The 'I Ching' has been around for millennia and pre-dates Greek determinism - of course, the possibility of Viking trade with Eastern Asia and China is a matter of scholarly debate/argument 
A Random Thought.
- Thread starter Wayland
- Start date
I am a bit of a fatalist myself, I love that scene in Lawrence of Arabia, where Ali says of the man lost in the desert that "it is written" Lawrence goes on to rescue him, but later has to execute him to prevent a rebellion, you see it was written.
I thought several times as I was struggling with my PhD that it was either written or it wasn't and all I was doing was following the tracks already set.
Whether this is my natural disposition or whether it is influenced by Norse Mythology, (my dad used to fill my mind with tales of both the Norse and the Greek gods and heroes) I don't know, it is probably written.
I thought several times as I was struggling with my PhD that it was either written or it wasn't and all I was doing was following the tracks already set.
Whether this is my natural disposition or whether it is influenced by Norse Mythology, (my dad used to fill my mind with tales of both the Norse and the Greek gods and heroes) I don't know, it is probably written.
Dose not matter how you come to see a future, what I'm saying is once something is see or told to you real or not, by knowing it you will change the way you operate, like seeing bad weather you may take your coat, the weather holds you have been cautious, weather brakes you feel wise for your fore thought, but over all I still feel most were aware of free will and it being the over riding gift of being human.
Wayland,
I don't know if you can view it from the UK, but the latest episode of PBS Nature is a great show about the Viking's view of nature. It is really good!
I don't know if this link will work (it will take a while to load the page). But if it does, try and view it full screen on your computer.
Wild Way of the Vikings
- Woodsorrel
I don't know if you can view it from the UK, but the latest episode of PBS Nature is a great show about the Viking's view of nature. It is really good!
I don't know if this link will work (it will take a while to load the page). But if it does, try and view it full screen on your computer.
Wild Way of the Vikings
- Woodsorrel
Should they not write Norse instead of Viking?
Norse is the culture.
Vikings did not live in Scandinavia. Norse did.
Farmers, blacksmiths making knifes ( no puukkos though....... ) and ither stuff, leatherworkers, wood workers, hunters.
They did turn to Vikings if they followed the chieftain to trade that turned into raids.....
They ‘went Viking’.
We know very little about them. Their beliefs, customs.
The contemporary writings they did is very sparse, the Run stones are usually memorials to friends and family that went to the afterlife during travels.
Other contrmporary writing is not impartial.
Norse is the culture.
Vikings did not live in Scandinavia. Norse did.
Farmers, blacksmiths making knifes ( no puukkos though......
. ) and ither stuff, leatherworkers, wood workers, hunters.They did turn to Vikings if they followed the chieftain to trade that turned into raids.....
They ‘went Viking’.
We know very little about them. Their beliefs, customs.
The contemporary writings they did is very sparse, the Run stones are usually memorials to friends and family that went to the afterlife during travels.
Other contrmporary writing is not impartial.
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Not so "wild."
Good evidence for them smelting bog iron in the maritime provinces of Canada.
Apparently, there's a satellite image signature which has been ground-truthed a number of times.
Good evidence for them smelting bog iron in the maritime provinces of Canada.
Apparently, there's a satellite image signature which has been ground-truthed a number of times.
I'm sorry to hear that, Wayland. Perhaps one day it won't be restricted. Here's the show description:
Experience the natural world through the eyes of the Vikings. From the killer whales of the North Sea to the volcanic mounts of Iceland, see the deep history and cultural respect the Vikings had with the land and sea. Ewan McGregor narrates.
- Woodsorrel
Should they not write Norse instead of Viking?
Norse is the culture.
Vikings did not live in Scandinavia. Norse did.
Farmers, blacksmiths making knifes ( no puukkos though......
They did turn to Vikings if they followed the chieftain to trade that turned into raids.....
They ‘went Viking’.
We know very little about them. Their beliefs, customs.
The contemporary writings they did is very sparse, the Run stones are usually memorials to friends and family that went to the afterlife during travels.
Other contrmporary writing is not impartial.
