Mar
19
2010
Over the horizon long ships sailed toward a monastery; these ships were Viking ships. The Vikings were seafaring raiders made up of early Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians. The Viking era started in 793 with a raid on Lindisfarne monastery in England. This was the earliest recorded attack, but there is evidence of earlier attacks. Many people say that the closing of the Viking era comes in 1042 when Harthacnut, the last Scandinavian king of England, died. One of the many Vikings groups was called Varangians. This is from the Var, a word in Old Norse meaning oath. The Varangians were of Dane and Swedish origin and were exploring in Russia. Along their travels, they would have to fight many tribes of hostile Slavs. They needed to fight together and take an oath to look after each other. This was how they earned their name. Viking interactions with western cultures during the Middle Ages shaped the modern western world due to economic and political activities, language, settlements, and technology.
Viking economic activities affected the social activities of the western world. To support their society, the Vikings plundered and looted villages and held Frankish nobles, clergy, and regular citizens for ransom (Schaffer 60). In their young state, the countries under attack had to learn to defend themselves. These Viking attacks were some of the first experienced by the people as stated “in a letter to the king of the Northumbria region of England: ‘Lo, it is some 350 years that we and our forefathers have inhabited this most lovely land, and never before has such terror appeared in Britain as we have no suffered from a pagan race (Schaffer 11).’” Also, the Vikings would threaten to attack the country unless a payment, called Danegeld, was paid (Donovan). In the land that became Russia, the Rus Vikings sold Slavs and peasants to Muslims in the area (the name slave comes from the selling of Slavs by the Vikings) (Harl). The attacks from the Vikings delayed the formation of a unified England and would form cities in the other countries being attacked (Harl).
Viking political activities were very important to the development of modern civilization. The Norse Vikings practiced democracy in the settlement of Iceland, which is the same form of law that many western countries practice today. Democracy is defined as a government ruled by the people. The Viking settlements that practiced democracy were the first democracies since ancient Athens. Their courts were made up of twelve impartial men (a jury), then a vote was held to reach verdict. If any votes differed, then the side with at least eight votes was final (Vikings). It was the beginning of a group of impartial men chosen for each individual court case. This judicial system was even closer to today’s government, than the system in ancient Greece, where men were chosen from a lottery annually and the men chosen would be used in all cases. This government democratic organization is the basis to our government today.
Remnants of the Viking language (Danish) can still be found today in many places. The Vikings had an oral language and told sagas (stories) about their Norse gods and heroes (Donovan). These Norse names are part of our names of the days of the week-Wednesday is named after Woden, the god of wisdom; Thursday is named after Thor, the god of thunder; and Friday is named after Frey, the god of weather and harvest, and Freya, the goddess of love and beauty (Schaffer 17). Also, the English language of today, which is an outgrowth of ‘Old English’, has many words with Danish origins that came from the Vikings, such as: arm, book (the noun), calf, cake, can (the verb), cold, come, cow, ear, eye, fish, gum (in mouth), head, hot, ice, hail (form of precipitation), know, lamb, etc (Smyth). Even some of the names of dangerous rapids in the Dneiper River were named by Vikings. Some examples are Essupi, which is the Old Norse version of the word vesuppi, meaning ‘do not sleep’; Ulvorsi, which is the Old Norse version of the word holmfors, meaning ‘island rapid’; and Aifor, which is the Old Norse version of the word eiforr, meaning ‘ever fierce’ (“Vikings). Russia was also named because of the impact of the Vikings. The Rus Vikings, who were led by Rurik, came into the area that is now Russia and the Ukraine. According to the Russian Primary Chronicle, they were invited to rule over the land because of civil strife. Russia was named after the Rus Vikings (“Vikings). The Vikings only used writing in runes on either tombstones (most common), or on jewelry or swords for ownership purposes (Donovan). The Viking language, both spoken and written, has had a major effect on western civilization.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Vikings made settlements in the western world that have become our modern countries. From Denmark, the Vikings set out and settled in France and England-“by the 870’s, they occupied most of England north of the Thames”. They also settled in a region of France called Normandy. The Norwegians sailed westward to Ireland and the edge of Scotland where they looted and plundered. This caused a downfall of local society in Ireland because the monasteries (center of culture) were destroyed. By 875 the Norwegians had started sailing west and eventually settling in Iceland. Later (the 900s), the Norwegian Vikings continued on to Greenland and then North America. The Swedish Vikings sailed east in the Baltic and then south along rivers of what is now Russia, Hungary, and the Ukraine. They started trading and settling among the Slavic tribes (in Russia) (Wallbank 111). They established trade posts with armed traders. This caused people to live around the trading posts, and was the beginnings of market towns in Russia (“Vikings). The settlements of the Vikings were very successful and helped establish the beginning of western civilization.
