THE NORSE M R J A C O B S E N
Who are the Norse? -Danes for Denmark -Norwegians from Norway -Swedes from Sweden
The Norse Expantion East – Up river Volkhov to Novgorod. -humped boats overland to source of Dnieper river to Kiev, the Black Sea, and Constantinople. -From Novgorod to Volga river and then down to Caspian Sea, Baghdad. South – Scotland, Ireland, and half of England (Stopped by Alfred the Great of Wessex). -Friesland and France down to Loire. Lisbon, Cadiz, Seville, and Camargue. North Italy including Pisa. Normandy moved to Sicily. West - (Mainly the Norwegians) – Iceland; Brattahlid, Greenland; L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland; New England. -“Discovered America” 500 years before Columbus.
Lifestyle -They were not just barbarians who killed everyone. -Most of their lives were peaceful. -They hunted, fished, and most importantly they farmed. -Three social classes: Serfs, Peasants, and Earls or Warriors.
Serfs -Manual laborers -Lived in huts made of turf and clay and they usually shared this hut with farm animals -No patron God looked over them
Peasants -Smallholders -Free men -Lived in a pair of parallel long-houses with maybe 1 or 2 barns -Patron God was Thor
Earls or Warriors -Distinguished by their wealth: The number of followers, treasure, ships, and estates. -“Stuff” was passed down from oldest son to oldest son. -Devoted family men who spent winters at home having great feasts. -Summer – explored, traded, and robbed. -Celebrated by the scaldic poets. -Patron God was Odin.
Food -Wholemeal rye bread, porridge, herring, sheep, lamb, goat, horse, ox, calf, pig, cheese, butter, cream, beer, mead, wine (for Nobles). -In Norway and Iceland whale, seal, and polar bear -Cabbage, onions, apples, berries, and hazelnuts. -Inland forests: elk, deer, wild boar, bear, hares, geese, chicken. -Far north: reindeer and bison
Values -Leitmotifs of Havamal (Words of the High one) *Value life itself *censure naivete *Cherish and celebrate friendships *Beware of treachery *practice moderation *be hospitable (not too much) *try to win the fame and good name that will outlive you. -They knew that they were going to die and that nothing could stop that. So they tried living as much as possible before that happened. -They were incredibly loyal to friends and family -They knew there were hardships in life but one had to use it, rise above it, and carve a name for yourself through bravery, loyalty, and generosity.