Why Did The Vikings Become Brutal Raiders Who Terrorised The Globe? | The Vikings | Timeline

The Vikings are famous not only for the brutality of their raids but also for the sheer scale of the area that they operated in. But why did the Vikings move so far beyond their native Scandinavia and how did they come to ultimately dominate much of the globe?
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[@squidtentoes8110]

Fun fact :Vikings got there name from an American football team in Minnesota

[@TraitofSiNN727]

I want to see a doc on the Vikings vs the Franks..but this one good enough. gonna shut my mouth and enjoy it with my cat.

[@uniformmike05]

To be fair, they didn’t terrorise the entire globe. Only small parts of it.

[@Son-of-Tyr]

Great video. Comprehensive and objective while managing to efficiently condense a lot of information into a relatively short amount of time. Well done. Enjoyed very much. 👍

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

Not to mention they gave us two great shows, Vikings and The Last Kingdom

[@jeremysears4263]

Hahaha 😂

[@feddi7693]

And a NFL team

[@RLeezyDeezy]

No they didn't, Hollywood directors that most likely never even researched anything except for other Hollywood depictions

[@Andy_Babb]

Well played, friend. Well played.

[@corilevitt902]

Last Kingdom was an amazing book series by historical fiction master author, Bernard Cornwall. They ruined an amazing series with the tv show!

[@RDavis-lr1zc]

This was far more informative than I expected it to be.

[@kyleebrock]

The really good really old days...

[@danielcruz8347]

Erik the Red 🗡🛡🗡

[@oneshothunter9877]

The son of a murderer who himself became a murderer.

[@gonefishing167]

Thoroughly enjoyed it, thank you. So well done 🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Super introduction video about viking pioneers launched assaults from Norway 🇳🇴 and Danmark to east and western shores of European content...

[@tarjei99]

I've seen a claim that it was the Irish who taught the Vikings to raid cloisters.

[@guitarsoundsaround]

This one will knock me out with blissful sleep, lol 😂

[@tomtaylor5623]

To avenge the Saxon Wars, at least in the beginning. Amazing how few people know this and how no documentary ever mentions it despite many scholars doing so.

[@MrGeneration83]

And because they were warring with the Franks. After the Saxon Wars Denmark and the Frankish Empirer bordered each other.

[@lizziesangi1602]

Gotta love the Title, Why did the Vikings "become" brutal -

[@BamberdittoPingpong]

I think the theory at 12:45, is a really interesting point to consider. I think it's very likely that words of the happenings on pagans in Saxony and the religious desecrations and end of their way of life likely slowly spread throughout Scandinavia. The raids and killings on Western Europe started around this time with the killing of the king of Wessex's reeve in Dorset in 787 or 789. The early viking raids in the late 8th and early 9th centuries on monasteries were very brutal; one example is the attack on Iona Abbey in 806, where the entirity of the populace of 68 people of the abbey were killed. Scandinavians were trading with Christians before this, so I don't think it's a coincidence it happened right after the Christianization of Saxony, we must not forget a lot of Saxons were very resistant at attempts of Christianization after the Saxon Wars and some fled into Denmark. And with Lindisfarne, they realized how much wealth there was to be had with raiding monasteries, so the raids continued. Obviously lack of land and wealth in Scandinavia were driving forces too for the Viking age, and others being the introduction of sail in Scandinavia and more centralization of power leading to migration as well as population rising, but I don't think they were the only ones. Many people say this theory is just a myth or unlikely, but I disagree. Religion and culture was a big part of life back then, both in Christian and Pagan Europe. Especially the Danes felt threatened by the Franks from the early 700s so they built the Danevirke. Charlemagne's campaigns in Saxony were still very religious in nature, despite it not being the main cause. I also think that in general there was not a single driving factor for the entirity of the Viking age, but rather the Vikings saw opportunities and reasons; different parts of the Viking age and different locations had different factors and driving causes.

[@joeyhillers9460]

Ah, my ancestry test makes sense now

[@mikkelnpetersen]

Vikings were great traders and warriors, if they didn't have goods to bring home or sell, they just took them, but they knew that some cities/nations should be kept as good friends and not be attacked, especially the ones in the mediterranean, it was more profitable to raid goods on their way down there and then trade for the local products, and if they weren't able to trade or steal, there was always a need for strong experienced soldiers, so mercenary work was booming, there have even been documents describing viking mercenaries being hired as guards for royalty, because they were known to be efficient and as long as their employer paid them, their honor kept them from being bribed by others. There's even in a palace in the middle east, where a viking have basically writen "[name] was here" with runes. Another thing vikings knew was that "it's better to shear the sheep every year, than to butcher it", it was more profitable to raid a village again and again than to kill everyone there and burn it to the ground.

[@Seven-ld9zv]

2015. The fact that you don't accurately date nor name, but rename your documentaries makes Timeline unreliable as a source.

