21–30 of 41 posts
It's very interesting how fascinating the Vikings still are to many people. They did a lot of amazing things, and a lot of horrible things.
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I do not think that stacks up as an explanation. The crusades were not financially remunerative - the crusaders mostly lost money. They might have made money if they were hired as mercenaries though - the famous example of that being the Varangian guard. I do not think its entirely true to say Christians were "free to plunder and enslave non-Christians". Even against non-Christians war required justification (OK, you…
"I do not think its entirely true to say Christians were "free to plunder and enslave non-Christians"" Well, I am not a historian, but was there any war against pagans, that was stopped by the church or individual priests? (talking about medieval times, modern christianity is a bit different, but the old tradition seems to get a revival in certain circles) The most I know of, is individual priests who for example cri…
I recall reading a priest or monk influenced Charlemagne to stop/moderate his persecution of pagans. I very much doubt this was the only example, just one I have read about.
> But crusades to "spread" christianity were rather pushed as a sure way to get into heaven as far as I know.
In very specific cases, most notably the liberation of Jerusalem, not in general.
> That is probably why they stopped doing it.
Crusades went on for about 400 years if you count things such as the Reconquista
I also find it hard to believe they could not find profitable wars. It was not difficult to find an excuse for war. Being Christians did not prevent either Harald Haraddra or William the Conqueror from invading England.
> The most I know of, is individual priests who for example criticize the acts of the conquistadores
It was more than just scattered individuals voicing criticism. It was a movement that lead to action and legislation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protector_of_the_Indians
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"I do not think its entirely true to say Christians were "free to plunder and enslave non-Christians"" Well, I am not a historian, but was there any war against pagans, that was stopped by the church or individual priests? (talking about medieval times, modern christianity is a bit different, but the old tradition seems to get a revival in certain circles) The most I know of, is individual priests who for example cri…
> Well, I am not a historian, but was there any war against pagans, that was stopped by the church or individual priests? I recall reading a priest or monk influenced Charlemagne to stop/moderate his persecution of pagans. I very much doubt this was the only example, just one I have read about. > But crusades to "spread" christianity were rather pushed as a sure way to get into heaven as far as I know. In very specif…
I also find it hard to believe they could not find profitable wars."
Well, sailing from norway to england, do some raiding then come back before the winter sounds way easier, than sailing from norway to the middle east and back. So it has been done, but apparently was not so worth it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protector_of_the_Indians
And here thanks for the link, I know little of that time, but I am not so sure if it counts as protecting pagans, or protecting baptized pagans who are christians.
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I think mainly it was, that they became civilized/baptized and christians were still free to plunder and enslave non christians, but not fellow christians. So the vikings did not just stop, but rather became crusaders: "In 1107, Sigurd I of Norway sailed for the eastern Mediterranean with Norwegian crusaders to fight for the newly established Kingdom of Jerusalem; the kings of Denmark and Sweden participated actively…
The runestone fad was kicked off by Harald Bluetooth's runestone, featuring a picture of Christ and a boast about making the Danes into Christians, and half these runestones (all emulating the Bluetooth one) mention God. But at first the politically expedient religion was just a performance, I guess, until later on they started to mean it. They probably still wore hammer amulets and so on.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Well, I am not a historian, but was there any war against pagans, that was stopped by the church or individual priests? I recall reading a priest or monk influenced Charlemagne to stop/moderate his persecution of pagans. I very much doubt this was the only example, just one I have read about. > But crusades to "spread" christianity were rather pushed as a sure way to get into heaven as far as I know. In very specif…
"Crusades went on for about 400 years if you count things such as the Reconquista I also find it hard to believe they could not find profitable wars." Well, sailing from norway to england, do some raiding then come back before the winter sounds way easier, than sailing from norway to the middle east and back. So it has been done, but apparently was not so worth it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protector_of_the_India…
If you are interested in the conquistadores the Rest is History podcast series on the conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires is excellent, especially the latter.
It's very interesting how fascinating the Vikings still are to many people. They did a lot of amazing things, and a lot of horrible things.
Hard to judge when most reports about the Viking raids are coming from Christian monks though, those reports were not exactly unbiased. The vikings most likely were not any more or less horrible than any other band of roaming thugs at the time, the main difference was probably how quick the Vikings could appear and disappear.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think mainly it was, that they became civilized/baptized and christians were still free to plunder and enslave non christians, but not fellow christians. So the vikings did not just stop, but rather became crusaders: "In 1107, Sigurd I of Norway sailed for the eastern Mediterranean with Norwegian crusaders to fight for the newly established Kingdom of Jerusalem; the kings of Denmark and Sweden participated actively…
The runestone fad was kicked off by Harald Bluetooth's runestone, featuring a picture of Christ and a boast about making the Danes into Christians, and half these runestones (all emulating the Bluetooth one) mention God. But at first the politically expedient religion was just a performance, I guess, until later on they started to mean it. They probably still wore hammer amulets and so on.
Why do you think so?
The voyages and sagas of the vikings are very interesting, but something I find to also be fascinating is the economic and cultural history that brought about the viking age and then several centuries later ended it. It does seem kind of sudden; there was a niche that suddenly caused vikings to travel everywhere, and then it was just over.
I think mainly it was, that they became civilized/baptized and christians were still free to plunder and enslave non christians, but not fellow christians. So the vikings did not just stop, but rather became crusaders: "In 1107, Sigurd I of Norway sailed for the eastern Mediterranean with Norwegian crusaders to fight for the newly established Kingdom of Jerusalem; the kings of Denmark and Sweden participated actively…
Just reread this[0] classic piece that captures Viking life. It holds up so well. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Long-Ships-Review-Books-Classics/dp/1...
The cover with the viking in a horned helmet does not hold up so well for me. The text is more historically accurate?