How They Did It - Growing Up Viking DOCUMENTARY
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Published 2020-11-05
In this history documentary we explore the world of the ancient Viking Age from the perspective of a child. This is a topic that all too often gets overlooked when talking about the military history of the vikings or that gets cartoonized in films such as how to train your dragon.
We begin with an overview of the viking world of Scandinavia by looking at its geography and ethnography. This is a land shaped by the Ice Age with many fjords, valleys, lakes, and islands with cold winters and mild summers. This environment played a large part in shaping the viking civilization of medieval scandinavia. What we find is a general lack of centralization with most people living out in small farm-based communities. These viking village groups were composed of longhouses with additional outbuildings and facilities surrounded by a wall. Roads and waterways would connect them to the world beyond but for the most part they remained highly independent. At the start of the viking age it would only be the kingdom of Denmark which was unified to large degree with the regions of Sweden and Norway only doing so by the end of the Viking age.
We then talk about Viking society which was broken down into groups of jarls, karls, and thralls. Its into this mix that viking children would be born. The history documentary covers the practices of childbirth and how to name a viking baby. These viking names had all kinds of conventions. Next we cover how Viking children grew up playing games, doing chores, and receiving an education. We talk about what it was like to begin to date within the viking community and eventually marry.
We produced this viking documentary in anticipation for the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Stay tuned for more viking history content and Valhalla gameplay.
#Viking
#History
#Documentary
Bibliography and Suggested Reading
"Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga" by Smithsonian Institution Press
"Viking Age: Everyday Life During the Extraordinary Era of the Norsemen" by Kirsten Wolf
All Comments (21)
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Yes, yes. The viking nickname 'Bigtits' are widely used even today.
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Viking son: Mom why is my last name "bigtits"? Viking mom: Dont look at me, your father named you that.
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The art style is just delightful.
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I love that the northerners are depticted wearing many colors, not just the drabest of greys or blacks! Because if possible - depending on wealth and social status - they did wear almost garish clothing by modern western standards.
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Love this series...the lives of ordinary folks of ancient civilizations are too often lost in the hype of great battles and noteworthy figures. These series about the nuts and bolts of ancient civilizations are why I subscribe.
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I'd like to see a How They Did It Growing Up episode on Ancient Egypt.
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on the nickname part, my ancestor was named Ulgard the Ugly
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Soooo there could genuinely have been a batch of vikings nicknamed Hiccup, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, and even Dogsbreath? Cool. Imagine what Astrid’s nickname could’ve been lol
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Fun Fact: Ivar the Boneless was most likely called 'boneless' from having E.D.S. ( ehlers-danlos syndrome) a genetic disorder of the collagen that can make your joints appear almost 'boneless' from the range of hyperflexibility. 🦓
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Last time I was this early, Lindisfarne still had its shiny treasu-- I mean, holy relics.
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Your "Growing Up..." videos are easily my favorites, I love this kind of new perspective about people in the past, much more close than any political quarrel or war.
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I swear when I heard the word "skills" at 10:31 I thought there was about to be a smooth transition to talking about Skillshare.
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Great informative video as always. Just want to add one thing that Vikings did weekly. Every Saturday Vikings took baths to clean them self, Saturday was called laugardagur, in old Norse. Laugardagur litterly means "poolday" or in more common english, "washing day"
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The channel has gone so far from where it’s started so glad too see all the hard work and effort is being recognized well done
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I was on a comping trip with some friends and i got the nickname Snotbeard, because of a rather runny nose. So I was known as Torstein Snørrskjegg (Snotbeard).
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I just love so much how you cover non-WARWARWAR history.
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It’s interesting how accurate Vinland Saga is. The mangaka did a lot of research for sure
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Can you please do a video about the Finnish Tribes? I never hear anything about them.
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I love how even today you can see remnants of that Viking-naming system with names today.
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I agree with Artur M. I have really liked Beverly's artwork in your videos. She really gives such personality into each character. It was especially nice to see in this video. Ancient Norse people are often portrayed as grim. She shows that there was also an aspect to their lives that was full of joy and compassion, as well as the serious moments.
