Originally Posted by
stoffi
Okay, Vikings got nothing to do with this thread but I like history, so here I go.
Vikings didn't kill or rape more than the next guy, they were just very efficient. If you got a degree in Archaeology, you ought to know some history and how Charlemagne fared on his campaigns on the continent.
And yes, I think if rape was seen as okay back then, I think it's okay that ppl did it. If it was seen as something horrible, I don't think it's okay. I don't think it's okay to do it now.
Anyways, historians claim Vikings didn't rape. They came, they killed those they needed to, they enslaved and they plundered. After a while, they colonised.
But unlike the early Americans, most Vikings tried to live in peace with the locals in the countries they settled, though the times were unstable and warring ofc happened a lot. Settled Vikings mixed with the locals(not by raping) and for example in Normandy, they became French-Normans.
I too have studied history and I read a lot, especially on the Viking period. Actually, I teach history at upper secondary/High school these days, just finished a chapter about the Europeans "discovering" the New World + more. Needless to say, I make them reflect, that's the whole point. I hope to see my pupils do well on the test after Easter. :)