Indeed, I try to use the term Norse where I can, unfortunately the term "Viking" is so widely used to describe the Norse people of that period that it has come to mean the same thing to most of the public and certainly to the children I teach. They are not taught about Norse, they are taught about the Vikings.
Sometimes I think I should correct that myself when teaching but sadly the important thing is to give them the sort of information they need to pass the barrage of tests that children in this country are subjected to. Although I do discuss the issue it is not the most important misconception I have to deal with. ( I still encounter teachers that believe "the Vikings" wore horned helmets which even more unbelievably is actually supported by some modern books that recycle old illustrations that are out of copyright. )
In this country at least "Vikings" is a much more recognised term than "Norsemen" even though it is technically incorrect. From our perspective, the term Viking Age which is often used to describe the raiding years of the Norsemen is a subdivision of the Early Medieval period. The term "Iron Age" which is widely used in Scandinavia to include this period is only used in the UK up to the Roman Invasion. Things like this do confuse the public to the point that they often do not know who came first. It's often assumed that the Romans came after the Vikings because they were apparenty more civilised. The poor old Anglo Saxons get completely lost in that equation.
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The 'I Ching' has been around for millennia and pre-dates Greek determinism - of course, the possibility of Viking trade with Eastern Asia and China is a matter of scholarly debate/argument
Indirect trade routes extended to China and India as evidenced by Silk and a statue of the Buddha found in Viking contexts. We know they got as far as Constantinople ( modern Istambul ) but it is unlikely they would have gone further. Such things were probably traded in the markets there.
Most of the idea that the Northern Europeans cast runes comes from a Roman source describing the casting of sticks with markings on them amongst the Germanic tribes.
That may have been runes but it could have been almost anything and it predated the Viking Age by at least 500 years.
The runes have been high jacked by new age crystal mongers in ways that have little if anything to do with the way they were used by the Norse.
As far as we can tell, the use of the runes in magic was about the same as the use of modern text in the writing of ABRACADABRA.
Well that puts the mockers on my favourite M R James story doesn't it! As for being Vikings, well that's what the Saxons called them anyway, not that the native Britons did not have a few choice words for Saxons either Sais diawl.
The various tv series featuring the Norse has not done much to remove some myths and misconceptions.
The Canadian series Vikings has introduced a few more, even.
In Scandinavia, there are many customs, folk tales and such that are quite unique in Europe. No doubt these have roots in the pre Christian times.
Back to ‘fate’
Is it not a very convenient way to explain away negative behaviour?
The Canadian series Vikings has introduced a few more, even.
In Scandinavia, there are many customs, folk tales and such that are quite unique in Europe. No doubt these have roots in the pre Christian times.
Back to ‘fate’
Is it not a very convenient way to explain away negative behaviour?
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I used to have a copy of that, but I donated it to a local school during a clearout. FWIW I find Jackson Crawfords Youtube channel very informative. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCxNFxw6iq-Mh4uIjYvufg
The understanding of gravity has allowed mankind to send people onto the moon, probes to the outermost parts of the solar system and beyond whilst that pebble might just make its way back to the beach if its lucky...
Although the Norse way sounds nice and easy to understand I think I'll put my trust (note the way I avoided the word 'Faith' there?) in science.
Although the Norse way sounds nice and easy to understand I think I'll put my trust (note the way I avoided the word 'Faith' there?) in science.
Demographic, think of this: Science in the past was certain ( it was The Truth) about most things, just like we are today.
But today, we know that The Truth is different from the old Truth.
Right?
Now, how sure can we be it is the absolute, non changeable truth, the one we know today, the scientifically proved one?
Once, not so long time go, the Atom was the smallest unit. Then came the Protons, Neutrons, Electrons... The smallest units.
Then came the 'whatever' and they are the smallest units......
But today, we know that The Truth is different from the old Truth.
Right?
Now, how sure can we be it is the absolute, non changeable truth, the one we know today, the scientifically proved one?
Once, not so long time go, the Atom was the smallest unit. Then came the Protons, Neutrons, Electrons... The smallest units.
Then came the 'whatever' and they are the smallest units......
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