[@user-ed8gd4it7m]

The really good really old days.... Don't make excuses for them. They were brutal warriors plain and simple..

[@perfriisnielsen3146]

Don't forget the first woman who was born in Island before at a/c 1000, she left her homestead, and sailed first to Greenland and after that to Winland ( New Foundland), where her son been born, the son's father was Erik the Red, and her name was Gudrid Thorbjørnsdatter. Just a reminder of the strong Lady's at that Time.

[@oneshothunter9877]

Good story. Not true, though. Erics son, Leif den Lykkelige was born in Greenland, not Vinland. A friend if his got a glimpse of land some day he was lost at sea under a storm/fog. He eventually (of course, he was a sailor of that time) found his way back home to Greenland where he told Eric about this land he had seen. Next year they sailed further west from Greenland and found the land.

[@murrayscott9546]

Was she, in fact, kidnapped from Ireland ? DNA testing in Iceland shows that a great deal of Gaelic blood flows in their veins

[@Perspectiveon]

An obvious story behind Vikings raiding Christian Monestaries and Settlements are rarely mentioned. In short Charlemagnes Christian Crusade against Northern Pagans made them unite. His conquest and brutal christianization of Frisia/Saxony in 772 - 806ad is the background story. All Pagan sacred sites were destroyed, those who refused to convert were slaughtered numbering several thousands and many survivors fled North. Pagan areas all over the North was interconnected at the time and it must have seemed an existencial threat (alongside the Christianization on the British Isles). Just North of Saxony a Fortress Wall not unlike Hadrians Wall across the main land was built during the 790s to fend off further expansion (Danevirke). At least five major Ring-fortresses was built during the following Centuries (Aggersborg, Fyrkat, Nonnebakken, Trelleborg I&II) to protect people against attacks. Viking raids at Christian held areas across Europe (Lindisfarne 793, Ireland 796, Aquitaine 799) would be a logical response to Charlemagnes Crusade. The timeline indicate Christians had become legitimate targets in an all-out war for the existence of pagan belief. The Viking era had begun. Anglo-Saxons (and Jutes) in Britain were often descendents of immigrants from the same area as the invading Vikings they met and they knew bc of longstanding traditions of storytelling events, interim contacts and similar languages. The invasions of Britain during the late 800s was likely motivated as re-establishment of Pagan rule and culture (as seen throughout history with ideology motivated conflicts) as it was for territorial gains for individual warlords. When rulers got established beliefs became less important and a culture preserving their position a priority. Hence ordinary Anglo-Saxons and Vikings living in relative peace. The prevailing portrait of the vikings is clearly coloured by the Christian Monks mostly writing the stories as they were a prime target. When Harald Bluetooth of Denmark converted to Christianity mid 900s the same logic was behind. Preserving his position as sovereign King was viewed easier doing so. Instead of continuing the fight against Otto I of the Holy Roman Empires expansion of Christinity he destroyed pagan sites and previous lesser Kings gravemounds all over his realm. So much so that most knowledge of the past is lost as a result. Occasionally runestones are still discovered in the foundations of the very first stonebuildings - mostly churches. Harald Bluetooth is viewed way more favorable than the brute he actually was (he was killed by his own son and successor Sven Forkbeard) and again Christian Monks were responsible for the portrait. Svar

[@enalb5085]

"they came out of nowhere to plunder and murder" you talk about them like they are the United States Government lol

[@NastyDevil137]

Why did the Danes stay in the alps? Did they think it was Valhalla?

[@rosiesrandomtreasures1014]

😮😮😮😮

[@Yourefreekinbrilliant]

The gendarmes were on strike?

[@j.campbellscmb1740]

Every 5 minutes ads play. Why pay for streaming when you still get ads. This channel needs an overhaul

[@grantguy8933]

Mongols did the same just 100x more.

[@timliang2173]

Before the battle field,they used to eat some kind of poisonous mushrooms which caused them crazy,hence,in the battle they were very fiercely

[@snagglehoe8715]

Yea the Bezerkers would.

[@ysabeauterazawa7273]

In the Old Norse written corpus, berserkers were those who were said to have fought in a trance-like fury, a characteristic which later gave rise to the modern English word berserk. Berserkers are attested to in numerous Old Norse sources. Wikipedia

[@davea6314]

A Viking man can impress women by demonstrating how he takes his longship up a canal to deliver seeds which can be planted in fertile places.

[@manfredneilmann4305]

Nice metaphor !!!

[@davea6314]

@@manfredneilmann4305 Thanks, I came up with it myself.

