Comments on: What Caused the Viking Age? http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/30/what-caused-the-viking-age/ The Neat Side of the Web Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:59:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: JivesTheButler http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/30/what-caused-the-viking-age/comment-page-1/#comment-1046187 JivesTheButler Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:13:40 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=19100#comment-1046187 It is now my dearest hope that Neal Stephenson will write a book about futuristic Chinese techno-vikings. It is now my dearest hope that Neal Stephenson will write a book about futuristic Chinese techno-vikings.

]]> By: Evil Pundit http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/30/what-caused-the-viking-age/comment-page-1/#comment-1042286 Evil Pundit Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:57:50 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=19100#comment-1042286 I was just about to mention China ... I was just about to mention China …

]]> By: Neatoramawontsendmeapassword http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/30/what-caused-the-viking-age/comment-page-1/#comment-1041814 Neatoramawontsendmeapassword Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:27:39 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=19100#comment-1041814 Does that theory mean we need to be worried about China and India? Does that theory mean we need to be worried about China and India?

]]> By: Alejo Hausner http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/30/what-caused-the-viking-age/comment-page-1/#comment-1041487 Alejo Hausner Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:56:48 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=19100#comment-1041487 The theory that Vikings suffered from a shortage of women reminded me of a story I just read in the Boston Globe. It talks about how archeologists are currently finding evidence that vindicates Heinrich Schliemann. He thought that the modern-day hill of Hisarlik in Turkey was the ruins of the ancient city of Troy from Homer's Illiad. His theory was thought to have been discredited, but more recently cuneiform tables written in Hittite have been unearthed at the site. They date from a layer with evidence of pillaging and burning, and they mention invaders with names very close to Homer's Achaeans. On the fourth page of the article: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/09/28/hidden_histories/?page=4 The journalist reports that probably Homer's Greeks came to Troy to steal women. Greek noblemen had large harems, which created a shortage of women ad left ordinary Greeks without wives, motivating them to raid other cities to rape and steal their women. The theory that Vikings suffered from a shortage of women reminded me of a story I just read in the Boston Globe. It talks about how archeologists are currently finding evidence that vindicates Heinrich Schliemann. He thought that the modern-day hill of Hisarlik in Turkey was the ruins of the ancient city of Troy from Homer’s Illiad. His theory was thought to have been discredited, but more recently cuneiform tables written in Hittite have been unearthed at the site. They date from a layer with evidence of pillaging and burning, and they mention invaders with names very close to Homer’s Achaeans. On the fourth page of the article:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/09/28/hidden_his tories/?page=4

The journalist reports that probably Homer’s Greeks came to Troy to steal women. Greek noblemen had large harems, which created a shortage of women ad left ordinary Greeks without wives, motivating them to raid other cities to rape and steal their women.

]]> By: Tom http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/30/what-caused-the-viking-age/comment-page-1/#comment-1041288 Tom Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:35:14 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=19100#comment-1041288 So what they say is true, women are the root of all evil! So what they say is true, women are the root of all evil!

]]> By: Serich http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/30/what-caused-the-viking-age/comment-page-1/#comment-1041077 Serich Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:00:41 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=19100#comment-1041077 Interesting article, though I think it is too apt to dismiss climate change as a factor. The (albeit poor) climatological records we have of this age show shifts in weather patterns that correspond to Viking activity. The hypothesis suggests that colder weather would drive cod populations into more southerly waters. Cod was a staple in the diet of vikings as well as European militias as it could be stored for over a year without spoilage if dried properly. Pursuing cod that migrated away from iceland and scandinavia, the vikings would come into contact with other Europeans. Pursuing cod south from Greenland would lead to the discovery of America. Though a shortage of lovin' would certainly be motivation enough for viking exploits, it need not be considered the only factor. Interesting article, though I think it is too apt to dismiss climate change as a factor. The (albeit poor) climatological records we have of this age show shifts in weather patterns that correspond to Viking activity. The hypothesis suggests that colder weather would drive cod populations into more southerly waters. Cod was a staple in the diet of vikings as well as European militias as it could be stored for over a year without spoilage if dried properly. Pursuing cod that migrated away from iceland and scandinavia, the vikings would come into contact with other Europeans. Pursuing cod south from Greenland would lead to the discovery of America. Though a shortage of lovin’ would certainly be motivation enough for viking exploits, it need not be considered the only factor.

]]> By: Pat J http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/30/what-caused-the-viking-age/comment-page-1/#comment-1041067 Pat J Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:57:15 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/?p=19100#comment-1041067 So my theory -- that Vikings caused the Viking age -- was I close, or was I way way way off base? So my theory — that Vikings caused the Viking age — was I close, or was I way way way off base?

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