INTRODUCTION
Viking ships were important aspects of the Viking culture, and many archeological findings can attest to the art designs and architecture evident in the construction of the ships. In the Viking culture, the ships were of different sizes and evolved into better ships with each period and battles in history. The archeological findings prove that the Vikings had different ship designs, but were identical in terms of construction and general identity. The ships exhibited great craftsmanship for the period. There were various Viking designed ships that were constructed for different functions and for various purposes. The research paper would focus on the technical advantage that the Viking ships had over the enemies.
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The Vikings were identified with a common ship they referred to as the longship. The paper will delve into the construction techniques and how they were advantageous for the people during different times and scenarios. The Viking ships provided an advantage during warfare and explorations. The Viking ships were symbolic of the culture of the people because it had more functions than just explorations and battles.
They held a cultural value. The familiar Viking custom was to bury the dead Lords in the ships. The body would be dressed and prepared with honor and dignity. After the preparation, the body would be transported to the burial ship in wagons pulled by horses. The lord had in his possession, a ship and a favorite horse that would be killed and buried with him. In some cases, the hunting dog would also be killed and accompany the dead lord to the grave. The man would be laid on his ship along with other possessions that he treasured and loved.
The Vikings believed in an afterlife where the Lords would sail in the afterlife and, therefore, Vikings would continue with the custom of burying ships. Excavations of buried ships were present in a Danish village called Ladby.
The culture of burying ships was a common act in the Scandinavian countries and the Nydam boats provide extra evidence of the existence of such a
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culture. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SCANDINAVIAN REGION The ships were a symbolic element of the Scandinavian customs and practices. The ship functioned as the mark of the Scandinavian culture. The Viking ship presented the real reflections of their cultural inclinations. The ships served in religious and pragmatic purposes. The ships were the mark of the Scandinavian region. The geographical nature of the Scandinavian region would help reflect upon the designs and the construction technicality of the Viking ships. The region was characterized with very high mountain ranges but have access to the coastal ports. In addition, the region’s topography forced the Vikings to operate their trade routes via the sea. Inland trading was difficult and hazardous. Therefore, the Vikings operated their trade routes via ships, and it was the best choice because of the rugged mountainous terrain of the Scandinavian region. Viking kingdoms eventually developed into coastal cities that were dependent on the sea for trade and shipments.
The significance of the Scandinavian region in the development of the Viking ships was evident in the demand for power and speed in the waterways. The waterways became an important asset for the coastal cities, and the Vikings had to find advanced warships that could defend their territories and expand into enemy territories in the sea. Therefore, the overwhelming demand for ships led to the construction of the Viking ships. The ships evolved into a symbol of the Viking pagan religion. They became famous as symbols of great power and prowess. The Vikings endorsed the ship as a symbol of their religion and the culture of burying the chieftains in their ships became a common practice. Of course, the culture had an impact on the design and preservation of the Viking
ships. CONSTRUCTION OF THE VIKING SHIPS The ships were generally developed to withstand the rugged terrain and the crossings in the sea. The ships were built with the intention to provide stability, agility and speed. The ships were adaptable to the rough seas of the Scandinavian region. The ships were light and seaworthy. The engineers achieved these characteristics through a sophisticated design that used the clinker construction. The Viking vessels were a product of very old trees that were split into planks. The trees that were preferred in the construction of the Viking ships were derived from the oak tree. The ship’s hull was as thin as approximately one inch only. The planks were stronger and lighter than a sawed plank evident in later craftsmanship. The craftsmen would use wrought iron to rivet the planks together. It was important that the craftsmen used rivets and roves from wrought iron because it offered strength in holding the planks together and airtight. The ribs were supposed to maintain the shape of the hull, and the tier planks were placed in an overlapping manner. The waterproof caulking was engineered between the planks, and it created a strong and supple hull. There were craftsmen who were able to construct vessels using traditional clinker construction method. The craftsmen were able to construct dragon-ships that would have a capacity to carry about 100 warriors. The early Viking age witnessed the replacement of rowlocks with oar ports. These advancements allowed the oars to be kept while the ship was at sail and gave better angles for rowing effectively. The largest Viking ships of the era could attain five to six knots using an oar power and approximately ten knots when under sail. THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF VIKING SHIPS The Viking ships were arguably the greatest artistic and technical achievement of the dark ages in Europe. The ships were fast and were able to survive the ocean crossings. The rugged terrain of the Scandinavian waterway forced the craftsmen to design fast ships that would have a draft of a meager 20 inches which helped allow navigation on very shallow water. The ships were integral in the Viking society. They were important in the transportation business but also served as a form of prestige that was