[@donaldbraugh2314]

No one mentions the good vs evil debate. The Church has pushed for 1000s of years how the heart is the spoiled source of all evil or good. To trace morality and ethics you have to understand human-nature in light of the garden of Eden and humans decisions to disregard the Creator's instructions. Classical novelist, and Christian apologist, C. S Lewis spoke often about human nature and its condition. So funny tonsee how people simply deny God was Creator and had a Plan

[@Jamarkus_Delvonte]

Sum up the video in one sentence: Why did the Vikings raid and kill? Answer: because they felt like it and it was cool. You're welcome.

[@hardheadjarhead]

Terrorized THE GLOBE? Gee. I wasn’t aware of their depredations in East Asia and south of the equator.

[@ericksongarchitects3840]

And i thought we would find out WHY the vikings raided. Why? Why? Seafaring peoples CAN. The sea amplifies power. Ask the greeks and their Triremes. Ask the Americans and their aircraft carriers. The instinct to dominate is common but the technology is special. It has to do with location, location, and location. 😊 The USA shows up with an aircraft carrier on Israeli shores, and a Viking longship shows up on England coast. They mean the same thing, projected power. A superpower projects violence on the fastest media possible. The problem with nuclear weapons is the threat is not symbolized like a ship on your shoreline. A demonstration is always required to symbolize the threat or no power is gained. The Vikings taught us this. The monastery was the treasure and now it is Israel. Funny how they are both holy sites. Its like religion and war inspire each other. God is the killing fields of humanity.

[@rolandrabier5984]

Vikings were the last Germanic tribes still standing. If Charlemagne had lived 10 more years, maybe he would have invaded Denmark and killed half of the tribemen there. The survivors would have converted to christianity, so no viking age.

[@MrGeneration83]

It was not like he did not try or do they not teach people about the danish-frankish war? Leads to the Treaty of Heiligen.

[@elisabet-ms6ck]

Apparently I have viking ancestors who were "displaced" from Hedeby. But there was also the Danevirke. Scandinavia was never invaded by the empire in question for a number of reasons, I guess. At the end of the day, maybe the vikings were a bit too difficult to be worth the trouble.

[@rolandrabier5984]

@@elisabet-ms6ck They were far away for the means of transportation of the time. And prior to their attacks, they were not seen as a potential short term threat.

[@MrGeneration83]

The Franks didn’t have a navy, so they couldn’t cross the rivers as long as the scandinavians blockaded them.

[@RetroMan-]

Never would a title like this be used for a black nation. Pure racism again

[@willbe5994]

?? What’s your damage?

[@dominicdmello7531]

Why do you call them pirates. The British did worse to the Irish, Scots & Welsh. Not only raiding but also enslaving. Yet you don't call the pirates rather civilising forces.

[@MsJakobsen]

Who were the vikings' great grandparents? Anglo-saxons-jutes! You talk about the anglo-saxon Kings in Brittain as if they were originally brittons! Anglo-saxons-jutes came from Jutland and northern Germany = Denmark

[@kdubs9111]

Because the Alpha takes

[@MrUser1million]

Don't make excuses for them. They were brutal warriors plain and simple.

[@hedlund]

Lol.

[@Croziuz]

Like most warriors of any given culture, though they're a source of pride in all of Scandinavia

[@hedlund]

@@Croziuz Citation(s) needed. Am Scandinavian. Haven't heard a single word of us being collectively "proud" of them, and I'm pushing 40, and I did pay attention in school. Are you possibly referring to neo-nazis and other subhuman filth like them? They're the only groups I've ever heard of actively hyping vikings and viking imagery (apart from actual reenactment groups, that is). So if you're gonna lump all of us in with the very worst dregs of humanity you're gonna have to source that post-haste.

[@elisabet-ms6ck]

​​@@hedlundI can't speak for other Scandinavians, but I take an interest in history, and my ancestors, for sure. History has generally been somewhat of a low priority where I am living. What my personal opinions of the vikings are so far, is not clear. I know too little.

[@hedlund]

@@elisabet-ms6ck As do I. That has no bearing on taking any pride in them, however. What are we meant be proud of, exactly? The serf system? The trading? The coastal raiding? The fact they existed at all? None of these things are unique to the vikings. Then there's the fact they're a thousand years removed from us. Their morals and values simply can't be compared 1:1 with the modern world. I wouldn't be particularly proud if my uncles sailed away and came back having looted some poor village and taken slaves in 2023, y'know? In fact I'd be first in line to beat my own uncles to death at that point. In the same way vein, I'm not _proud_ of my great-great-great-great grandparents for simply managing to live long enough to make a child, either. Any two idiots can do that. In the context of their lives I might be impressed they made it through some calamity or other, had high social standing, or whatever it may be, but pride doesn't ever enter into it.

[@LuciusDragonwolf]

no spartans, vikings, romans were warriors as compared to mongol

[@stonedmonkey6654]

ok

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

The Vikings lived the good life, Life on the Edge in the fastlane, They were livin like Larry

[@BigRedRaider]

You're killing your father Larry