia, a factor that has made Scandinavia significant globally, and has contributed a lot in the study of early medieval Scandinavia, and Norse study.

The funeral of Viking was characterized by grave goods, funerary monuments, cremation, rituals and sacrifices. Information retrieved from archaeology and Ahmad bin Fadlan show that the bodies of dead Vikings were cremated in ship burials, or buried on land.  Funerals made on the Scandinavian land showed different funeral traditions. The bodies were laid on a stone, ship or boat, given grave offerings and sacrifices depending on the deceaseds profession and the status in which he lived,  and then a tumulus was created  by covering with soil and stones. There are many tumuli in Scandinavia especially in Norway at Borre mound cemetery, and in Denmark at Jelling. These tumuli are maintained in honor of chieftains and kings. Viking funerals were considerd expensive, and they acted homes for the deceased and monuments which gave the descendants social position. The entire community used large grave fields in three different locations in Scandinavia. These graves vary in both size and shape some are circular, quadrangular, triangular, and stone ships. These grave fields belong to village, and many generations have used them.

The grave goods were given common to all corpses irrespective of gender, or whether the corpse was to be buried or bunt. The social status in which the deceased had lived determines the value and amount of goods the corpse would get, the how it would be buried. The Viking ensured the dead were buried correctly to ensure that the dead are linked with the life after death correctly. They believed this would avoid homelessness to the dead and eternally wandering soul. Although the custom of the Viking involved warfare, they had fear towards the dead and the belongings of the dead. They were afraid improper burial of the dead would make the dead to revisit them as a revenant. Their interpretation of this is that one of the family members of the dead would die.

The religious beliefs of Vikings were connected with Norse mythology. They emphasized on honor, battle a home for dead warriors. In the modern Scandinavia, there are traces of Germanic gods in the modern vocabulary. Almost all Scandinavian countries which use German language involve elements of western life. For example the names of the days in a week are developed in Latin from Mercury, Venus Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. In Scandinavia, the names of Tuesday through Friday were replaced with gods, Monday and Sunday with Moon and Sun, leaving Saturday unchanged.  At the start of the Viking age, many of the Scandinavian countries were pagans and had Germanic gods. However with the introduction of Christianity, many countries accepted and practiced it. The funerals differentiated the pagans from Christians as the pagans give the dead grave goods.

The Vikings contact with Christianity intensified as they continued to raid the British Isle and the Frankish kingdoms. Vikings seemed to be independent in their beliefs throughout their raiding period, but as Christianity continued to spreads throughout the Scandinavian countries, their need to maintain a peaceful relation with Christians increased pressuring them to convert to Christianity.  This was made possible in 878 through the Treaty of Wedmore, which made Guthrun the leader of Viking and to hold Alfred of Wessex as the god father.

Christians were not allowed to trade with pagans. To maintain the trade relation with Christian countries, Vikings needed to either convert to Christianity, or to primsign which was considered as a half step of, accepting Christianity.

Vikings mode of dressing is another aspect which should be considered when analyzing their culture. In the Viking age, the Vikings were tough and they could claim a large amount of land. They were known for their ability to conquer villages neighboring them on their right and on the left. These Scandinavian explorers fought hard to include Asia in their empire. The Vikings are remembered for their toughness and masculinity in conquests. In order to conquer other nations, Vikings were equipped with clothing which guaranteed them victory. Their horned helmet is recognized as an ancient costume. In modern world, Scandinavia is recognized for the ritual horned helmet which is considered as Vikings universal symbol.

Vikings were involved in constant raids and expeditions throughout their lives.  Most of their activities and battles took place in seas. Their battles and raiding was through out the year irrespective of the season. Winters are cold in Scandinavia, and for the Vikings to be active in the cold winters, they wore fur which generated and maintained warmth. Besides providing the warrior with warmth, the fur acted as armor in conquests.  The Viking outfits are only seen in Scandinavia, and no other place in the World.

During the Viking age, women spent their lives at home, but they influenced the sphere. Their burial which involved burying the dead in accordance to their social status   showed that women controlled over, and had responsibility for clothing household members and distributing food. However some women had achievements or exceptional status which changed their burial.

