Transcript April 2014
VIKING WEAPON PROTECTION AND TRANSPORTERS The Viking Age sword was for single-handed use to be combined with a shield, with a double edged blade length of up to 90 cm. Its shape was still very much based on the swords of the Dark Aged and on the Roman spatha with a tight grip, long deep fuller and no pronounced cross-guard. It was not exclusive to the Vikings, but rather was used throughout Europe These arms were also indicative of a Viking’s social status. As war was the most prestigious activity in Viking Age Scandinavia, beautifully finished weapons were an important way for a warrior to display his wealth and status. A wealthy Viking would likely have a complete ensemble of a spear, one or two javelins, a wooden shield, and either a battle axe or a sword. The spear was the most common weapon of the peasant class of Scandinavia and also throwing spears may have been used by the warrior class. They consisted of metal heads with a blade and a hollow shaft, mounted on wooden shafts of two to three meters in length, and were typically made from ash wood. The spear heads could measure between twenty and sixty centimeters with a tendency towards longer heads in the later Viking age. (April 2014)The Bow and arrow was used both for hunting and in battle. They were made from yew, ash or elm trees. The draw force of a 10th-century bow may have reached some 90 pounds force (400 N) or more, resulting in an effective range of at least 200 m depending on the weight of the arrow. A yew bow found at Viking Hedeby, which probably was a full-fledged war bow, had a draw force of well over 100 pounds. In the viking time they used long boats for sailing but some younger viking didn’t know to sail, or they weren’t allowed to because it’s out of control! THE VIKING SWORD WAS A WEAPON OF THE VIKING AGE. IT WAS A DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROMAN SPATHA, EVOLVING OUT OF THE MIGRATION PERIOD SWORD IN THE 8TH CENTURY, AND INTO THE CLASSICAL KNIGHTLY SWORD IN THE 11TH CENTURY WITH THE EMERGENCE OF LARGER CROSSGUARDS.[1] EARLY VIKING AGE SWORDS WERE PATTERN WELDED, THOUGH LATER BLADES WERE MADE OF MORE HOMOGENEOUS STEEL. OF PARTICULAR NOTE IS THE "ULFBERHT" SUBSET, WHICH USED STEEL OF HIGHER PURITY AND CARBON CONTENT THAN ITS PEERS IN THE REGION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPORTED IN INGOT There were no supermarkets or shops to buy food so the Vikings ate what food they could grow or hunt. Plants Vegetables e.g. leeks, onions, turnips, parsnips and carrots. Wild nuts e.g. hazelnuts and walnuts. Berries e.g. gooseberries, blackberries and blueberries. Grains to make bread and also porridge Herbs e.g. fennel, common sorrel, wild garlic, parsley Leaves e.g. nettles and spinach THE VIKING AGE SWORD WAS FOR SINGLE-HANDED USE TO BE COMBINED WITH A SHIELD, WITH A DOUBLE EDGED BLADE LENGTH OF UP TO 90 CM. ITS SHAPE WAS STILL VERY MUCH BASED ON THE SWORDS OF THE DARK AGES AND ON THEROMAN SPATHA WITH A TIGHT GRIP, LONG DEEP FULLER AND NO PRONOUNCED CROSSGUARD. IT WAS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THE VIKINGS, BUT RATHER WAS USED THROUGHOUT EUROPE. THANKS FOR LOOKING GUYS YOU HAVE BEEN AMAZING BYE !!!!!!