Were The Vikings Misunderstood? | Dark Ages: An Age Of Light | Chronicle

The Dark Ages have been misunderstood. History has identified the period following the fall of the Roman Empire with a descent into barbarism - a terrible time when civilisation stopped.
Waldemar looks towards the north of Europe. The Carolingians saw themselves as successors to Rome, reflected in their art. Elsewhere, the Vikings were constructing long ships with intricate decoration and marking their territory with powerful rune stones. And on the British Isles, the Irish and Anglo-Saxons were creating unique works of manuscript illumination and remarkable jewellery.
Welcome to Chronicle; your home for all things medieval history! With documentaries covering everything from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the beginnings of the Renaissance, from Hastings to Charlemagne, we'll be exploring everything the Middle Ages have to offer.
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Пікірлер: 117

  • @kyletallerdy9739
    @kyletallerdy97392 жыл бұрын

    Loved watching the brooch get created! Always fascinating to watch a master at work, no matter the medium used.

  • @legalboost4781
    @legalboost4781 Жыл бұрын

    Odin had to sacrifice his eye to gain this knowledge about Runes, he apparently sat there for days pondering on the decision. Eventually he put his selfishness aside and took the knowledge of said runes to give to earth.

  • @elvenkind6072
    @elvenkind60722 жыл бұрын

    The whole concept of "Vikings" as if these were the same as the northmen, is the real misunderstanding. In Norway, Denmark and Sweden, they also talked of "Vikings", but then not as if they were a people of themselves, but simply as pirates.

  • @karnak327

    @karnak327

    2 жыл бұрын

    Exactly! People labeling the medieval Scandinavians as seasonal pirates raiding coasts, pillaging monasteries and towns and killing peasants and monks would be similar to a 25th century historian describing Mexicans only as drug dealers and gang members.

  • @offwiththefairiesforever2373

    @offwiththefairiesforever2373

    2 жыл бұрын

    Well, regardless they were family members of the past.....

  • @Jim-Tuner

    @Jim-Tuner

    2 жыл бұрын

    Well. Not quite. Viking derives from "wicing' which the Anglo-Saxons used to mean to "pirate" in Britain. There is no solid history prior to the Anglo-Saxons of the word. There are a few uses of the term that appear in Sweden on Runestones but without much context to them.

  • @theCosmicQueen

    @theCosmicQueen

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@offwiththefairiesforever2373 i think they left a lot of dna behind. i am glad i have some of the Nordic from the Danelaw in England. tall slim blond, green eyes, YEAH. not me but other family members. Love it.

  • @offwiththefairiesforever2373

    @offwiththefairiesforever2373

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@theCosmicQueen I think I mainly got their temper lol xx

  • @peggybrem2848
    @peggybrem28482 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic Series! The architecture, the Art & the presentation were great! .

  • @kimberlybates6261
    @kimberlybates62612 жыл бұрын

    Their ship building was magnificent.

  • @theCosmicQueen

    @theCosmicQueen

    2 жыл бұрын

    intelligent.

  • @BobCaseyAerial
    @BobCaseyAerial2 жыл бұрын

    This Sir, was an amazing production. You captured my curiosity from beginning to the end. When are you going to do feature films? The camera work the research and your knowledge is captivating. I’m so glad I subbed this channel. I find myself excited for knowledge when I get your notification. Absolutely amazing content.

  • @ChronicleMedieval

    @ChronicleMedieval

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it! Stay tuned

  • @zuzuspetals38
    @zuzuspetals382 жыл бұрын

    What a gorgeous reproduction brooch! I could never create in front of people 😬 watching me Great show again👏🏼👏🏼

  • @j.d.snyder4466
    @j.d.snyder44662 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting vid. I started watching it with the idea that I'd sample perhaps 10 minutes but stuck around for the entire clip. One of the first films I saw as a boy was The Vikings so I've long had a soft spot for these tough, intelligent wanderers. Keep up the good work!

  • @markadams7046
    @markadams70462 жыл бұрын

    The Dark Ages only seem dark because in Europe less was being written because Europe didn't have as much Egyptian papyrus and had to resort to using more expensive parchment. Parchment was made from animal hides, and a book like the Bible could take an entire heard of animals just to make that one book.

  • @kimberlybates6261
    @kimberlybates62612 жыл бұрын

    Too bad Henry VIII had those monasteries and churches torn down. That was genius to build those.