In the popular culture, many creative works were inspired by Viking and Romantic Viking revival. These creative works included the historical fantancies such as 13th warrior movie, and novels based on the historical events such as long ships by Frans Gunnar Bengtssons. Games such as Norns fate were inspired by Viking myth, which extended its influence into computer games.

 Is there a shared sense of nationalism and culture and the impact in then surrounding region
 Studies show that during the nationalistic movements in Europe in the 19th century, each of the European nation wanted to look different from the other. The Scandinavians used their Viking ancestors to establish their unique and heroic past. In the emergence of nationalism in Scandinavia, the Scandinavian countries got closer to Germany. This created a mutual relationship between the Germans and Scandinavians as the Scandinavians admired the prowess of Germany in arts and sciences, while the Germanys Nazi Party glorified its policies in reference to the achievements of the Viking Military.  In 1930s, the Nazi Party used the warrior images of Vikings on their recruitment poster and continued to praise Vikings in promoting Nazi image.

Vikings acted as the turning point for many Scandinavian countries. Iceland was created as a result of expansion of Vikings during the Viking age. Settlement of Vikings in Iceland has drawn the attention of the world as a result of DNA studies which show their uniqueness, well-documented biological genome and genealogical history, which were isolated and preserved during the Viking age.

Vikings contributed a lot in formation of political entities across Europe. Vikings influenced the uniting of Welsh, Anlo-Saxon and kings English. The union created by these kings warded off the invading armies and fleet, forming a strong consolidated group, which the British nations based on. The Vikings settled extensively in the Northern British Isles as political figures, traders settlers, where they participated giving the Scottish nation shape.

Vikings   of Scandinavia played role in shaping Europe. The warriors were few in number but their impact was felt throughout Europe.  They settled in various parts of Europe such as Russia and Britain. The economic activities of Vikings accounted for the revitalization of commerce, and trade after the collapse of the Roman Empire. They colonized Russia, England and Greenland.  Although the Vikings originated from three different groups, they were united, shared common culture, pagan religion and language, and all were characterized by land, glory, and wealth thirst.

Conclusion
Viking culture influenced Scandinavia. The culture of Viking was vibrant, rich in tradition, independent and strong. Their travel, trade, clothing, and far-flung colonization had impact in the Scandinavian nation.  The Vikings traded with other people in the European nation. The economy of the European nation was influenced by the Vikings. They traded with bronze, tusks seal fat for boats, fur, and agricultural products. They were also associated with slave trade until later when Christianity was introduced as it was against slavery.

Besides unifying countries in Scandinavia, Vikings are responsible for making Scandinavia significant on a global scale. Some of the historical artifacts can only be found Scandinavia.  There are a lot historical materials left in Scandinavia. In order to see things such as the horned helmet, and the tumuli one need to be living in Scandinavia, or travel to the nation.

Vikings colonized many Scandinavian countries. Their colonization was permanent in countries such as Greenland, Russia and German. This shows they were strong. They traveled and settled in areas such as Britain and Russia.  Their adventurous life was evidenced by runestones which indicated the names of the participants of the expedition, and names of those who had lost their lives during expedition.

Vikings of Scandinavia were warriors and raiders.  They raided many European nations, settled there, and conquered other. Their life of war is evidenced by the fact that they colonized a number of countries in Europe, their war armor such as horned helmet, swords, fur suits, shields, and axes among other weapons.

Vikings were adaptive. The Viking age was characterized by many religious changes. The popular images of Vikings show they were pagans, and they hated Christianity. This has no evidence to prove. Although at the beginning of the Viking age all the Scandinavian population was pagan the Vikings had Germanic gods, and when Christianity was introduced, they easily adapted Christianity while maintaining their gods. Although they accepted Christianity, they did not practice Christianity in their own, until they had an urge for continuous social and trade relation with countries which had already accepted Christianity. Before then, they only came in contact with Christianity when they settled on land with Christians and when raiding especially in Ireland, British Isle, and Normandy.

The period of Viking age dates many years ago, and almost all information given about the Viking age is retrieved from both textual and archaeological evidences. The archaeological evidence grew constantly encountering range of useful finding. It is dated by dendrochronology, and it is contemporary with time. The textural evidence involved runic inscriptions which were written during the Viking age, and the horned helmet and other war armor which still exist in Scandinavia. This leaves the research with questions on reliability of the evidence and the information given by historical literature