Tag: Middle Ages

The Goths: The History Of A Forgotten Ancient People Of The North

Historical Background (Ancient History/Early Medieval History) The Goths were an ancient Germanic-speaking population of Northern Europe who considerably contributed (alongside other Germanic and Slavic peoples of the Migration period) to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD.슠Their geographic origins are rather debated by many contemporary historians. Although it is clear…


Ingólfur Arnarson And The Foundation Of Iceland’s Capital City, Reykjavík

According to슠Landn쎡mab쎳k (a medieval manuscript detailing the Norse settlement of Iceland), Ing쎳lfur Arnarson is widely ascribed to have been one of the first permanent settlers of Iceland, alongside his wife,슠Hallveig Fr쎳쎰ad쎳ttir, and his foster brother Hj쎶rleifur Hr쎳쎰marsson. A nobleman of Norwegian descent, Ing쎳lfur (his name literally meaning ‘noble wolf’) was forced to leave early medieval…


Did The Norsemen Reach The Shores Of Svalbard During The Viking Age?

Whether or not the Norsemen discovered the barren Arctic archipelago of Svalbard in the Viking Age remains a rather debated matter nowadays. Theoretically, given their in-depth knowledge on ship building and navigation, the Norsemen were able of reaching Svalbard. There are far greater milestones with regard to Norse exploration which can be identified as furtherest…


Jarlshof – A Viking Age Gateway To The Shetland Islands

The archaeological site of Jarlshof on the isle of Mainland (formerly known in Old Norse as ‘Megenland’), Shetlands, is doubtlessly one of the most remarkable historical vestiges of the British Isles. The site, comprising remains which date from Antiquity up to the Modern Age, preserves equally reminiscences of a past Norse settlement. South Mainland in…


Yule – The Viking Predecessor Of The Contemporary Christmas Holidays

Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays, being observed most commonly on the 25 December on all of the continents across the world. Nowadays, this holy celebration brings people together in many ways, all the more by attending various Christmas markets globally. However, what some people might not know about this holiday is…