The Vikings & their Influence in the World
The Viking Age was the period during the Middle Ages when Norsemen known as Vikings undertook large-scale raiding, colonising, conquest and trading throughout Europe and as far as North America. The Vikings almost need no introduction; an image is instantly conjured up of ferocious fighting men, rampaging through our green and pleasant land, plundering, wrecking and desecrating. The study day covers some of the many influences arising from the Viking Age, 793–1066 AD.
Speaker
Imogen Corrigan spent over 19 years in the Army, retiring with the rank of Major at the end of 1994. She subsequently went to the University of Kent to study Anglo-Saxon and Medieval History, graduating with first-class honours. She went on to gain an MPhil from the University of Birmingham. She is now a freelance lecturer for the Arts Society, u3as, ACE Cultural Tours and numerous other agencies. Her first book, Stone on Stone: the men who built the cathedrals, was published in 2019. She is a Freeman of the Company of Communicators and has the Freedom of the City of London.
Programme
9.30 Registration
10.00 An Introduction to The Vikings – A problem with studying Vikings is that contemporary writing about them is often hysterical, although they were also seen literally as the wrath of God. We look at the Viking Ages from Lindisfarne to St Brice’s Day and consider the impact that they had.
11.00 Coffee/tea
11.30 The Rus – Better known as the Vikings who gave their name to Russia, they mainly originated from Sweden and expanded eastwards, through the lands that stretch from the northern coast down to Novgorod and Kiev and with their insatiable eyes always on the ultimate trading prize: Constantinople. The story of the Rus is even more dramatic and savage than that of their Scandinavian cousins who caused mayhem in the British Isles. They had bizarre funeral rites, immense courage in battle and travel, but utter disregard for human life. That said, it was through them that Christianity found its way to Russia and that the icon as an art form travelled from Constantinople to Novgorod.
12.30 Lunch (bring your own) tea/coffee available
1.30 Viking Art and Legend – Surprisingly little attention is paid to their culture and how it influenced later church art in Britain. Sagas tell of heroic deeds by both man and monster, whilst showing the nuts and bolts of Scandinavian society. The lecture looks at runes, picture stones and poetry. It may show the more sensitive side of the Viking character, but it never forgets that they were warriors at heart.
2.30 Tea/coffee
3.00 Viking Women – The women of these warriors are interesting in themselves, albeit not as visible. A few strong-minded and inventive Viking queens stand out and at least one left her mark on this country. We can see how they dressed, how they ran their families and what rights they had in Viking society.
4.00 Departure
Cost
£12 (£15 to non-members)