The Vikings had some of the best technology of the time. Viking ships were highly advanced and served the Vikings well for being light and fast. “Such ships were long and narrow, with high, curving bows and sterns. Each had 32 oars….and a tall mast with one large square sail (Donovan).” The greatest technological advancement of the Vikings was the ship keel. With the keel to support, the masts were able to be taller than ever before and therefore the ships moved faster. Also, the ships were made out of young trees, so the boats were more flexible because of the bendable wood used. The Vikings were also known for being able to carry their ships. This was very helpful for extending their travel routes which helped trading, warfare, and settlements. This was because they could carry the ships from one river to another (Harl). Another advancement of the Rus Vikings was the development of the silver trade in Russia. This trading was based on coins. Therefore, instead of bartering or carrying around gold, the people could use the coins to pay for things with a common value (“Vikings). Some less unique, but nevertheless great technological innovation were the durable and practical tools and the finely carved jewelry. Some examples are the early versions of snow skis and ice skates-made from animal bones and leather straps-for transportation during the colder months (Schaffer 16). The Vikings used very dangerous weapons, too. Among them are the double-edged longsword that was favored with Norse and Dane Vikings. The battle ax was another weapon that was favored and is common in the image of Vikings today. Scandinavians were also known for their skill in smithwork, giving their swords flexibility and strength that was distinctive (John 205). The Vikings technological advancements impacted the western world.
Viking economic activities also affected the religious activities of the western world. The Vikings were a main contributor to the spread of Christianity. When the Vikings started making treaties and trading with Christian countries, they began converting from pagan religion to Christianity. Then, all the places that those Vikings settled in became Christian, too (Harl). The Rus Vikings settled in the area that later became Russia and the Ukraine. They stared trading with Constantinople, a trade center on the Mediterranean. A peace treaty was formed between the two people. The only problem was the differences of religion (“Vikings). Soon though, Constantinople converted the Rus Vikings into Christians because they were amazed by the grand architecture and richness of the Christians. All the areas that the Rus Vikings settled became Christian, too, instead of Muslim. This also stopped the Rus Vikings leaders from selling their peasants as slaves, as this was against the religion. The peasants could then farm which helped the rise of towns (Harl). The monasteries were also hit by the raids. The Vikings continued their attacks, raiding places with the most money. As it happens, the monasteries were the keepers of the fortunes of nobles around the area (Schaffer 27). Shortly after, monasteries all over Europe were suffering from the effects of the Vikings. On Ireland and the western coasts of Britain, Celtic monasteries became extinct. Monasteries in France were suffering likewise, only not as harshly (Tierney 188). Soon, the church needed protection in order to survive. The nobles were the only ones powerful enough to offer the required protection (189). From then on, the churches in Europe lost their full power and nobles were more powerful than the churches.
The Vikings had a huge impact overall on Western civilization. Attacking the countries forced the countries to unite and become stronger. The Danish language is still with us today, and is also a significant influence on our English language. The ships of the Vikings were innovative in technology and gave us a big boost for modern boats. Icelandic law and other philosophies written down are the basis for our democracy. Now, Vikings accomplishments are being reconsidered and gaining value as the foundation of modern western civilization.
Jan
22
2010
So once again i find myself sitting here in math class, listening to the meaningless drone of my teacher Mr. T… staring at the purpleish colored walls….which is absolutly awesome because usually school walls are a boring shade of white or just plain white. The class is extatic (or however you spell that) about this revelation but there is a huge agument/civil war taking place about whether this is true or not. You can easily see that the walls are purple by looking at the clock which is the actual shade of white, but whatever. And someone brought a balloon to class which has created a volleyball game that the teacher has just started playing. Now we are back to going over boring homework……..
Jan
22
2010
So we have a swim meet tonight. It’s against McLean and it’s gonna be crazy!! My a few of my fellow curl-burkians are on McLean and they are super speedy!! Ya but so it is also really really far away at audrey moore. And i was in a huge hurry this morning so I just told my mom to buy me and my buddy (we do buddy bags in swim team and my buddy still doesn’t know who her buddy is) a robeks and i am really excited!! I hope my buddy isn’t reading this:)
Jan
22
2010
Okay, now that I’ve kicked my AWESOME friend Sara, off the computer, I can blog about her! Well first of all, shes incredibly modest, smart, funny, entertaining, and just well rocks my socks! Well she is expert for #8, and will definitly get it right, because she is a super genius! Alec is a ginger. Gingers are weird! He thinks he’s the superior life form, but that is probably just because he suffers from being dropped on his head too many times when he was a baby, well actually he still gets droped on his head….. Well enough of that…The teacher is kicking me off.. bye!