  • @Ishtar2003
    @Ishtar20032 жыл бұрын

    Yes! The Vikings were and still are severely misunderstood throughout history. Were they ruthless? Sure but if you weren’t the biggest, baddest guy on the block then you were a target for those who were. Unfortunately their achievements and impact on our culture and society today are overlooked due to this fact.

  • @offwiththefairiesforever2373

    @offwiththefairiesforever2373

    2 жыл бұрын

    Truth

  • @mysticmama_3692

    @mysticmama_3692

    2 жыл бұрын

    For real....we still benefit from their achievements to this day, on a daily basis. In fact, the very days of the week are named for their gods. Its really a shame that people today can't be proud of their viking heritage in public because it isn't "politically correct", and doesn't fit the current "white man bad" narrative. ALL ancient tribes and nations were barbaric in one way or another if going by today's moral standards....It just sucks that the vikings get the most hate out of them all.

  • @waynemcauliffe2362

    @waynemcauliffe2362

    2 жыл бұрын

    Most were only 5`7 so they weren`t that big love

  • @robinsinpost

    @robinsinpost

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@waynemcauliffe2362 Probably bigger than other people at the time.

  • @waynemcauliffe2362

    @waynemcauliffe2362

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@robinsinpost Just not the giants they make them out to be.People are bigger now

  • @kasiar1540
    @kasiar1540 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent presentation of such beautiful artwork

  • @paulgabrielboss
    @paulgabrielboss2 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting documentary! Also, just the last year there has been discovered a new viking helmet, down in Romania. 💁🏻‍♂️

  • @michaelankeny187

    @michaelankeny187

    2 жыл бұрын

    ⁹⁹⁹

  • @paulmurphy8549

    @paulmurphy8549

    2 жыл бұрын

    Russia is a name of a Scandinavian Viking tribe who ruled in the east

  • @jmp01a24
    @jmp01a242 ай бұрын

    Seen this episode when it was aired on TV over here. Waldemar is a good storyteller.

  • @francesbacon7825
    @francesbacon78252 жыл бұрын

    Yes the Vikings did discover Canada and America way before Columbus. It’s way past the time for history to correct this.

  • @kimberlybates6261

    @kimberlybates6261

    2 жыл бұрын

    True true

  • @RayB1656

    @RayB1656

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes, the Vikings had a settlement at Anse-aux-Meadows , Newfoundland. Yet , the settlement was certainly short-lived... no cemeteries, not much Viking debris/garbage. ( Parks Canada ; can be visited ) Possibly, the harsh winter, rocky soil, scurvy , the Mi'kmaqs... or all the above ? Mi'kmaqs arrow points were discovered. Probably the Vikings also visited Chaleur Bay area, salmon fishing and for the oak trees/wood , today's New Brunswick. It is mentioned that Tyrkir got some wild raisins...became quickly intoxicated... ....most likely from toxic wild berries, common on the coast, at that time, south to the Chaleur Bay to maybe Maine ? ( Vineland ? )

  • @hines57a52

    @hines57a52

    2 жыл бұрын

    They didn't discover America before Columbus because Columbus never discovered America just some islands southeast of us. The Vikings were likely the only people to set foot on North American soil sailing from the East. The only reason Columbus has significance is because his accident led to Europeans come into find the North American continent, and happened to get written down. I love the question what would you do if you had a time machine. I would have to go back and hope to catch the sights of Viking ships coming in and somehow try to explain to them they need to write this crap down

  • @RayB1656

    @RayB1656

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@hines57a52 This question has been debated for a long time. Everyone has an opinion. Your guess would be as good as mine. Where was Columbus, a year or so, before his voyage ? In Brittany and probably in Denmark/Sweden. Surely not to admire the scenery ! He was taking notes ! Columbus did 4 voyages, crossing the Atlantic, towards America, being in Central America and touching South America therefore in theory, he discovered ''America'' ! Same with the Vikings....sailing along the coast of Labrador, a settlement at Anse-aux-Meadows, Newfoundland and possibly visiting up to Chaleur Bay ! Therefore, they were in America. Portuguese fishermen also, knew about America because of the fishing grounds at the Gran Banks. my opinion only..... Columbus is given more attention simply because his discoveries later became permanent settlements ( certainly, not for the joy of the Indigenous population ) whereas , the Vikings left Newfoundland , never to return !

  • @mariansmith7694

    @mariansmith7694

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes, & still, others came even before the Vikings....

  • @kimberlybates6261
    @kimberlybates62612 жыл бұрын

    Wow that Anglo Saxon burial goods are just awesome and amazing.

