Tag: archaeology

How the Vendel Period Forged the Viking Age—and How the Viking Age Reshaped the Middle Ages By D.W. Roach When most people think of the Viking Age, they imagine a sudden storm: dragon-prowed longships, coastal raids, pagan warriors crashing into a Christian world. But history is rarely so abrupt. The Viking Age did not emerge … Continue reading Before the Longships and After the Sagas →

By D.W. Roach When the Viking Age officially ended in 1066 CE with the Battle of Stamford Bridge, it did not mean the Vikings vanished overnight. The popular image of fierce Norse warriors sailing home, tossing their swords into the sea, and quietly becoming farmers is overly simplistic. The truth is more nuanced—a gradual transformation … Continue reading The End of the Viking Age: What Really Happened to the Vikings? →