Wales

Northern Europe

The following are a selection of articles which were written to help explain some of the various aspects of what has been come to be known as the "Viking" culture. It can easily be said that viking is what these people did and not who they were. However, most people have come to know these people as Vikings much in the same way that the Western European people have come to be known as Celts. Both are inadequate terms for referring to the people with whom they have become associated with over time, but the terms continue to function in a generic capacity.

Included below are a series of articles and information regarding the beliefs, practices, and lifestyle of the Viking peoples. Not only did the Vikings possess superb nautical technology, but they were also master craftsmen and excelled in the bardic arts, trade, warfare, and many other things. The Vikings were also men of honor and as such were called into the infamous Black Guard because of this important factor. Headstrong and noble, the Viking women dominated and controlled the successfulness of the household. The embroidery of the Viking women was reknowned and highly priced throughout both Europe and the Near East. The Vikings also knew the worth of gold and while they sought to trade they always payed attention to the composition of the coin that they received.

The Vikings were a passionate and noble people. They were composed of cultures what we now call the Danes, Norse, and Swedish. Their ships allowed them to trade and thus influence many countries such as Turkey, Russia, Germany, Ireland, England, Scotland, and Greece. The articles outlined below help to illustrate some the history and cultural influences that are evident within some insular traditions.