  • @offwiththefairiesforever2373
    @offwiththefairiesforever23732 жыл бұрын

    Increadable craftsmanship

  • @petitmu7702
    @petitmu77022 жыл бұрын

    I like the style of this guy...such charismatic Teacher

  • @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    Жыл бұрын

    Sense of humor, too!

  • @bioliv1
    @bioliv12 жыл бұрын

    I might just discovered a new viking chieftain farm, Grotholmr, here I live at Toten, Norway. I now stay at Grothr by Olterudelva River, and I believe the mill ruin here is from that time, about 1000 y.o., I can see this from the elevation of the mill from the river. Grothr means soil with much larger stones, and holmr is from holmir, a smaller plane in old Norse. Holmrstadir is the neighboring place to Grothr, and my name Holmstad is from this. Holmrstadir and Grothr were then places under Grotholmr, here they should grow barley and grain it in the mill for the main cheftain farm Grotholmr. The name of the war fire place above Grotholmr, Grotholmrvardi, has survived all the way until today.

  • @mikeschouten4732

    @mikeschouten4732

    2 жыл бұрын

    I envy you being so close to your ancestors and origins.

  • @mysticmama_3692

    @mysticmama_3692

    2 жыл бұрын

    I just had someone try to tell me in this comment section under this video that the viking language didn't influence our modern days of the week, that in fact, it was the Old English that is the root. This person then gave the example of the old "English" word, Woden being the root of the old "English" word Wodensdag...which is the origin of our modern word for Wednesday. This person, was completely serious and confident.....until I pointed out the mere fact that the word Woden is the old word for Oden, and that Wodensdag just meant Odens day, and the English did not simply come up with this out of thin air. Hope you find this as funny as I did.

  • @theCosmicQueen

    @theCosmicQueen

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@mysticmama_3692 The Angles and Saxons had the same religion and word as Woden as well as the Danes, who both settled England. They are all closely related, and all had these words and "gods". Norse is a Germanic language, just like old English is also, which was in England until the Normans came and changed everything. The English Woden came from the Saxons directly. the Norse also had it at the same time . Slightly different pronunciation.

  • @theCosmicQueen

    @theCosmicQueen

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@mysticmama_3692 you should study history before you speak of it.

  • @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    Жыл бұрын

    @@theCosmicQueen So should you, my friend. The Norse remained based in their homelands, regardless of their " going a-viking" forays. The Anglo-saxons were originally marauders who remained in Britain and adopted much of the language. The Danes/Norse never changed their language, but permanently influenced Anglo-Saxon from Scotland to Wales to Ireland, even after the Normans, who, ironically, were originally Vikings, too. There was just no getting around those Vikings!

  • @RayB1656
    @RayB16562 жыл бұрын

    Interesting video ! '' That was the story of the Dark Ages , they weren't dark at all '' ... quite true ! Aachen, ''on the Belgium borders'' ? Aachen, Germany ! ''Anglo-Saxons crosses , the atmosphere of Stonehenge'' !! ( Celtic interlacing or knots ... yet, no real connection with Stonehenge ! ) I believe Stonehenge is pre-Celtic . Eadfrith ' Lindisfarne Gospels ! a very splendid copy, indeed .

  • @fernandoPessoa8
    @fernandoPessoa82 жыл бұрын

    Waldemar explains our world in history. What a guiding light. I love it

  • @stevemellin5806
    @stevemellin58062 жыл бұрын

    They did what they had to . funny how alot of their influence is still with us today . some people don't even know it . great video . have a great week

  • @dropbearkellyevehammond4446
    @dropbearkellyevehammond44462 жыл бұрын

    Amazing as usual!

  • @osborn.illustration
    @osborn.illustration2 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic series!

  • @srenbro916
    @srenbro9162 жыл бұрын

    very interesting, there were, however, surprising little about the vikings, but perhaps I misunderstood the title, o, and the vikings did not keep to the north, they went to Konstantinopel and the Mediterranean, and, ofcourse, moderne day Russia.

  • @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes, Russ is Scandinavian for " red"...

  • @just4meist
    @just4meist2 жыл бұрын

    This is more like a historically based opinion piece rather than a proper documentary a documentary requires a certain amount of objectivity

  • @jillianaprati108
    @jillianaprati1082 жыл бұрын

    How did that massive boat end up buried under a farm?

  • @theCosmicQueen

    @theCosmicQueen

    2 жыл бұрын

    it was a burial boat, for funeral. to honor a great leader.