tagged to the owner of the ship. The ships had meaning in the Viking society and because of that, they had to satisfy an artistic design and focus on the technicality of sailing in the rugged sea terrain of the Scandinavian waterway. During the Viking age, the ships were used as tombs for the chieftains and the Lords. They were buried with their ships and preserved in mud to survive very long periods. The Vikings enjoyed voyages, trade and explorations in the different type of ship designs that were built during the dark age period in Europe. The Oseberg ship which was part of the discovery in Oslo represented the evident designs of the 9th century Viking ships that were artistically designed to survive the rough waters. The Oseberg ship was recovered in the 20th Century but still showed signs of strength and royalty. The ship was part of the burial and were currently on display in Oslo. The Oseberg ship showed great royalty from its distinct design that showed capability of sailing in the open ocean. THE CLINKER OR LAPSTRAKE METHOD Viking ships were commonly constructed using the lapstrake method. The method involved tying together numerous overlapping planks of wood. The initial Viking ships that were built using the technique were war canoes that were present during the Bronze Age. Scandinavian craftsmen used a spacing of about one metre between the ribs to strengthen the hull. The purpose of the spacing was to provide adequate spacing and strength. The space could hold two rowers on either side and could support a total of 24 paddles that were instrumental in propelling the canoes. The technique was the basic method for building Viking ships in its initial era. The first examples of such ships were the Hjortspring boat that was from Als in Denmark. The boat was made from Lime Wood and was 13 meters long and 2 meters wide. THE NYDAM BOATS The Viking ships improved the technique of building the ships, and they improved the clinker technique by increasing the number of planks from only two that were present in the Hjortspring boat. The Viking ships found in the 4th century BC were constructed using the clinker building methods. On the contrary, the design used iron rivets instead of lashing. The largest boat was about 23.5m long, 3m long and had a keel depth of 1.2m. The paddles were replaced by oars and were 14 on each side. The boats had a fixed rudder installed to increase the thrust and the speed which allowed the craftsmen an opportunity to build larger vessels. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SAIL A sail was fixed to a tall mast that was situated at the cross section of the ship at the centre. The addition and inclusion of the sail to the improved Viking ships facilitated immense changes to the technical aspects of ship building. The craftsmen intended to have versatile ships that were able to cover great distances while at sea. The use of paddles limited the speed and agility of the Viking ships. However, the introduction of the sail changed the technical aspects of the Viking ships. The sail allowed the Vikings to sail easily through the North Atlantic Ocean. The craftsmen increased the hull above the water to ensure that the ship could sustain the rough nature of the water. The prow of the ship was also increased in height to allow easy navigation in the sea. The sail gave the Viking ships an advantage over their opponents because they could navigate across the open ocean or over a shallow river. The introduction of the sail to Viking ships increased trade and facilitated the spread of the Scandinavians over the Northern Atlantic. THE KNARR The ship measured 16.3m long, 4.1m broad and the depth of 2.1m. The Knarr was shorter than other ships, and it was evidently wider and also deeper than the other ships. The Knarr had a cargo capacity of approximately 122tons. The vessel was the best choice for ocean voyages and facilitated Viking trade over the long distances. It had 6rows of oars that guaranteed its stability. The Knarr was able to sail up to 75miles in a day. It was shorter than the Gokstad and had oars as auxiliaries just in case there was no wind in the sea. The vessel influenced the construction of the cog. THE KARVE The karve were similar to the knar but were mainly meant for human transport, transportation of livestock and moving of other goods over the sea. The Karve had wide beams estimated at 17 feet in breadth. The ship was used in the shallow waters and was important in coasting. THE FEARING The fearing was a type of a Scandinavian boat that had two pairs of oars. It was commonly found in the Western and Northern Scandinavian regions during the Viking era. The fearing was an open Scandinavian boat that was used in the Viking era for short distance voyages. LONGSHIPS During the Viking Age, the longships were instrumental vessels. The construction of the longships made it a powerful vessel in the Viking Age. The vessel was used in trade and exploration. The longships were part of the Viking traditions and were a symbol of power and culture. The Viking ship was constructed with a shallow draft that allowed for navigation in the shallow waters. The longship was constructed using light wood and a shallow hull designed for speed during navigation. The ship was able to reverse direction very fast due to its symmetrical bow and stern. The ship would be able to reverse quickly without having to make an about turn. The design helped it survive the icebergs that were hazardous for navigation. The ships were constructed with oars along the entire length of the boat. The design was later manipulated to have a central mast which assisted rowers when they got tired. The longships were easily classified depending on the design and the construction details. The ship with 13rowing benches was classified as the Karvi. Whereas the Busse had 34 rowing positions. Despite the different classifications, the designs were similar and evolved over time. The design of the ship allowed the Vikings an advantage over their enemies due to the high speed and stability. The longships were important in warfare and were used by the Norse during battle. The boats were used majorly as troop transporters and not as warships. They had a prow shaped like a dragon which baptized it the name “dragon ships.”
Before dropping the bones into the pit they waited the signal of the master of the ritual. After the signal has been giving they can finally place the bones of their loved ones in the pit and have a sense of peace for their loved
Johnston, Ruth A. "medieval ships and boats." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2013.
Upon first encountering one another, the vikings and the natives of Scotland often experienced violent confrontation. However, through the passage of time they contributed in shaping each other in equal and sometimes opposite measure. There are several hypotheses that describe the details of the first viking-indigenous interactions.1 Out of the many propositions, two theories appear most often. The first asserts that the vikings set up an earldom and thenceforth ruled over the native Scottish population. Sometimes this earldom is portrayed as peaceful, at other times more violent. The second proposition asserts that a genocide took place in which the vikings eliminated and replaced the native people.2 The evidence for either model is contradictory and variably justifiable. The best explanation therefore is a syntheses of both hypotheses. Namely, that both earldom and genocide took place in different circumstances. Bands of viking ships were often federations, and as such individual rulers within the federation must have had some measure of latitude. In some areas viking captains completely exterminated the indigenous people they found. In other instances, the leaders simply subjugated the people they encountered. In areas where the local population were left alive they influenced the Scandinavian settlers in terms of religion and material culture to different degrees. Conversely, the viking presence in Scotland forced the native inhabitants to become more militant and politically united.3 Furthermore, the natives eventually adopted parts of Scandinavian language, material culture, and custom as well.
Vikings’ settling down in Iceland and Greenland were important reflection of Viking expansion and they caused Viking civilization to extend on these two islands. Vikings were people from Scandinavia. For many reasons, such as the authoritarian policies of Harald Fairhair (Paine, 2013), the geographical features that lacking of lands for agriculture but having abundant trees for shipbuilding, Vikings were forced to expand into the sea. The two locations’ providing Vikings with lands undoubtedly provided them more chances for surviving.
When we hears the term Viking an immediate image of bloodthirsty men with long beards and horned helmets is conjured up in our minds. This is the image the historical sources have given us, and it is partly true. Vikings were merciless when raiding, but they were peaceful when they traded. Their navigational technology was exceptional, and the ones who settled in foreign lands contributed greatly to the lands’ culture.
TheVikings have been sailing for thousands of years (Steel 1). The Vikings traveled for 2 years this was called a Vikings trial (Steel 1). They would go out in search for land and new wonders in life. They would build their own boats out of wood and hides of animals. They were known as the best sailors of their time.
The Vikings in their time were the best shipbuilders and sailors in the world. Their ships were very strong as they were made out of a very long-lasting type of wood, which was oak wood. They thought of many creative ways to make their ships more durable, such as dipping sheep?s wool in tar and then filling in the ships gaps to make it waterproof. The Vikings had long voyages, passing many parts of Europe and simultaneously speeding at least glimpses of their amazing technology skills to the people who saw there ships. For example many people from Ireland and Brittan must have seen their ships as they travelled from their homeland Scandinavia to France in the year 798. But their amazing technology skills would have not been spread throughout the world with out the help of navigation.
The poem Beowulf describes how Scyld, King of the Danes, is buried. Scyld is put onto a ship with his weapons and many treasures, and then the vessel is set off into the sea. This description is similar in detail to the Sutton Hoo ship except for the fact that this ship was buried on land. There was also nobody buried in Sutton Hoo. Because of the new belief in Christianity, the body might have been actually buried separately and Sutton Hoo stood as a sort of memorial or monument for the dead.
Burial sites at Birka, Sweden have included cloaks worn on the body in the grave or were deposited near the body. These cloaks worn were usually thick, heavy blue ones that were either pinned at the shoulder or the hip. Several burial sites included a cloak that was deposited near the body. However, five men's burials that dated to the 9th century, all had cloakpins at the shoulder. Several cloaks from the 10th century were found pinned at the hip rather than the shoulder.
Hawaiian burials by the types of burial, the ancestors’ actions, and their descendants. Ancient Hawaiians used a variety of methods before and after the arrival of white men, both burial and preparation. “The landscape and seascape were powerful symbolisms to natives” (Yalom 233). This had meant Hawaiians used not only the majority of the island as a resting place, but also the Pacific Ocean. Besides the significance in the land, they had also honored the deceased as they were sacred in the afterlife. “After someone dies, it was said that the spirit lingered in another relative’s bones. Therefore, they believed that physical infestation remained within the individual” (Gaylord).
In non-royal families, only the children and grandchildren would worship the deceased. Usually, the body was kept by the families in their homes, tombs, or shrines. The family would pay tribute to their ancestors through sacrifice and prayer. Worship would also affect the descendant’s lives. Lack of worship could lead to poor fortune and an unpleasant future. Mummies would be involved in the livings lives through ceremonies like weddings, harvesting, or when long journeys had to be taken.
Typically, the image of a Viking is a barbaric, bearded man plundering and destroying a neighboring village. This is actually the stereotypical viewpoint. In actuality, Vikings, have a very different image. For example, Vikings did not wear furry boots or furry armor, they did not have horned helmets, they invaded Britain, and they also were the first to discover America! They were also experts in nautical technology, crafts, trading, warfare and many other skills (Jonsson 1). With all of these traits, the Vikings seem like an unstoppable force in the European continent. But, who were the Vikings? The Vikings were actually venturesome seafarers. This means that they were travelers who were constantly exploring and looking for new areas of land. There roots can be traced all the way back to 6000 B.C. were nomadic men traveled in primitive crafts up the Denmark coast. Fast forward two millennia and these nomadic people have established permanent homes, but still using the boat for food and travel. As stated before, they were not just raiders, although they did do this frequently, but they were actually expert traders, trading all around the world. It wasn’t until around 793 A.D. that a Viking explosion took place in northern Europe (Jonsson 2). Raids began to take place on neighboring villages and their places of worship. To some this is the only type of knowledge they have about Vikings. However, their culture was something to be admired. Trading, religion, and everyday life are all important parts of a Viking culture.
Sea Burial The sea was calm, quiet and dark. A full moon hung low on the horizon as it had for the last six nights. Rose heard the laments, she had sailed the oceans around Toxus long enough to know that seas like this signifies misfortune. She stood on the BlackPearl’s foredeck, adjusted her spyglass on the far sides of the ocean, searching for anything she could use to identify their location.
In the earliest years of the Vikings, there was little history recorded due to the polytheistic views that they followed. After the Vikings converted to Christianity, there were eventually written documents created pertaining to their existence. In Viking Warfare, I.P. Stephenson states that the Vikings “first described attack took place in AD 789”(11). The Vikings were also known as Norsemen. They were great storytellers, and that is perhaps how society knows so much about them today. The stories that the Norsemen told were called Sagas. Today, Vikings are often depicted as murderous savages, but while they were not pillaging villages they were actually quite a peaceful civilization. There were three countries that Vikings evolved from; Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Although it may seem that all Vikings were on the same side, they quarreled with each other as well. Despite the fact that Viking battles were bloody and gruesome they were also known to be the most hygienic out of many of the earlier civilizations. There was not a huge percentage of Vikings that went out and raided but when they did they made a huge impact on what Vikings are now known for. The success of Viking warfare and raids relied primarily on the uses of armor, weapons, long ships, and battle tactics.
The history of warships goes back in history to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Their ships were called galleys. The galleys were powered by oarsmen. The galley had a sharp point in the front for ramming other ships. In the A. D. 700's, the Vikings invented the long ship. It weighed less than the galley and was stronger and more seaworthy. The Viking's controlled the seas until the 1000's. By the 1500's most warships carried guns, and later became heavily armed ships.