00:00Forget the horned helmets. That's just a myth invented by 19th century opera artists.
00:06The real Vikings were far more terrifying, intelligent, and complex than mere bloodthirsty
00:12monsters from the north. But have you ever wondered, where did they really come from?
00:17Why suddenly, at the end of the 8th century, did these bearded men emerge from the mists
00:22and ravage Europe? Actually, Viking isn't the name of a country or a race. The word
00:29Viking comes from Old Norse, meaning to go on a raid or to go on an expedition. They were
00:35originally Norsemen, or Northmen, who lived in Scandinavia. In the 8th century, their region
00:41experienced a population explosion. The problem? The land there was extremely cold, rocky, and
00:49difficult to cultivate. Winter could mean mass starvation. There were only two choices, stay
00:55put and die slowly, or go in search of new lands and riches. But they needed a vehicle.
01:02This is where the Norse genius lay. They created the longship, or longship. This ship was a
01:09technological masterpiece of its time. Its design was symmetrical, lightweight, and its hull was
01:15very shallow. What it meant? This ship could sail the rough seas, but it could also navigate
01:22the small rivers of European cities unnoticed. This ship transformed the fate of a cold peasant
01:28into a ruler of the seas. The Viking Age officially began on June 8, 793 AD. Their first target,
01:37Lindisfarne Abbey in England. Why an abbey? Because it was full of gold, silver, and treasure. But
01:45the security was absolutely zero. The unarmed monks were massacred. This event sent shockwaves
01:53through Europe. For religious Europeans, this attack was seen as divine punishment. From that
01:59day on, their prayers included the phrase, Oh God, save us from the wrath of the Northmen. But history
02:06records that they were more than just pirates. During the 300-year Viking Age, they were skilled
02:12traders. Connecting Europe to the Islamic world in the Middle East, they founded cities like Dublin
02:19and Ireland. Formed the state of Kiev and Rus, the precursor to Russia and Ukraine. And even sailed to
02:27the Americas under the leadership of Leif Erikson. 500 years before Christopher Columbus was born,
02:34the Vikings eventually disappeared when they began to settle down, become farmers again, and embrace
02:40Christianity. So were they brutal criminals, or were they the most daring explorers in history?
02:47Leave your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any more exciting
02:53history.
