Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the primary function of the 'Thing' in Viking communities?
What was the primary function of the 'Thing' in Viking communities?
- To serve as a marketplace for trade and commerce.
- To oversee religious ceremonies and festivals.
- To decide local laws and punishments. (correct)
- To organize and lead military expeditions.
What role did the local leader, or Jarl, play in determining guilt at the Thing?
What role did the local leader, or Jarl, play in determining guilt at the Thing?
- They presided over the Thing, ensuring fair discussions and voting processes.
- They had the final say in determining guilt. (correct)
- They had the power to pardon criminals, regardless of the community's decision.
- They were responsible for gathering evidence to present to the community.
If a Viking was found guilty of a crime at the Thing, who determined the punishment?
If a Viking was found guilty of a crime at the Thing, who determined the punishment?
- The law speaker, who recited the laws from memory.
- The Jarl, based on their personal judgment.
- The victim's family. (correct)
- The Thing assembly, through a vote.
Which statement accurately describes how Viking communities handled law enforcement compared to modern Australia?
Which statement accurately describes how Viking communities handled law enforcement compared to modern Australia?
Which crime was most likely to be punished with a fine in Viking society?
Which crime was most likely to be punished with a fine in Viking society?
What was the consequence of being declared an outlaw in Viking society?
What was the consequence of being declared an outlaw in Viking society?
What motivated the Vikings to gather for the 'Thing' despite living in isolated communities?
What motivated the Vikings to gather for the 'Thing' despite living in isolated communities?
Which of the following punishments reflects the communal nature of Viking justice, rather than individual retribution?
Which of the following punishments reflects the communal nature of Viking justice, rather than individual retribution?
Why do historians face challenges in fully understanding Viking laws and punishments?
Why do historians face challenges in fully understanding Viking laws and punishments?
In what way did the role of victim's families in Viking justice differ most significantly from modern legal systems?
In what way did the role of victim's families in Viking justice differ most significantly from modern legal systems?
What can be inferred about Viking society from the fact that the punishment of 'mutilation' existed?
What can be inferred about Viking society from the fact that the punishment of 'mutilation' existed?
How did the harshness of Viking punishments, such as mutilation and outlawry, likely affect the Viking communities?
How did the harshness of Viking punishments, such as mutilation and outlawry, likely affect the Viking communities?
What made the punishment of being outlawed so severe in Viking society?
What made the punishment of being outlawed so severe in Viking society?
What does the practice of arranging marriages during the Thing suggest about Viking society’s values?
What does the practice of arranging marriages during the Thing suggest about Viking society’s values?
Why might the Vikings have considered stealing food to be a particularly serious crime?
Why might the Vikings have considered stealing food to be a particularly serious crime?
What does the limited documentation about the punishment, 'the blood eagle', suggest about its place in Viking society?
What does the limited documentation about the punishment, 'the blood eagle', suggest about its place in Viking society?
Which statement best explains why Viking communities lacked formal police forces and court systems?
Which statement best explains why Viking communities lacked formal police forces and court systems?
How did the role of the 'law speaker' contribute to Viking legal proceedings?
How did the role of the 'law speaker' contribute to Viking legal proceedings?
What aspects of Viking society allowed a Viking farmer to potentially become king?
What aspects of Viking society allowed a Viking farmer to potentially become king?
How did the role of woman in Viking society influence Viking laws?
How did the role of woman in Viking society influence Viking laws?
Flashcards
What is the Thing?
What is the Thing?
A meeting held once a year in a Viking community to decide local laws and punishments.
How long did the Thing last?
How long did the Thing last?
These lasted several days and were a chance for Vikings to meet, hunt, drink, feast, arrange marriages, form alliances, and exchange news.
Who were law speakers?
Who were law speakers?
They recited laws from memory to determine local laws and punishments.
Who were Karls?
Who were Karls?
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What was the role of the Jarl?
What was the role of the Jarl?
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Who chose a punishment?
Who chose a punishment?
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What were fines used as?
What were fines used as?
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What is mutilation?
What is mutilation?
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Why should stealing food be deemed more serious?
Why should stealing food be deemed more serious?
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What did slavery function as?
What did slavery function as?
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Who could make criminals slaves?
Who could make criminals slaves?
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What does outlawed mean?
What does outlawed mean?
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What does Beheading mean?
What does Beheading mean?
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What is a Blood Eagle?
What is a Blood Eagle?
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Meetings of the Thing
Meetings of the Thing
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Study Notes
- Understanding Viking law and society is the purpose of the lesson
- The main areas of focus are the Viking idea of a Longhouse, the role of Viking women, and their social mobility
How Knowledge is Acquired
- The Vikings did not commonly write things down
- It remains unsure whether Viking communities shared common ideas about crime and punishment
- Artifacts from Iceland and Denmark detail crime and punishment in Viking society
- Vikings in different areas of Scandinavia may have had different ways of dealing with crime
The Thing
- Isolated Viking communities nonetheless had laws
- Viking communities met once a year at a "Thing"
- Meetings of the Thing typically lasted several days
- Hunting and feasting were common, it may have had a festive atmosphere
- Marriages were arranged, alliances were crafted, and news and gossip were exchanged
- A Thing was responsible for deciding local laws and punishments
- Vikings did not have police or courts; the community decided on the laws
Determining Guilt
- Each Thing had a law speaker who recited the law from memory
- Free Vikings (Karls) could have a say on an accused's guilt
- The local leader, Jarl, had the deciding power
Sentences
- Modern Australian courts determine guilt and impose punishment
- In Viking society, the Thing determined guilt
- In Viking society, the victim's family determined the punishment
Fines
- Fines were one punishment in Viking communities
- Fines were reserved for low-level crimes, according to archaeologists
Mutilation
- Mutilation (cutting off body parts) was a Viking punishment used in Iceland
- Crimes deemed more serious were punished by mutilation, like stealing food and kidnapping
Slavery
- Slavery was an additional type of Viking punishment
- Most slaves in Viking society were captured from raids
- The victim's family could opt to punish a criminal through slavery
Outlaw
- The worst punishment was arguably to be outlawed, or banned from the community
- For Vikings, "outlawed" meant almost certain death, since criminals were forced from their families and farms
- Outlaws could not expect support, and they could be hunted like deer
Death - Beheading
- Killing or executing criminals was practiced by Vikings
- Beheading was likely the most common way of execution
- Denmark employed beheadings as a common punishment
Death - The Blood Eagle
- The 'blood eagle' was a particularly gruesome method of execution
- The victim's ribs and lungs would be pulled out of their back to create wings
- There are few records, however, of its use being used as punishment
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