Vikings

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The Norsemen were feared for hundreds of years. They came from Scandinavia and raided both the known and unknown world. They were great warriors, raiders, shipbuilders and leaders. The Norsemen were pagan, their obedience to the gods and their leader Odin. Religion was an important part of their life and death. In life, the Vikings strived for is Valhalla (the great mead hall of the gods and fallen warriors) in Asgard. Only the most honorable warriors, who dies in battle or if executed by the way of blood eagle (the victims will be on his knees and held up by two hooks and they take an ax to his back to break away the ribs, then take his lungs and place them on his shoulders) without making a sound, will go to Valhalla. Their social behavior was based on an unwritten system of honor or code of ethics. Their moral code was determined by the gods but rather honor. Honor went a long way in Viking culture, it was the most defining attribute a man could have. A man of honor was a principled man, he gave moderation, was generous and hospitable, he would offer a helping hand to a friend in need. This included allying himself with his friends against his friend’s enemies. A man of honor also never forgot to be a foe to his enemy. A Viking never wanted to be a man of disgrace. This is the opposite of a man of honor, and because every man lived his life as a member of an extended family-circle, he could easily bring disgrace to his entire family - including his forefathers. Therefore, it was intolerable for a free man to live in such a fallen state. If he was disgraced, he could only restore balance in his social system by confronting the source of his fall from an honorable status. Thus, revenge was a key component of this social system, ...

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...when other warriors got through by force or let through. It could be swung around in wide sweeping strokes and clear a radius of six feet. A warrior in good armor would be slain quickly. A disadvantage of the broad-axe is that the warrior can’t use a shield to defend himself and it demands the wielder to stay in motion the entire time. A common disadvantage to all axes is “short cutting edges make it impossible to cut through both shield and man” in a single blow (Haywood 62). The axe was able to do more than just thrust and slash like the sword. Both axes can be used in taking down an enemy’s shield with the ‘beard’ of the axe and pulling their leg to make them off balanced or even to fall down for an easy kill. The Vikings could raid and battle each other in small numbers for little treasure. The Vikings need to go west in England to find the wealth they craved.

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