Migration Period and Öland Massacre

Migration Period

• Lasted from the 4th to 8th centuries AD, before the Viking Age.
• Marked by the decline of the Western Roman Empire.
• Included various groups like Goths, Vandals, Huns, Franks, Angles, Saxons, Lombards, and Slavs.
• Led to the foundation of medieval European kingdoms, blending Roman and "barbarian" traditions.
• Population pressures and the appeal of former Roman territories were significant factors.
• Set the stage for the medieval period and the Viking Age.

5th-Century Massacre in Öland, Sweden

• 26 individuals (men, women, and children) were victims of a sudden, brutal attack.
• Victims' bodies were left unburied within the fort.
• This provided a unique perspective on the event and its aftermath.
• High-quality artifacts, like gilded silver brooches and Roman glass, suggest affluent inhabitants involved in trade.
• Imported goods and the fort's strategic location indicate Öland served as a hub for migration and trade.

Greenland's Vikings' Disappearance

• Sediment cores suggest a drying trend during the Norse occupation, affecting water for agriculture and livestock.
• Droughts reduced hay production, leading to food shortages for livestock.
• The Norse adapted by hunting seals, but the drying climate made even that unsustainable.
• The Vikings' vulnerability to climate variability highlights the need for sustainable resource management.

Later Viking Age (AD 900-1050)

• New technologies and economic systems emerged.
• A golden age for sheep farming.
• Longships improved in speed and shallower drafts.
• The introduction of the sail, but not the sole factor driving Viking Age expansion.
• Building a single ship took two years and 10-hour work days.

Sheepscape (Ladby Ship)

• Located in Denmark, it's an archaeological site.
• Crew size: 32 individuals.
• Linen fabrics suggest sheep rearing.
• Equipping a Viking fleet of 200 ships required the year's work of 30 people.
• Reorganization of the economy was necessary to support Viking operations.
• Millions of sheep were kept.

Timber, Sail, and Labor (Skuldelev 2 Ship)

• 2,650 person-days were required to build a ship.
• A 2 km rope and a 120 sq m sail were needed.
• Access to forested land was managed.
• Enslaved women worked in weaving huts.
• Raiding was instrumental in obtaining slaves.

Cities in the Viking Age

• Constantinople (Istanbul) had a large population of 500,000 in the early medieval period.
• London was a Roman city.
• Lundenwic became a vital port city.
• London was refounded by King Alfred the Great.
• Smaller market towns, like Ribe, existed.
• Multi-lingual communities were common.

Explore the pivotal Migration Period from the 4th to 8th centuries and its impact on Europe, including the events surrounding the 5th-Century massacre in Öland, Sweden. This quiz delves into the various tribes involved and the archaeological findings that reveal the socio-economic dynamics of the time.