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Vikings were successful at invading, alright, but did they also bring.. wisdom?
http://www.beyondweird.com/high-one.html ^ | 02/09/2012 | WesternCulture

Posted on 02/08/2012 9:13:50 PM PST by WesternCulture

Our offspring and culture is the most successful feature of the History of Mankind.

Ancient Rome and Greece have nothing on Scandinavia of today, nor what we did some centuries after Rome came down.

No, I'm not a Racist - and I furthermore am more than a true friend of Italy and Greece.

But I do not believe there's a point in denying the fact that Viking Culture has played a major role in shaping the World of today.

Have a look at it.

Britain, North America, Scandinavia, Germany, etc. in one way or another, all were formed by the ambitions of the Vikings.

I'm not saying we did a good work by raiding other lands.

You don't foster a weaker culture through raping it.

Viking Civilization is not about bringing weaker neighbors into submission.

Viking Culture is about spreading the Viking way of life; one of independence, hard work and fearlessness.

We have come a long way. But howcome?

Being tall, blue eyed, well built and chewing on raw fish, bear and moose meat don't explain it all. We also carry wisdom (see link below).


TOPICS: History; Poetry; Society
KEYWORDS: ancientnavigation; culture; denmark; emptydna; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; iceland; mtdna; norse; norway; scandinavia; sweden; thevikings; viking; vikings; wisdom
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To: WesternCulture
So many?

One is generally not considered "many".

21 posted on 02/09/2012 1:27:29 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (In the good times praise His name, In the bad times do the same, In everything give thanks)
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To: WesternCulture
err.. no, Britain was not built by the Vikings. It's highest influences are the Normans and the Saxons with Latin and Celtic effects. The Norse brought blood, but no big impact to the culture.

Ditto for North America

And Germany? influenced by the Vikings? No.

22 posted on 02/09/2012 3:42:14 AM PST by Cronos (Party like it's 12 20, 2012)
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To: WesternCulture

Interesting point, WC. Your poem brings to mind Polonius’ speech to Laertes in “Hamlet”.

So, I think you are saying that the success of Western Civilization is based on prudence and forethought.


23 posted on 02/09/2012 4:27:01 AM PST by Bigg Red (Pray for our republic.)
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To: WesternCulture
There's no question the Vikings had a civilizing influence. After all, they motivated the peoples of northern and western Europe to organize for robust, local self-defense; to develop vigorous feudal systams and in England at least, an armed peasantry; to fortify their towns; and in general to emphasize the warrior aspects of their cultures.

Whether this is the path one ideally wishes Europe had taken is of course a different question.

24 posted on 02/09/2012 4:29:42 AM PST by sphinx
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To: dog breath
As interesting as the Vikings were they were pagan killers and thieves.

They were also farmers, craftsmen, shopkeepers and traders.

25 posted on 02/09/2012 4:32:43 AM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: Cronos

You wrote:

“err.. no, Britain was not built by the Vikings. It’s highest influences are the Normans and the Saxons with Latin and Celtic effects. The Norse brought blood, but no big impact to the culture.”

Well, the Normans were Vikings. Our English pronouns are from Old Norse if I am not mistaken. I think the author of the thread is overblowing things as he always does, but there’s no doubt the Vikings had an influence. What has to be understood is that at least 70% of all the really important influences came from or were moderated by the Catholic Church - including in Scandinavia!!!


26 posted on 02/09/2012 4:43:38 AM PST by vladimir998
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To: who_would_fardels_bear
"They brought us Spam..."

Try the lutefisk. "Submit now, or you'll get a second helping!"
27 posted on 02/09/2012 4:49:18 AM PST by PowderMonkey (WILL WORK FOR AMMO)
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To: AnTiw1

What is that?


28 posted on 02/09/2012 5:34:23 AM PST by Ramius (.)
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To: Ramius

Odin’s standing orders to Nordic Caucasians...lol


29 posted on 02/09/2012 6:31:00 AM PST by AnTiw1 (I lived through a mormon hell, I will not live in a country with a mormon president.)
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To: tanuki
"The Vikings seem to have been underestimated civilizers. Ireland as a nation would not exist but for them."?

huh? could you give me clarity on why you say that about Ireland?

30 posted on 02/09/2012 6:45:51 AM PST by Cronos (Party like it's 12 20, 2012)
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To: WesternCulture

Grandpa used to put on his hat with the horns, drink a mug of mead and start talking about raiding to “get some gypsy maidens”.