  • @paulmurphy8549
    @paulmurphy85492 жыл бұрын

    635AD? Isolation was a survival mechanism

  • @just4meist
    @just4meist2 жыл бұрын

    I love how you stretch the facts to fit your beliefs i know for a fact that stone was not christ on a cross it was Ragnar lodbrok in a pit of snakes

  • @Ulfhednir9
    @Ulfhednir92 жыл бұрын

    I wonder if he knows that the stone ruins at Lindisfarne were built after the Viking raid. the one the Vikings hit was a wooden church and they built the stone one afterwards on the same site

  • @colorsofbeing8573
    @colorsofbeing85732 жыл бұрын

    How do you spell the art form technique of powdered colored glass mixed with water that was applied to brooches?

  • @elizabethmitchelllcsw8137

    @elizabethmitchelllcsw8137

    2 жыл бұрын

    I believe it is cloisonné

  • @theCosmicQueen

    @theCosmicQueen

    2 жыл бұрын

    that sounds like enamel. they didn't just apply it cold, they fired it and the glass melted to the metal.

  • @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    Жыл бұрын

    Tole work...it is really tedious.

  • @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    Жыл бұрын

    Pardon, You are right...cloisonne, which incorporates elements of tole painting on metal,, but also adds parts by intricate hammering.

  • @TfuckyoutubeC
    @TfuckyoutubeC2 жыл бұрын

    this guy has a real problem with his hands. nearly touches the thousand year old relic longship, every following scene with a glass case has smudges all over the place, touching as much as he can. get the guy some freaking gloves at the very least.

  • @ragnarlundin1579
    @ragnarlundin15792 жыл бұрын

    The age of light they were indeed !

  • @theCosmicQueen
    @theCosmicQueen2 жыл бұрын

    well, the mini ice age happened in the dark ages, i bet they got the name from that and it just stuck. because it was literally dark, the sun was obscured , for years and people died of cold, hunger etc.

  • @offwiththefairiesforever2373
    @offwiththefairiesforever23732 жыл бұрын

    The destruction....so sad.

  • @WolfHeathen
    @WolfHeathen Жыл бұрын

    16:33 I don't think you realize that you just committed a crime right there. The "All Man's Right" law can be summed up like this: don't disturb, don't destroy.

  • @Mysucculentchinesemeal
    @Mysucculentchinesemeal2 жыл бұрын

    There are horned helmets pre-dating the Vikings all over the Mediterranean.

  • @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    Жыл бұрын

    But not Vikings...

  • @annamosier1950
    @annamosier1950 Жыл бұрын

    horses a nd arrows and bows, good work

  • @marcionphilologos5367
    @marcionphilologos53672 жыл бұрын

    Is he mad? The chapel of Aachen is one of the finest artworks of whole of history............. The common use of lines/ arches/ octagons by both the ruling Muslims of Spain and the Frankish emperor reflect the common origin in ARIAN CHRISTIANITY of the ROMAN EMPIRE. (originated in Alexandria around 300 AN)

  • @offwiththefairiesforever2373
    @offwiththefairiesforever23732 жыл бұрын

    Warmongering ancestors to be honest God Bless Them, tough genes xx

  • @offwiththefairiesforever2373
    @offwiththefairiesforever23732 жыл бұрын

    Wow for the treasure

  • @annamosier1950
    @annamosier1950 Жыл бұрын

    yes

  • @ajkajk4250
    @ajkajk42506 ай бұрын

    At what point is grave robbery okay???? I mean people seem to be doing this right here and I just would like to know when...

  • @kasiar1540
    @kasiar1540 Жыл бұрын

    Maybe the Dark Ages would have been a bit brighter had the Christians not torched the Library of Alexandria

  • @bgurtek
    @bgurtek Жыл бұрын

    I know that I'm misunderstood.

  • @Odonanmarg
    @Odonanmarg2 жыл бұрын

    I don’t think so.

  • @kimberlybates6261
    @kimberlybates62612 жыл бұрын

    Viking just means pirates. They were not all raping and land grabbing. Need to break down the Danes, the Norwegians and the Swedes. Not all the same.

  • @angelamalek
    @angelamalek2 жыл бұрын

    This is so biased I could hardly watch it. The vikings were portrayed as sophisticated and unfairly characterized as violent, while the Christians were harsh and intolerant. The speaker is so impressed with some symbols on a rock, while the exquisite Aachen Cathedral and it’s gorgeous art was stuffy for him.

