The Vikings

The Vikings were the last barbarians. From the ice fields of the North to the Russian steppe, these fearsome Scandinavian warriors sailed the globe for three centuries spreading their net of trade and pillage. But where are their origins?

In this episode of our series, we learn how early Viking society developed, what the sacred rituals really were, and what role women played in Viking religion. Together with archaeologists Tom Christensen, Gunnar Andersson, and expert Marit Vea we will shed light on these dark times in Scandinavia.

The Vikings were great explorers and sailors. They exceeded all others in that area. Speedy, lightweight ships carried Nordic warriors all the way from their Scandinavian homes to lands of conquest. How were these ergonomic ships built and what made them so special?

The Vikings were fighting machines, they invested in the best weapons money could buy and the finest armor, slashing their way into the history books. They plundered lands from central Asia to North America and defeated the armies of the greatest empires. What was their secret?

Across vast rivers and distant lands, Norsemen journeyed from the north to the far corners of Europe. The tales of two formidable Viking kings emerge as they forge their rule after years in the eastern reaches of the Viking world, navigating the Volga and Dnieper rivers to the Black Sea and into Byzantium.