Vikings - they were just the first door-to-door salesmen.
“Good afternoon young lady. Might I interest you in buying a battle ax or two? I’m working my way through college.”


31 posted on 02/09/2012 7:21:02 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: WesternCulture

Like much of the Viking legacy, IFK’s achievements are ancient history too :P

Though I love Håvamål. You should perhaps have posted some of the more salient words of wisdom from it.

Cheers.


32 posted on 02/09/2012 9:06:26 AM PST by Eurotwit ("Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.")
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To: Cronos

Most of northern England, that was under the Danelaw, is noticeably viking in place name, looks and accent, when compared with the Anglo-Saxon Midlands and South


33 posted on 02/09/2012 11:26:49 AM PST by Mitch86
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To: Cronos

While the Vikings are (understandably) not remembered fondly in Ireland, most large cities in Ireland-especially Dublin-were originally established as Viking trading areas. They could be said to have started the path to Irish urbanization.

http://www.ncte.ie/viking/listt.htm


34 posted on 02/09/2012 12:39:14 PM PST by tanuki (Left-wing Revolution: show biz for boring people.)
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To: AnTiw1
Here's some verse back atcha!

Immigrant Song

Ah~ah~ahhh-ah!.
Ah~ah~ahhh-ah!.
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.

Hammer of the Gods
Will drive our ships to new lands
To fight the horde, and sing and cry:
“Valhalla I am coming.”

On we sweep with, with threshing oar.
Our only goal will be the western shore.

Ah~ah~ahhh-ah!.
Ah~ah~ahhh-ah!.
An’ we come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.

How soft your fields so green
Can whisper tales of gore,
Of how we calmed the tides of war.
We are your overlords.

On we sweep with threshing oar.
Our only goal will be the western shore.

So now you better stop
And rebuild all your ruins.
For peace and trust can win the day
Despite of all your losing.

Ooh~ooh. Ooh~ooh. Ooh~ooh.
Ooh~ooh. Ooh~ooh. Ooh~ooh.
Ah hah hah hah hah hah.

Ooh~ooh. Ooh~ooh. Ooh~ooh.
Ooh~ooh. Ooh~ooh. Ooh~ooh.
Ooh~ooh. Ooh~ooh. Ooh~ooh.

35 posted on 02/09/2012 3:25:51 PM PST by Alas Babylon!
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To: WesternCulture

I believe that the Vikings/Danes contributed greatly to our American (and English) concept of individual rights. Their laws were framed in terms of “injuries” or tresspasses to the rights of others, valued as:

Physical rights of “were” (life or limb);

Psychological status rights of “mund” (peace or privacy); and

Ownership rights of private property.

Under their “customary” legal systems, trial and judgements were rendered by a tribunal of chiefs or the manorial assembly - the predecessor of the jury. Each injury was compensable through the award of monetary damages determined by the social rank of the parties and the severity of the injury which is the basis of tort law.

Trespass was originally considered to apply only to cases of immediate injury to personal liberty, security and physical property. Eventually, the concept of trespass also evolved to include aggression or encroachment of an injurious nature upon the relative rights of persons.

Meetings in large assemblys and votes taken were among the roots of democratic process and decision making. I think that they contributed a great deal to our culture.


36 posted on 02/09/2012 4:48:52 PM PST by marsh2
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To: AnTiw1

That post actually counts.


37 posted on 02/10/2012 10:12:50 PM PST by WesternCulture
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To: Eurotwit

IFK is nothing like the squadra that once defeated HSV.

On the other hand, what did they count for back then?


38 posted on 02/10/2012 10:29:34 PM PST by WesternCulture
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To: blam; Little Bill; martin_fierro

Can’t quote or excerpt, copyright complaint, basically the mtDNA of 1000 year old mice in Miceland, er, Iceland, and Greenland matches the mtDNA of the modern mouse; so far no remains have been found at L’anseaux Meadows, the known Viking site in Newfoundland.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/vikings-carried-mice-to-colonies-7576981.html


39 posted on 03/26/2012 7:18:52 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him)
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To: WesternCulture

...
always sweep
with threshing oar

our only goal will be your western shore


40 posted on 03/26/2012 7:26:17 PM PDT by Grizzled Bear (No More RINOS!)
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