Jan
19
2010
Sleeping usually catches up with you. This weekend, I bet I set the record for least sleep ever!! (well at least for me because I usually get plenty) On friday night, I stayed up pretty much all night at our swim meet against marshall. We actually won that one!!!! I was sooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was awesome because we won tons of races and it made our team feel really good:) It was our first win of the season!!! So….. Then on saturday night, we had another swim meet (the girls won this one too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and my grandparents were here too so I had to spend time with them and skip sleeping for tons of hours again!! I was soo dissapointed! On sunday night, to finish my awesome three day weekend, I had a sleepover with my friend. Well it was really a big suprise party for my friends 16th birthday party. We all hid in the kitchen and her dad had had her driving (she needs hours for her permit) and when she walked through the door we jumped up and screamed suprise!!!! She started crying! She was so happy:) We stayed up all night talking!!
Dec
17
2009
Candy Canes; the bringer of christmas cheer. Candy canes are awesome. Personally my favorite are the original peppermint ones, but just yesturday, I had a strawberries and cream one for breakfast; just the perfect time for that flavor in my opinion. Some of you might have seen this already but my mom bought my sister and I these candy cane pens. It is absolutly hilarious bringing it to class because at least half of everyone who sees it comes up to me and says, “Hey do you have anymore candy canes?” And I just laugh and tell them that this awesome pen isn’t actually a real candy cane, just plastic. But another amazing use of a real candy cane is a stirrer. Every time I drink hot chocolate (swiss miss kind especially), I use a candy cane to stir the hot chocolate. Candy Canes are the best!!
Dec
17
2009
Meg Hite is the bestest friend in the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD!!! She is simply AMAZAZING!!!
Dec
11
2009
8:10
Today is Friday; the last day before the weekend!! Our family is kind of late. We still haven’t put up our Christmas tree. So we are doing that this weekend since we couldn’t on the snow day that didn’t happen!! Anyway so I kind of have to leave for the bus in like ten minutes so I should really start getting ready but whatever. Today I am wearing High School Swim Team spirit wear!! Today we have a meet!! I think it starts at 5:30, Everyone Should COME!!!!! I am so excited we are swimming against Madison and my friend goes there so we will be swimming them tonight!! Anyway so that’s enough words so I better leave for the bus like NOW!!
Dec
2
2009
Jane is my older sister. She makes sure that she does everything ahead of me, which can be helpful or hurtful. “Help me with my homework Jane.” And she will readily agree. “Can I get a cell phone?” I ask. Immediately she replies, “Not until you are the same age I was when I got my first phone.” Luckily, I have gotten away with some things, so I don’t have to wait quite so long.
She has crammed her schedule full of AP and other hard classes. Jane is one of those people who tries for all straight A+’s on her report card. “Wow,” I sometimes find myself thinking, “how will I possibly do as well as she does in school?”
Jane is also a member of lots of clubs. She volunteers a lot for Key Club, and she is in almost all of the Honor’s societies (math, science, and music).
In the morning, my sister is always hurrying out the house, her hair quickly brushed through, with a solid colored shirt and jeans or another pair of pants. Even when she is in a hurry though, all her school work seems to be in order and she is relaxed. She always seems to be telling me, “Come on Anne, I got all my books together in only 10 minutes. Why are you taking so long?”
My sister is the kind of person who could become friends with anyone. People around my sister always seem to talk a little more. They feel comfortable with her, I guess, especially since she usually starts the conversation. She hardly ever yells at anyone (excluding me; I guess I can be a little annoying sometimes).
Sometimes she becomes a lot less then my friend. She steals my clothes and usually the first time I notice is when I see her in the hallway at school. Also, she uses things -like my iPod- without asking. And then she always says, “No I didn’t. I never touched your iPod.”
Occasionally, she even tells my parents how much homework I have left when I had no intention of doing so. To get revenge, I have tried giving her the silent treatment for a few days; it doesn’t usually work.
“What’s your problem,” my sister says.
I ignore her.
“Why aren’t you talking to me?”
I ignore her.
“What have I done?”
I ignore her.
“Mom, Anne won’t talk to me.”
I give in.
At times, I must admit, she comes to my rescue. One instance, on a vacation, I was very hyper after being in the new city for a whole day. It was late at night and I really needed some sleep before all the walking we would be doing the next day. Luckily, my sister led me in calisthenics to use up all my extra energy. It worked very well; I fell asleep immediately afterwards. On another occasion, before I started going to Stone Bridge, my friend and I had gotten totally lost in the school. It was all dark because it was before school and there were so many hallways. “This way,” my sister said impatiently but efficiently. She came in and took us to our destination easily.
Jane is like a disco ball, she has many sides and each shines brightly.
anne