Podcast
The History of Vikings
Hosted by Noah Tetzner · EN
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
14episodes
Episodes
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Forgotten Vikings: Rorik of Dorestad, the Baltic Sea, & Beyond the Monastery Raids
Apr 700:57:54Tap to summarizeWhen one thinks of the Viking Age, the date range of c. 793–1066 comes to mind. Monastery raids across England, Ireland, and the Frankish kingdoms of Charlemagne and his descendants have been depicted in historical dramas and documentaries on major television networks. But what about the ‘’forgotten Vikings’’? I’m talking about a broader, more nuanced perspective on the Viking Age? Pre-793 monastery raids, Viking activity in the Baltic, the Azores (a chain of islands off the coast of Portugal), and the role of non-combatants vs. the traditional view of Vikings solely as raiders.With me to discuss this is Alex Harvey, an archaeologist, collections manager at Pocklington District Heritage Trust, and tutor for Medievalists.net. He is also the author of a number of Early Medieval historical and archaeological books, including the topic of today’s chat: Forgotten Vikings: New Approaches to the Viking Age.Resources Mentioned:Alex's book, Forgotten Vikings: New Approaches to the Viking Age: https://www.amberley-books.com/forgotten-vikings-9781398133266.htmlConnect with The History of Vikings & Support the Show By:Getting a copy of Noah's book, Viking Warrior vs Frankish Warrior: Francia 799–911 (Osprey Publishing): https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/viking-warrior-vs-frankish-warrior-9781472848857Share Noah's articles, written for History.com:''Yule: How the Vikings Celebrated the Winter Holiday'': https://www.history.com/articles/viking-yule-holiday-winter''Valhalla: How Viking Belief in a Glorious Afterlife Empowered Warriors": https://www.history.com/articles/viking-valhalla-valkyrie-afterlifeFollow The History of Vikings On:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofvikingX: https://x.com/HistoryofVikingEmail Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.comTune in every week for a new episode of The History of Vikings. Subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and never miss an episode!
Transcribe →From Greenland to Vinland: Leif Erikson & Viking Voyages to the New World
Mar 3000:38:29Tap to summarizeIt’s been more than a thousand years since medieval Scandinavians left their homelands in search of plunder and glory, becoming the scourge of Christian monasteries and coastal cities—raiding and trading far and wide, from Anglo-Saxon England to modern-day Russia, Constantinople, and the Islamic Emirate of Cordoba in Spain. The Vikings traversed so much of the world, exploring and settling Iceland, Greenland, and, for the topic of this episode, North America. Medieval Icelandic sagas claim the Vikings reached North America around the year 1000. But what is the story of the Norse in this ‘’new world’’? What are our sources? Were there interactions with indigenous peoples? Who were the key characters? And what could have led to the demise of the Vikings in North America?Today's guest is British historian Martyn Whittock, a historical consultant to the BBC, whose books have sold over 1 million copies. Martyn is the author of American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America. Resources Mentioned:Martyn's Books:American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America: http://pegasusbooks.com/books/american-vikings-9781639365357-hardcoverVikings in the East. From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin - The Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine: https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/vikings-in-the-eastTales of Valhalla: Norse Myths and Legends: http://pegasusbooks.com/books/tales-of-valhalla-9781681778464-hardcoverThe Vikings. From Odin to Christ: https://spckpublishing.co.uk/the-vikings1016 and 1066: Why the Vikings Caused the Norman Conquest: https://www.crowood.com/book/1016-and-1066The Viking Blitzkrieg, AD 789–1098: https://thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/the-viking-blitzkriegConnect with The History of Vikings & Support the Show By:Getting a copy of Noah's book, Viking Warrior vs Frankish Warrior: Francia 799–911 (Osprey Publishing): https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/viking-warrior-vs-frankish-warrior-9781472848857Share Noah's articles, written for History.com:''Yule: How the Vikings Celebrated the Winter Holiday'': https://www.history.com/articles/viking-yule-holiday-winter''Valhalla: How Viking Belief in a Glorious Afterlife Empowered Warriors": https://www.history.com/articles/viking-valhalla-valkyrie-afterlifeFollow The History of Vikings On:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofvikingX: https://x.com/HistoryofVikingEmail Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.comTune in every week for a new episode of The History of Vikings. Subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and never miss an episode!
Transcribe →''History's Greatest Warriors'' on The History Channel: My Experience Filming for the Show
Mar 2900:06:52Tap to summarizeJoin host Noah Tetzner for a special announcement about his appearance on The History Channel's new TV series "History's Greatest Warriors." In this brief episode, Noah shares details about his featured role in the Vikings episode and gives an exclusive sneak peek at the show's trailer, including fascinating insights about berserkers and Viking warfare tactics.WATCH ''History's Greatest Warriors'' on The History Channel: https://www.history.com/shows/historys-greatest-warriorsConnect with The History of Vikings & Support the Show By:Getting a copy of Noah's book, Viking Warrior vs Frankish Warrior: Francia 799–911 (Osprey Publishing): https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/viking-warrior-vs-frankish-warrior-9781472848857Share Noah's articles, written for History.com:''Yule: How the Vikings Celebrated the Winter Holiday'': https://www.history.com/articles/viking-yule-holiday-winter''Valhalla: How Viking Belief in a Glorious Afterlife Empowered Warriors": https://www.history.com/articles/viking-valhalla-valkyrie-afterlifeFollow The History of Vikings On:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofvikingX: https://x.com/HistoryofVikingEmail Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.comTune in every week for a new episode of The History of Vikings. Subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and never miss an episode!
