Comic Map Of Europe According To The Vikings (Circa 1000)

Disclaimer: This article is nothing more but a mere pamphlet, thus it should be treated in a purely humorous manner and not otherwise. The following map portrays, in a strikingly comic way, the perception of the Norsemen (Vikings) about medieval Europe in the year 1000.

Comic map of Europe according to the Vikings at the round of the 11th century, as designed by Yanko Tsvetkov and selected from ‘Atlas of Prejudice 2: Chasing Horizons’. Image source: wwww.atlasofprejudice.tumblr.com

Key:

1) The Viking Realms (i.e. Denmark, Norway and Sweden); Norway – Explorers, southern Sweden (marked with blue) – Traders, rest of Sweden (marked with grey) – Elves (this could be partly in reference to the Sámi people), Denmark – Looters;

2) Modern Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg – Retarded cousins;

3) Most of modern France, northern Spain and Andorra – House of Cards;

4) Modern Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia and northern Italy – Sexually repressed freaks;

5) Modern Hungary, Slovakia and northern Serbia – Fallen Heroes (in reference to the Huns);

6) Most of the Balkan peninsula – Bed and breakfast (in reference to raids and plundering);

7) Modern Turkey, Greece, significant parts of Bulgaria as well as Cyprus and southern Italy – Supermarket (in reference to the trading links);

8) The Mediterranean Sea – Sea of Sweaty Peoples;

9) Modern Belarus as well as significant parts of Poland and Russia – Camping site (partly in reference to the journeys of the Swedish Vikings on the course of the river Volga);

10) Most of the Iberian peninsula (most of modern Spain and Portugal as well as Gibraltar) – People with manners (likely in reference to the Moors);

11) The modern Baltic states (i.e. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) – Wild relatives;

12) Most of modern Finland – Trolls;

13) The North Sea – American Highway (in reference to the journeys of the Norwegian Vikings);

14) Iceland – Hollywood (in reference to the Icelandic sagas);

15) From most of modern Poland to northern Iberia – Third world;

16) Orient Express – The route of the Swedish Vikings in Eastern Europe during the early Middle Ages;

17) Some northern parts of both Germany and Poland – Wild Slavs;

18) England – Our Bitches (that is, until the Battle of Stamford Bridge).

External links:

• Europe According to the Vikings in 1000 AD on www.brilliantmaps.com
• Atlas of Prejudice 2: Chasing Horizons, Vol. 2 on www.amazon.co.uk

Liked it? Take a second to support Victor Rouă on Patreon!