  • @USAR8888

    @USAR8888

    Жыл бұрын

    Yep cant stand this guy and his one sided bloviating. Clearly has a bias whenever Charlemagne or the Carolingian Franks are involved in his entire Dark Ages docuseries. Shows nothing but contempt for something as beautiful as the Aachen Cathedral while practically slobbering over a "magnificent" rock with some carvings on it that probably took a day or two to complete. Nauseating.

  • @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    Жыл бұрын

    Christianity after Constantine was harsh and violent, and monks were not soft, meek men either! Where did you get that idea?

  • @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    Жыл бұрын

    @@USAR8888 So is your remark, which is one of ignorance. Runes were intricately difficult carvings of stories, sagas, like Beowulf, for instance! Just as great an art form as the wonderful Cathedral and more important to history!

  • @budjoejacksmith7000
    @budjoejacksmith70002 жыл бұрын

    Too many ads, KZread.🖕

  • @texasironforge.4913
    @texasironforge.49132 жыл бұрын

    I guess good old Mr charlamagne forgot to remember one thing and that one thing was that God offers everyone the Free world choice to choose like Moses told the children of Israel God puts two roads before you go to life and the road to death you choose.... If God never Force anybody to come to him I don't know why so many of these Christians in the medieval ages did Force people to convert?. As it is written my people perish for lack of knowledge and clearly it lacked a lot.

  • @nielgregory108

    @nielgregory108

    2 жыл бұрын

    Stop with the fairy in the sky bit, dude.

  • @theCosmicQueen

    @theCosmicQueen

    2 жыл бұрын

    hey Tex. he wasn't an evangelist, but a conqueror and enforcer. Different roles. Kinda like the old GOOD kings of Judah or Israel, who threw out the pagan idols and punished the priests . Which did please God. But yeah, it takes a little time and effort, and good preaching and proofs of the Power of the Living God, to WIN people vs conquer them.

  • @theCosmicQueen

    @theCosmicQueen

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@nielgregory108 that's offensive. shut the h3ll up. your ignorance is not worthy of being expressed. shut up and learn what you know nothing of.^^^ where's Charlemagne when ya need him.^^^

  • @theCosmicQueen
    @theCosmicQueen2 жыл бұрын

    Did you steal a copyrighted movie and call it something else ?

  • @offwiththefairiesforever2373
    @offwiththefairiesforever23732 жыл бұрын

    Wow to Christ rock

  • @maddisonharder2942
    @maddisonharder29422 жыл бұрын

    It’s not the real illuminated manuscript he’s putting his hands all over is it? This is horrifying to watch.

  • @theCosmicQueen

    @theCosmicQueen

    2 жыл бұрын

    they would not allow it in the archive room.

  • @gregwein1
    @gregwein1Ай бұрын

    Has nothing to do with Vikings.

  • @sommmeguy
    @sommmeguy2 жыл бұрын

    Yes. I think they had unresolved parental issues that they hadn't properly grieved over. They should have used some cute and cuddly stress pets, but instead they went in for chopping people up with axes, rape, pillage, repeat. I know Vikings were given bad press, but don't let the tail wag the dog. They were violent and lived violence filled lives.

  • @theCosmicQueen

    @theCosmicQueen

    2 жыл бұрын

    they had a physical advantage and good steel, excellent woodworking and thus, great boats.

  • @srinjoyroychoudhury7034
    @srinjoyroychoudhury7034 Жыл бұрын

    Vikings were the last barbarians to embrace Christianity? I'm sorry does the Mongols not count?

  • @offwiththefairiesforever2373
    @offwiththefairiesforever23732 жыл бұрын

    Who was this 'Queen ' ? This bussiness of being so narcissistic that everyone else has to die with you......sadly alot of that type of leader everywhere around the world

  • @offwiththefairiesforever2373

    @offwiththefairiesforever2373

    2 жыл бұрын

    I guess if the new ruler wasn't past ruler friendly suicide was an option but that doesn't seem the case.

  • @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    @sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401

    Жыл бұрын

    No, they believed they would all live together in Valhalla, their Heaven ! Not too different from Christianity at all, is it?

  • @rdstirewalt
    @rdstirewalt2 жыл бұрын

    The host is painful to watch

  • @offwiththefairiesforever2373
    @offwiththefairiesforever23732 жыл бұрын

    Christ is horrified meanwhile

  • @dollinterrupted
    @dollinterrupted2 жыл бұрын

    my family and i find this host obnoxious but the doc is interesting otherwise

  • @WVSCROUNGER
    @WVSCROUNGER2 жыл бұрын

    Are you a Mason?,,,,