Transcribe →The Hidden Heroes of the Icelandic Sagas
Mar 2800:44:21Tap to summarizeThe Icelandic sagas are among the most remarkable literary treasures of the medieval world. Written down in Iceland primarily in the 13th and 14th centuries, they preserve stories of the Viking Age and the generations that followed—stories of feud, honor, law, revenge, family loyalty, and fate. What makes the sagas so powerful is that they do not read like myths in the usual sense. They feel human, grounded, and psychologically sharp.Their heroes are rarely simple heroes, and their villains are rarely just villains. Instead, we meet complicated men and women navigating a hard world where reputation meant everything.These sagas introduce us to unforgettable, major figures such as Egil Skallagrimsson and Aud the Deep-Minded. But what purpose did the minor characters, primarily nameless and unimportant figures, play within medieval Icelandic sagas? In this episode of The History of Vikings, Noah is joined by Dr. Ármann Jakobsson, Professor of Old Icelandic Literature at the University of Iceland and the author of Minor Characters in Icelandic Sagas: A Narratological Study.Resources Mentioned: Connect with Dr. Ármann Jakobsson on Academia.edu: https://armannjakobsson.academia.eduÁrmann's book, Minor Characters in Icelandic Sagas: A Narratological Study: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-11187-6Connect with The History of Vikings & Support the Show By:Getting a copy of Noah's book, Viking Warrior vs Frankish Warrior: Francia 799–911 (Osprey Publishing): https://www.ospreypublishing.com/us/viking-warrior-vs-frankish-warrior-9781472848857Share Noah's articles, written for History.com:''Yule: How the Vikings Celebrated the Winter Holiday'': https://www.history.com/articles/viking-yule-holiday-winter''Valhalla: How Viking Belief in a Glorious Afterlife Empowered Warriors": https://www.history.com/articles/viking-valhalla-valkyrie-afterlifeFollow The History of Vikings On:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofvikingX: https://x.com/HistoryofVikingEmail Noah with ideas for future episodes: noah@thehistoryofvikings.comTune in every week for a new episode of The History of Vikings. Subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform and never miss an episode!
Transcribe →Old Norse & The Land of Giants
Dec 13, 202400:54:33Tap to summarizeSupport this podcast by visiting our sponsor Norse TradesmanP.S. - You can get get 15% off their entire store by visiting: https://norsetradesman.com/podcastFeel free to contact me with any questions, comments, suggestions or inquiries noah@thehistoryofvikings.comMusic: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr
Transcribe →The Norse in North America: The Vinland Sagas
Dec 6, 202400:33:12Tap to summarizeSupport this podcast by visiting our sponsor Norse TradesmanP.S. - You can get get 15% off their entire store by visiting: https://norsetradesman.com/podcastFeel free to contact me with any questions, comments, suggestions or inquiries noah@thehistoryofvikings.comMusic: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr
Transcribe →Ragnarök: The Twilight of the Gods
Nov 29, 202400:28:44Tap to summarizeSupport this podcast by visiting our sponsor Norse TradesmanP.S. - You can get get 15% off their entire store by visiting: https://norsetradesman.com/podcastFeel free to contact me with any questions, comments, suggestions or inquiries noah@thehistoryofvikings.comMusic: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr
Transcribe →''Laughing Shall I Die'': The Death Songs, Last-Stands, & Afterlife of the Vikings
Nov 22, 202400:27:42Tap to summarizeSupport this podcast by visiting our sponsor Norse TradesmanP.S. - You can get get 15% off their entire store by visiting: https://norsetradesman.com/podcastFeel free to contact me with any questions, comments, suggestions or inquiries noah@thehistoryofvikings.comMusic: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr
Transcribe →Runes & the Language of the Vikings
Nov 4, 202400:33:12Tap to summarizeSupport this podcast by visiting our sponsor Genomelink. P.S. - You can get the exclusive Viking DNA Report, usually $29, for free! Just use the promo code ''HISTORY'' or follow this link: https://genomelink.io/signup/?pc=historyFeel free to contact me with any questions, comments, suggestions or inquiries noah@thehistoryofvikings.comMusic: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr
Transcribe →The Island of Fire & Ice: Iceland During the Viking Age
Nov 3, 202400:36:09Tap to summarizeSupport this podcast by visiting our sponsor Genomelink. P.S. - You can get the exclusive Viking DNA Report, usually $29, for free! Just use the promo code ''HISTORY'' or follow this link: https://genomelink.io/signup/?pc=historyFeel free to contact me with any questions, comments, suggestions or inquiries noah@thehistoryofvikings.comMusic: Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr
Transcribe →