The Northmen Are Coming! A History Of The Vikings Parts One, Two And Three Online Courses

VIKING!! This is one of the most iconic descriptors in historical studies. Our stereotypical notion of the men from the Scandinavian countries is of huge, muscled, blonde warriors, eternally fighting, raiding and stealing anything from people to luxury goods and land. Whilst there might be elements of truth in this, it is essentially very far from the truth. 

Over three terms, we will exolore the origins of the 'Vikings' and meet the real people. Using a huge range of sources from archaeology, DNA studies, archival sources, to religion and myth,  and time travelling right across Europe - and even beyond- we will meet the real people from these communities. The three terms are structured as follows:

Term One: Origins.

The following and other topics will be explored:

- What does 'Viking' mean? Etymology and their own languages. Naming practices

- Who were the Vikings anyway? We will start the narrative by looking at the prehistory of Scandinavia, to establish the environment in which their ancestors lived. We will examine Battle Axe Culture and the Nordic Bronze Age,  and other markers in the timeline that led eventually to the age of the Vikings.

- Their ritual and religious practices; mythology

- What was their motivation to explore and travel beyond their home territories?

-  Life in Scandinavia before the Vikings

- Exactly how warlike were the Vikings? Weaponry and methods of warfare

- Early sorties and conquests

Term Two

- The beginnings of what is known as 'The Viking Age': the expansion begins

- Have ship, will travel: seafaring and the Vikings

- North-West Europe

- The Mediterranean

- Establishing a presence - communities and farmsteads

- Trade and mercantile routes

Term Three

- A 'global' force to be reckoned with - trade and warfare in Eastern Europe, and North Africa

- Did a Viking discover America? We will examine the evidence to come to a reasoned conclusion

- Their enemies, allies and rivals - hanging on to what they gained

- Their eventual decline as a power base across the known world

- The Viking relationship with Christianity

- Their legacy

Alongside this largely chronological narrative, we will interweave a vivid account of how the Vikings lived, worked, worshipped and wielded their own form of justice. We will also explore gender relations in their society and the roles of different groups such as children, religious leaders and the enslaved. The course promises to be a roller coaster ride through the world of one of the most iconic societies to emerge from Europe's history.

How will the course be delivered?

This programme will begin in the Autumn term, 2025, and each term is a stand alone course but all three dovetail to create a full story of the Vikings.  They consist of twelve, two hour Zoom meetings; as well as the meetings you will receive regular email updates from the tutor, access to a dedicated WhatsApp group, and the opportunity to have sessions recorded if you can't make it to all of them. 

Your tutor

Gill Rossini is a highly experienced and published historian who has been teaching in the post 18 sector since 1988.  She is a past Tutor of the Year.