The History of Vikings

Noah Tetzner

A podcast featuring scholarly discussions about Vikings, Norse myth, & the history of medieval Scandinavia. Hosted by Noah Tetzner. Follow The History of Vikings on Twitter: @HistoryofViking Email Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.com read less

Our Editor's Take

The History of Vikings is an informative podcast about Scandinavia in the Middle Ages. The Viking era spanned approximately 200 years. It is still responsible for many cities today as well as the name of the Minnesota Vikings, the NFL team. This show features historians who present detailed analyses of Viking life. This information includes how they traded, traveled, conquered, and more.

Listeners don't have to be Viking fanatics to find interest in The History of Vikings. It can be engrossing to discover what caused so much warfare so many years ago. The podcast also explores why the Viking Age started in the first place. It's not all about fighting and dominating, either. It is not all horns and fur, though. The podcast features regular guest Nancy Marie Brown, who chats about Viking women. One episode talks about the Norse winter holiday of Yule. That's right, there was much celebrating during the Viking Age, too. No matter the episode details, there's always something new to learn.

Host Noah Tetzner is a Viking aficionado. He is a great voice for The History of Vikings. The host wants to uncover the complex history of this group of people. Tetzner also authored a book on Vikings. His genuine interest in the topic shines through via his enthusiasm. In each podcast episode, he hosts a historian to give an extensive overview of the topic. For instance, he spoke with Dr. Ármann Jakobsson on witchcraft in medieval Scandinavia. Another time, Dr. Simon Nygaard discussed religious rituals. Each guest is very knowledgeable in their chosen field. They also share the same passion for Viking history that Tetzner does.

This podcast is intriguing even if one isn't particularly interested in Vikings or Middle Ages history. It is fascinating to learn about life from a time so far away from today's world. Yet this is a world that was, in part, influenced by such a significant era. Their trading, towns, and colonizations are all present in 21st Century life. The History of Vikings sheds some light on how that came to happen.

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Episodes

Viking Combat: The Violent Society of the Norse w/ Hurstwic
22-11-2023
Viking Combat: The Violent Society of the Norse w/ Hurstwic
Support this podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyofvikingDuring the Middle Ages, seafaring Scandinavian marauders wrought havoc in lands both near and far—from Iceland to Finland, and Córdoba to Constantinople. These were warriors who belonged to an altogether violent society. They are known to us today as Vikings. One may read about their military exploits in Old Norse sagas and the chronicles of Christian monks; walk across the remains of warships and ring fortresses, or behold their carefully preserved weapons in some of Europe’s finest museums. Yet, it has always been unclear to me how the Vikings fought. Did they use battle tactics? Were young warriors formally trained for battle? How should we understand warfare as it relates to the Viking way of life? Today on the podcast, we’ll be addressing all of this and more in an exciting episode about Viking combat. Joining me to discuss this topic is William R. Short, manager and lead researcher of Hurstwic, a New England-based organization devoted to Viking culture. In addition to co-authoring his latest book, William wrote Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques along with Icelanders in the Viking Age. I’m also joined today by Reynir A. Óskarson, an Icelandic martial arts instructor and combat researcher at Hurstwic. Reynir has been recognized by the Wrestling Association of Iceland for his study of glíma, the Viking-age empty-hand combat that evolved into Iceland's national sport.William and Reynir authored a book entitled Men of Terror: A Comprehensive Analysis of Viking Combat.Email Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.comMusic: Danheim – Framganga & FolkvangrSupport this podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyofviking